Car Insurance Moving Out of State the General
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UPDATED: Jan 18, 2021
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Here's what you need to know...
- No matter where you are moving, you should not cancel the insurance on your vehicle before your move.
- Make sure your current car insurance policy is valid in your new state.
- Change your car insurance when moving to another state once your current policy expires to avoid paying cancellation fees.
- If you cancel your car insurance before moving, you could face penalties for driving without insurance.
- When looking for an insurance company in your new state, you will need to know your new ZIP code to obtain an accurate quote.
Wondering how to handle car insurance policies when moving out of state?
This common question can make a cross-country move feel even more daunting. Changing car insurance, or auto insurance, when you move your car from state to state is necessary, but it doesn't need to add extra stress.
Cancel your car insurance policy only after you have obtained new coverage in your new state. No matter where you are moving, if you drive a vehicle, you should not cancel the insurance before the move.
Many people incorrectly assume that if you move out of a specific state with specific laws, you can cancel your policy until you get to your new place of residence.
However, when it comes to liability auto insurance coverage, the complete guide states you can receive serious penalties if you're caught driving without insurance.
Read through our comprehensive guide to learn why it isn't a wise decision to cancel your car insurance when moving states and what you can do to ensure that your insurance transition from one state to another is a smooth one.
Do you have to change car insurance when you move? How do you handle car insurance policies when moving out of state? Updating car insurance when moving doesn't have to be stressful.
After learning how to handle car insurance policies when moving out of state, you can find the most affordable car insurance policy right here. Enter your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool above to look for car insurance quotes now.
Why should you not immediately cancel car insurance when you move states?
Can you keep your current car insurance when you move out of state?
When moving to a new state, many drivers wonder if car insurance covers out of state driving. The answer is yes. When moving to a new state, car insurance will continue to cover you until your policy expires, so out of state insurance is available.
Switching car insurance from one state to another should therefore only happen if your new state does not accept the insurance from your previous state, or after your policy expires.
Virtually every state has a law in place requiring some form of liability coverage. As you drive through states to your new home, you still must follow these laws.
Do you have to switch car insurance when you move? When you move from one state to another, your risk of getting into an accident doesn't decrease simply because you are moving.
Every registered vehicle in the U.S. is required to have some sort of insurance coverage, no matter where you live or where you are driving.
What would happen if you got caught driving during your move without insurance? Find the penalties for each state in the table below.
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According to the Insurance Information Institute, one in eight drivers are uninsured. Not only is driving without car insurance illegal but, as you can see, it can also create serious financial difficulty for you if you cause a car accident.
Affordable car insurance is available, so do your research (some have searched "moving to new state car insurance" and "car insurance moving out of state" online) and find the best policy for you.
If you have an accident in an at-fault state, otherwise known as a tort state, then you can be sued for the losses. If you have an accident in a no-fault state, you can be heavily fined for driving without insurance. You may also face a license and registration suspension.
While most states have fines for driving without insurance, some even have jail time as a punishment.
In some states, if you are in an accident caused by another person and you don't have the required insurance, the other insurance company can refuse to cover your losses. You simply don't want to take that risk.
Lastly, if you are leasing or financing a vehicle, the lender will require that you always carry car insurance on your vehicle. Usually, it is in your contract that you will maintain coverage. If you cancel your insurance, then your lender can take away your vehicle.
It is more likely, however, that your lender will take out an insurance policy for you, and it will be much more expensive than any insurance policy that you would purchase on your own.
Think of switching your car insurance when moving to a new state as an opportunity to comparison shop for better car insurance rates. You could end up saving a lot of money on your new car insurance rates.
Can I transfer my car insurance to another state?
When do you change car insurance when moving out of state?
When you move to a new state, there is a lot you need to do. Fortunately, we can easily teach you how to transfer insurance to another state for your car. One important step you must take is checking to ensure that your car insurance is valid in your new state.
If your policy is valid in your new state, you can choose to renew it or you can let it run its course until it expires and then simply cancel the policy.
Letting your policy run its course can help you avoid paying any cancellation fees. Because car insurance rates vary based on where you live, quote comparison shopping after a move can help you find cheaper rates.
How long should you take to change car insurance after moving? Is there a deadline to changing your auto insurance?
When moving to another state, you will eventually need to register your vehicle, which can be done by visiting the DMV.
Most states have a specific amount of time for you to register your vehicle, usually up to 90 days. However, some states will only give you 30 days to register your car.
Although it may seem odd, the simple fact is that if your vehicle is registered in Florida, then Florida will require that you have insurance in that state, which applies everywhere.
The upside is that no matter where you live, your car insurance will cover you in the event of an accident.
Do you have to register your car in your new state?
You need to understand that once you change your insurance to a state other than where your vehicle is registered, then the registered state will be informed that you dropped your insurance.
Therefore, if you purchase car insurance in a new state before you register your vehicle, you'll have to switch over your registration to that state almost immediately afterward.
If, however, you live in the same place for several months and are well past your deadline for changing your state of registration, then your car insurance company can refuse to cover your vehicle if you have an accident.
At that time, it is imperative that your insurance is in your state of residence. Remember, you will not be able to register your vehicle if you don't provide proof of insurance.
