How Moving Can Affect Your Auto Insurance
Location matters. You knew that to be true when you went shopping for a home, but does changing your address affect car insurance, too? What you might not know is it’s equally true for your car insurance. You might never have to figure that out unless you move. By switching locations, you could find a big surprise in what you pay for coverage. That could be a good — or not-so-good — surprise, depending on where you move.
Here’s the lowdown on how moving affects auto insurance.
Navigating Auto Insurance Transitions
How does relocating affect car insurance? Will my car insurance go up if I move?
Possibly. It depends on where you end up. One of the factors insurers consider when you apply for coverage is your address. Specifically, your zip code.
You probably didn’t notice this when you first applied for coverage because your address is just one of many factors that influence the rate you pay. But you will see a difference when you move and renew that coverage. Your premium has gone up. Or it’s gone down.
It depends on where you now live.
The Cost Factor in Your New Coordinates
If you move to a bigger city — or even just a more populated section of the city in which you currently reside — you might pay more. That’s because more congestion increases the likelihood of you getting into an accident and filing a claim.
Sometimes, merely moving to a different region of the same metro can trigger a rate change. If you’re now in a neighborhood with a higher crime rate, your insurer might adjust your rate to reflect the increased likelihood that someone might steal or vandalize your car. By the same token, moving to a safer, more stable neighborhood in the same area might earn you a rate reduction.
You might also pay less if you move to a more sparsely populated zip code. If you move to a rural address, there will probably be less traffic on the roads around you. That can mean less chance of a collision, which lowers the likelihood of you filing a claim.
See how it works? Less risk of a payoff from the insurer means a lower premium for you.
Crossing State Borders: Auto Insurance Policy Must-Knows
Will my car insurance go up if I move to another state?
Maybe. What will almost certainly happen is you’ll start all over again when it comes to acquiring auto coverage. That’s because every state has its own rules and regulations on car policies. Even insurers that operate nationally must, in effect, cancel your original policy when you move and replace it with a new policy that works in your new U.S. state.
If your current insurer is a smaller or regional company that doesn’t sell insurance in your new resident state, you’ll have to find a new insurer.
Is it a hassle? It can be. But you won’t mind it so much if you find your new insurer can offer you a better policy at a lower rate than what you’ve been paying.
If you’re dealing with a national company, the transition might be nearly seamless. It might be a simple matter of trading one policy for another at virtually the same cost. Of course, that’s assuming your move is to a zip code that’s similar to the one you’re leaving in terms of population density, traffic congestion, crime statistics, and other factors that keep insurance company underwriters up at night.
All you have to do is contact your agent, inform them that you’re moving out of state, and give them your new address. Your agent will be able to reconnect you to a new insurer or a new policy from the same company you already use.
Avoiding Coverage Pitfalls: Key Transition Tips
You don’t ever want to get caught without a valid auto insurance policy, even for a short while. There are hidden costs to driving without insurance that can mean financial disaster. That’s why the most important tip is to contact your agent before you make your big move, especially if you’re going to a different state.
Give your agent plenty of time to transition your coverage. Never assume that your existing coverage is valid at your new address.
Temporary Moves and Insurance: What You Need to Know
Your company has requested your help in establishing a new location in another state. It’s a short-term assignment, but you might have to live in temporary housing for several months. What about your car policy?
Will you have to acquire new coverage from another company and then switch back to your original provider when you return home in a few months? Good news: you probably won’t have to switch plans.
However, you do need to alert your insurance agent of what’s in your future. Policy adjustments and premium alterations might have to be made to reflect the difference in laws and regulations from one state to another.
Even if your temporary move is in the same state, your rates might go up or down to reflect different conditions in that new zip code. So, once again, you should notify your agent before your temporary move.
Registration and Licensing: Your Road Map to Compliance
Wherever you move, you’ll be subject to that state’s rules of the road. That means you’ll need to comply with the state’s laws on licensing and car registration.
Depending on the state, you’ll probably have somewhere between 30 and 90 days to make that transition. Don’t be late or you might be fined. Your car could even be impounded, which would really get expensive.
Car insurance is mandatory in all but two U.S. states, so make sure you have a valid policy before you undertake your new registration and licensing. And even where it is not mandatory, you still have to prove you can financially pay the costs for an accident you cost before you are able to go without.
Moving Soon? Save on Car Insurance with Acceptance
At Acceptance Insurance, we will show you how moving impacts auto insurance, and we can help you get a nearly seamless transition in coverage when you move from one state to another.
As independent agents, your Acceptance agent has contractual relationships with numerous insurance companies. If your move triggers a rate increase with your existing carrier, our agent can shop for a more affordable policy at your new home.
Just ask us how we can help with your move. Simply call Acceptance Insurance at 877-405-7102 or get a quick online quote. You can also find an office near you and discuss your cost options with one of our agents.
