When you are moving into the United States from a different country, there are many things to think about. One of the important details you must take care of is car insurance.
The only country that will make it a little easier is Canada. Canadian car insurance will cover drivers who drive into the United States. However, you will need to get it changed over to American coverage shortly after the move. Check with your existing insurer about the grace period before you move. All other countries will not cover you after your move, therefore you will need to get American car insurance before you use your vehicle in the States.
Read on to learn the details of moving from out of the country and buying auto insurance and then be sure to enter in an American zip code into the quote finder on this page for a free car insurance comparison with many different auto insurance companies!
Knowing What You Need
The first step in getting car insurance is to know exactly how much coverage you need to have. Each state has a different guideline for mandatory coverage. Therefore, you should check with the department of insurance in the state you plan to reside in, to find out the rules.
If you are not sure of where you will live, get coverage in the first state you plan to stay in temporarily. That will cover you anywhere you drive in the country. Be sure to change coverage when you set up your new residence.
Any state that you register your vehicle in will require you to have proof of insurance or financial responsibility which, for most people, is car insurance.
In addition to the basic state-mandated levels of car insurance coverage, you may want or need additional coverage. If your vehicle is financed, the bank or other lending institution will require you to carry collision or comprehensive insurance coverage, so their investment is protected in the case of loss.
In addition, the state requirements are typically very low and are insufficient if you are involved in a serious accident. Therefore, it is very important to consider carrying higher levels of liability insurance coverage. Most insurers recommend at least $100,000 personal injury liability per person, $300,000 personal injury liability per accident in total and $100,000 property damage liability.
Things To Consider About Car Insurance
There are a number of things to consider when you are looking for car insurance. Just by virtue of moving from outside the country, you may find that car insurance is difficult to find and more costly than you anticipated. Insurers always take your car insurance history into consideration for rate setting and will request verifiable proof of coverage over the past 3 years or more. Therefore, you should bring copies of your coverage for at least that period of time when you move.
Your driving record is one of the most important factors when you are looking for car insurance. It is often difficult for those moving into the United States to get good rates because they do not have an easily accessible driving record. Depending on the country you are from, you may be treated as if you are a brand new driver with rates set accordingly.
Your credit is also a similar issue. Credit history is one of the things considered when setting car insurance rates. Unless you have lived in the United States in the past, you will find that you have no credit rating and no credit history. This will often be counted against you and cause your rates to be higher than they would be for someone who has a credit history.
You should also know that car insurance is influenced by where you live, how much you drive it, the type of car you own and other things. Therefore in order to keep your insurance costs as low as possible, remember the following tips.
- Car insurance is less expensive in rural areas than in urban areas.
- The fewer miles you put on your car yearly, the less your coverage will cost.
- Older cars that are worth less are not as costly to insure as new cars.
- Safety devices such as anti-lock brakes will reduce your insurance premiums.
- Having an anti-theft device will also save you money.
- Insurers offer discounts for a variety of reasons. Be sure to ask what types are available before taking out coverage with any company.
- The more car insurance quotes you compare the more chances you have to save money.
Shopping Around for Coverage
If you are looking to get car insurance when you moving from out of the country, the best place to start is by shopping online for quotes. Since car insurance companies each have its own guidelines, prices can vary greatly from one to another.
As you are shopping around, you will find that some prices are extremely high and this is often indicative of the fact that the insurer does not want to insure those who are newly arrived to this country. Other insurance companies are much more understanding and are willing to work with people moving here. Because of this disparity in attitude and price, it is very important to shop around and compare as many prices as possible.
Use our free online rate quote tool to get the quotes you need. It is the quickest and easiest way to access a wide variety of quotes from insurers serving the state you plan to reside in. You simply enter your information once and before you know it, you will have a variety of quotes to compare and contrast.
Get started now with our online quote tool and in no time you’ll have the car insurance coverage you need before you can say, “Welcome to America!”
Enter any US zip code to start now!
