When does car insurance start?
Car insurance generally starts as soon as you purchase the policy and make your first payment, though you can usually choose when you'd like to activate the policy. Learn how to keep your car insurance rates affordable by avoiding a coverage gap.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Unless you’re a resident of New Hampshire, you must have some form of car insurance coverage in order to drive legally in the United States
- Coverage usually starts when your first monthly payment is processed, but other options for starting coverage are sometimes available
- Your car insurance must be from the state where you hold legal residency and obtained your driver’s license and license plate
You can decide when your car insurance policy activates, but your options will vary based on the type of policy and car insurance company you choose.
With most insurers, you can set your plan to take effect as soon as you purchase it. You can also wait until your existing policy expires. You can even set your new car insurance to engage retroactively with some insurers. That way, your damages could be covered even if your vehicle wasn’t technically insured when it sustained harm.
Read on to learn more about when people must get car insurance, when it starts, and insurance requirements.
Does car insurance start immediately?
Car insurance coverage starts when you pay. When you sign up for your new policy, your car insurance coverage usually starts immediately after your first payment is processed.
When you get new insurance, remember to cancel your current car insurance. Even if you move to a new state, you’ll need to cancel your old policy and get a new one in your new home state.
If you’d rather, you can choose a later time if your existing car insurance policy hasn’t expired. Just be sure you don’t set your old policy to end before the new one starts, or you risk driving without insurance.
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What options do I have when starting car insurance coverage?
Most of the time, car insurance coverage starts when your insurance company processes your first monthly payment. If you choose this option, make sure that your new car insurance coverage is in effect before you cancel your old plan.
You can also take advantage of a grace period and delay getting new insurance. That way, you can shop carefully and make sure you get the best policy for your needs. In addition, some companies will backdate new coverage, called a deferred date.
If you take advantage of a deferred date, you can have between seven and 30 days to shop around, depending on your state of residence and insurance company. During this time, your policy continues to cover you as long as you buy new car insurance before it ends.
You can avoid a coverage gap and an increase in your rates, but you should check with your insurance company before relying on a grace period or deferred date. Not every company offers them, and some won’t defer coverage for longer than a week before you sign up.
If you don’t have the option to defer, you may be able to backdate your new coverage to ensure that there is no gap between it and the old coverage. Be aware that most companies that allow this option are not willing to backdate beyond seven days for any policy.
Do I have to get auto insurance in my new state of residence?
If you move and don’t get car insurance in your new home state, you could be accused of insurance fraud.
When you move to a new state, it can be a good idea to change your insurance policy when you change your license plate. If the state of your plates doesn’t match the state of your car insurance policy, you could get a ticket or face other penalties.
Your auto insurance will follow you when you visit other states. However, if you visit your former home state often, you may want to consider keeping a residence there to help you avoid any appearance of fraud.
Final Thoughts About Car Insurance Coverage Start Times
Car insurance coverage is available in a variety of circumstances. For example, you can choose when you prefer to start your coverage with most companies, and long-term and short-term coverage is available.
However, car insurance laws vary by state. So it’s a good idea to check the law in your state to make sure that you’re carrying the right amount of coverage. Keeping your coverage current can also help you avoid increases in your car insurance rates.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.