Keep in mind that every state has different rules about this process. Some states will allow you to register your vehicle as long as you have some form of insurance, and then you'll receive a form to fill out when you have switched your insurance over to in-state coverage.
If you don't send in the form within the specified period, then your license and registration can be suspended, and you may face heavy fines as well.
Now that you know how to insure a car in another state, you can see that it is actually not very stressful at all. Take the time to compare different policies before choosing your new coverage. You could end up saving hundreds in annual fees.
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How do you change your car insurance to your new state?
You may have two options depending on who you are using for car insurance.
If your insurance company offers coverage all around the country, then you may be able to simply call them and ask them to give you a quote for the state you are moving to.
Every state is different regarding what they require from drivers, so the amount you pay might be different from what you were paying before.
For example, in Florida, a comprehensive policy for a minivan might cost $79 a month, but in North Carolina, it might be as much as $129 a month for the same coverage.
This variance is based on a number of factors. A new quote will include the risks or lack of risks that you will face in the area that you move to.
Things like how many insurance claims there are in an area, how many accidents occurred, the average cost of an accident, and so on will be part of the determining factors.
Your insurance company may simply be charging you too much for your coverage, or they may be right on target; however, you aren't going to know if you don't take the time to compare prices.
There are some easy steps to follow if you decide to change auto insurance companies:
- Get your information together – You need to know what kind of coverage you currently have and re-evaluate if it is still right for you. Decided on the coverage you want before you start shopping.
- Start shopping – If you don't know where to start looking for new insurance, you can always contact your old insurance agent. They may be able to point you in the right direction. You can also get referrals from people you know or shop online.
- Make the change before the deadline – Each state will have a deadline for you to have car insurance coverage in place when you move. Make sure you have your new coverage in place before the deadline hits.
- Switch over your policies – Set your new car insurance to start a day or so before your old coverage expires to prevent a lapse in coverage. Also, check back in with your previous company to make sure the policy is canceled and you are getting any refund you may be due.
Changing your car insurance company doesn't have to be painful. Shop around to get the best coverage at a great price in your new state.
Will I need to cancel my car insurance policy if I'm attending college out of state?
One of the largest groups of people affected by the inter-state question are students attending college at an out-of-state institution.
As a general rule, students are not considered permanent residents of the state where they are attending college unless they remain there for a certain period after graduation.
If you're just temporarily moving to another state and do not need to register your vehicle there, usually you are not required to change your insurance.
For students, as long as you're still in school, you are considered a temporary resident and can continue driving on the insurance from your home state.
Using Texas residency requirements as an example, if you're a student who comes to Texas for studying at a college or university, you're considered a temporary resident unless you have lived in the state for one full year prior to your college enrollment.
As a temporary resident, your vehicle registration and insurance are valid in Texas, even though they are from your home state.
However, auto insurance for college graduates who establish residency in a new state works the same as for those who move states. You will be required to switch your registration and insurance to comply with your new state's laws.
If your current insurance company is not licensed to do business in your new state, you will have to cancel your policy and get a new one from a company that is.
Do I need to cancel my car insurance policy if I'm a snowbird?
There are plenty of drivers who live in cold-climate states but flock to warmer states during the winter months. These drivers are typically called snowbirds.
Whether such drivers need to get a new insurance policy will be determined by their residency status and whether their provider is licensed in both states.
As a typical rule, snowbirds are considered temporary residents unless they exceed a certain time limit in their warm-weather state.
Those time limits will vary from one state to the next according to their regulations. You'll need to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles in your warm-weather state to determine what your status will be during your visit.
If that state has a limit of 90 days or less, you may be required to get temporary car insurance to cover any amount of time when that limit is exceeded. In all likelihood, however, it's probably not going to be an issue for most drivers.
How do you find the best car insurance for you?
An insurance company must be licensed to sell insurance in your state, so if your current insurance company is not licensed where you live, then you are going to have to find a new insurance company. Thankfully, this process is easy.
Because an insurance quote is based on a specific area within a state, you will need to know your new ZIP code to obtain an accurate quote. If you aren't sure, then you may want to get quotes using several ZIP codes for a range of places you are considering living in.
Don't worry, you don't have to fill out forms over and over again; once you have filled out your information, you can make whatever adjustments you need. Because it's free, you don't have to worry about limiting the number of searches you do.
When you use our quote tool to find insurance, you are paving the way toward saving money. Quote tools allow you to see what insurance competitors are charging for the same coverage, allowing you to make an educated choice about your car insurance.
Also, you will only get quotes from reputable companies that are financially stable, making it even easier to choose the right company. Don't get stuck with out-of-state coverage, and don't pay too much for what you buy.
If you were wondering about changing car insurance when moving out of state, we hope we've answered all your questions.
You now know what to do with car insurance when moving states and how to change car insurance when moving out of state.
Buy car insurance at a great rate in your new state by entering your ZIP code into our free quote comparison tool below to search for car insurance quotes now.
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Car Insurance Moving Out of State the General
Source: https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/should-i-cancel-my-car-insurance-policy-if-i-move-out-of-state/
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