If you’re in the market for a new car, you may be wondering whether you need car insurance. Almost every state requires drivers who own a registered vehicle to carry car insurance. Even in states that do not currently require drivers to carry auto insurance, there are still requirements for drivers to prove financial responsibility in the event they cause an accident. In states that have their own minimum liability requirements for car insurance, an active car insurance policy is needed to drive your vehicle off the lot.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers.
Location-Icon
Your information is kept secure
Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249)

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

Advertising Disclosure
This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Do you need insurance to buy a car?

If you’re wondering whether you need to buy car insurance to purchase a vehicle, the short answer is usually yes. However, you do not necessarily need to have an active car insurance policy before you purchase a car. In fact, it would be difficult to purchase insurance until you know exactly which car you are going to buy. When you apply for car insurance, the insurer will need vehicle-specific information like the VIN and mileage.

Although buying a car without insurance is technically possible, you will need to show proof of insurance before you can legally drive the vehicle off the lot. If you purchase a car at a dealership, the salesperson will probably ask to see proof of insurance on the vehicle during the transaction. Without an active policy, you would not be legally allowed to take possession of the car, even if you pay cash.

Do I need a new policy for my new car?

You do not necessarily need a new policy in order to purchase a new car. If you already have car insurance, you can probably add the new vehicle to your existing policy. This can be done through contacting your insurance agent or company representative, or through your insurance company’s mobile app or the online customer portal, which you can do while you are waiting at the dealership.

In addition, your existing policy might offer a grace period, which will automatically cover a new car for a limited period of time before you have to officially add it to the policy. Car insurance grace periods are typically up to 30 days, but before you visit the dealership, make sure to confirm how long you have to complete this process with an agent so you know how long the car is covered.

It is important to note that if you rely on a grace period to cover your new vehicle, only your current coverage is extended, which can be problematic. For instance, if you replace an older vehicle that is only covered for liability, your new car would also carry liability-only coverage until it’s officially added to your policy. That means the damage to your new vehicle would not be covered if you get into an at-fault accident within the grace period. For this reason, many insurance professionals recommend that you avoid relying on grace periods to protect your new car and instead suggest adding the vehicle before driving it. Additionally, you should make adjustments to your coverage levels as necessary.

If you do not already have car insurance, you will need to purchase a new policy. Most car insurance companies make it easy to apply for coverage and purchase a new policy online or through a mobile app.

How do I get insurance for my new car?

Obtaining insurance for a new vehicle is relatively easy, especially if you take a few moments to gather some information before making your policy request. To add coverage to your new car, you should:

  1. Gather the vehicle’s information. To obtain a new policy or add a car to your existing policy, your agent will ask for your VIN, vehicle usage information, registered owner’s information, lienholder or leasing company and current odometer reading.
  2. Request the correct effective date. To legally drive your vehicle off the lot, your dealer will require that your coverage start the day you purchase the car. Some companies will automatically give you same-day coverage, while others show a default effective date for the day after your request. It can be helpful to specify what date you need your new coverage to start to avoid an unnecessary callback to your insurance company.
  3. Ask for an ID card and binder. You almost always need to provide proof of insurance to the dealer, usually in the form of a binder. Most car insurance companies or your agent can provide these documents in only a few minutes by emailing them.

You may find it helpful to secure coverage for your new vehicle before heading to the dealership or private seller to pick it up. Buying a new vehicle can be an all-day event, but getting your new car covered ahead of time can make the process smoother. If the deal falls through, you should only need to contact your car insurance company and request that they reverse the changes.

What if I am not buying from a dealer?

Private car sales are becoming increasingly popular, as they often allow drivers to find much better prices than a dealership might offer and could have quicker transactions. If you decide to buy a vehicle from a private seller, you will still need car insurance. The only difference is that the seller is not obligated to verify your coverage before you are allowed to drive off.

Your current car insurance policy will most likely extend coverage through the grace period, even with a private sale vehicle. But if you do not already have coverage, you will need to purchase a policy before you can drive the vehicle home.

Although the seller may not ask to see proof of coverage, driving without insurance still has legal and financial ramifications. You could get pulled over while driving home, which could lead to a number of serious consequences if you do not have proper coverage.

Frequently asked questions

    • There is no single best car insurance company because the best provider is different for every driver. It depends on where you live, what type of coverage you need, how much coverage you want, what discounts you can qualify for and more. Shopping around and comparing providers can help you see which company meets your unique needs.
    • In the U.S., the average cost of car insurance is $2,014 per year for a full coverage policy and $622 per year for a minimum coverage policy. However, every driver pays a different rate. You might pay more or less than the national average based on your state, claim history, driving record and the type of car you have.
    • As with most states where car insurance is legally required, you will have to carry a minimum amount of coverage in order to drive legally. Most states require liability insurance, and if you live in a no-fault state, the requirement typically calls for personal injury protection (PIP). However, if you lease or finance your vehicle, most lenders will require you to carry a full coverage policy, which includes liability as well as both collision and comprehensive coverage.
    • If you don’t get full coverage on a financed or leased car, your lender will probably issue you force-placed insurance. Force-placed insurance protects the lender’s interests, but may offer inadequate protection for the buyer in terms of comprehensive and collision coverage. Additionally, force-placed insurance is usually more expensive than a policy you would purchase on your own. If you are leasing, it may also include liability limits of 100/300/50 in addition to full coverage. You can avoid the extra expense of force-placed insurance by obtaining multiple quotes and securing coverage before buying your car.
    • Almost every state requires drivers who own a vehicle to carry car insurance. The car insurance should meet your state’s minimum liability requirements, which can usually be found on your state’s Department of Motor (DMV) site. If you live in a state that does not require car insurance, you may not need to carry car insurance, but you may have to pay a fee and/or prove that you are capable of being financially responsible for damages in the event of an accident.