What is the best car insurance company?

There is not a single best car insurance company for every driver. It depends on what you value most in an insurance company, like cheap rates, good customer service, specific coverage options or something else. You should shop around and compare providers using your own criteria to find the best insurer and the best car insurance rate.

If my spouse dies, will I have to get a new car insurance policy?

If your spouse dies, you may be able to keep your car insurance policy, but in some cases, you might have to get a new car insurance policy. For instance, if you are both insured on the same policy, you can likely ask your insurance company to remove your spouse and keep you as the main policyholder. You would then be responsible for paying the premiums if you weren’t already. If you aren’t already on the policy or the title of the vehicle, you might need to get a new car insurance policy. To find out what the best approach is for your situation, it may benefit you to reach out to your insurance company or agent, explain the situation and have them provide a solution based on the registered vehicle title owner(s) and current policy details.

Will a car insurance company issue a refund if the policyholder dies?

If a refund is due, the car insurance company will typically issue one if the policyholder dies and the policy is canceled. A refund may be due if the policy is paid in full and has not reached its expiration date, or if the policy is paid monthly and the month has not ended. For instance, if the monthly premium was paid on January 1 and you cancel the policy on January 3, you may get back a portion of that month’s premium. Every insurance company is different, and so are the rules that govern those companies in every state. Talk to an insurance agent or company representative at the deceased person’s insurance company to find out if there will be any refunds.

If my relative passes away, can I still drive their car?

Yes, you can still drive a relative’s car if they pass away. However, you will typically have to purchase an insurance policy to cover you and the vehicle, especially if the vehicle is being retitled in your name. Depending on the insurance company, you may be able to continue their policy until it renews, especially if you are already a listed driver. Either way, you may want to be prepared to get a new car insurance policy once the insurer is made aware your relative has passed away.

How long can I stay on my parents’ car insurance policy if they die?

How long you can stay on your parents’ car insurance policy if they die depends on how the policy is written, who the listed drivers are and how the vehicle is titled. The company may allow you to remove your parents as drivers and make you the policyholder or you might have to purchase a new policy. Each situation is unique, so you should speak with your insurance agent to determine what the next step is to ensure you and your vehicle continue to be protected and don’t face a lapse in coverage.

What happens to car insurance when the policyholder dies?

Car Insurance

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7 min read Published June 16, 2023

Written by

Elizabeth Rivelli

Edited by

Maggie Kempken

Reviewed by

Mark Friedlander

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At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of . Our content is backed by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our .

When the policyholder on a car insurance policy passes away, loved ones may be unsure about which next steps to take. Depending on whether the car insurance policy is your spouse’s or someone else’s, there are a few factors that can help determine what actions to take. Although the process can be tricky, understanding how to handle a car insurance policy after the policyholder passes can help guide your next steps. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explains what happens—and what you might want to consider doing next.

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What happens to a car insurance policy after the policyholder dies?

One of the misconceptions around car insurance is that if the primary policyholder passes away, their policy will be automatically canceled and the coverage will stop. Unfortunately, the insurance company has no way of knowing that a policyholder has passed away until a spouse or relative notifies them and requests to cancel the policy. Once a policyholder passes away, their car insurance policy will need to be canceled or their name will have to be removed from the contract if there are other drivers on it.

If you need to terminate a car insurance policy for someone who has passed away, the process is usually easier if you are a spouse or a driver insured on their policy. However, if you are unrelated to the policyholder or are the executor of that person’s estate but not a spouse, you will probably find that canceling their policy is a lengthier process.

Closing a car insurance policy for a spouse

If your spouse passes away, canceling their car insurance policy is a relatively straightforward process. You will most likely need to simply submit documentation proving the policyholder’s death to complete the process.

Here are the basic steps to follow:

Call the insurance company: Contact the insurance company or your agent and let them know that the policyholder has passed away and that you would like to cancel their policy. If you are also insured on the policy, they may ask if you want to keep the policy and become the primary policyholder.
Provide documentation: The insurance company will probably ask to see documentation verifying the policyholder’s death, like a death certificate or an executor of estate form. If you have to provide any other forms, the insurance company will explain what they need.
Wait for confirmation: Typically, an insurance company can formally cancel the policy within one day. The last step is to wait for the cancellation confirmation. You may also receive some compensation from the insurance company if the monthly, semi-annual or annual premium has already been paid.

Closing a car insurance policy for someone other than a spouse

Canceling a car insurance policy for a policyholder that you are not related to can be more challenging. However, if you are the executor of their estate or are a friend or relative, you should still be able to cancel their car insurance, provided you can prove your relationship to the deceased policyholder. Here is what you should do:

Call the insurance company: Call the insurance company or your agent and let them know that you would like to cancel the policy for someone who has passed away. You may need to present certain information, like the policyholder’s Social Security number or personal information, to prove that you are not a stranger trying to commit car insurance fraud.
Provide documentation: Whether you are related to the policyholder or not, you will likely still need to provide documentation to prove that the insured person has passed away and that you are legally allowed to close their policy. As someone who is not related, there may be additional information you are required to provide.
Wait for confirmation: Canceling an insurance policy for someone you are not related to may take slightly longer because the insurance provider will need to verify your status as the estate executor. If the policyholder is entitled to any money from past premiums, it will likely go directly into their estate.

What happens to open claims if a car insurance policyholder dies

If the policyholder passes away while they have an open claim, you can still go through the process of canceling the policy. The insurance company will continue the claim process through to settlement even if the policy is no longer active.

However, keep in mind that the policyholder may still have a deductible taken from the claim payout or other out-of-pocket costs once the claim is settled. If the policyholder has passed away, their estate will be responsible for paying the amount owed.

Frequently asked questions

- There is not a single best car insurance company for every driver. It depends on what you value most in an insurance company, like cheap rates, good customer service, specific coverage options or something else. You should shop around and compare providers using your own criteria to find the best insurer and the best car insurance rate.
- If your spouse dies, you may be able to keep your car insurance policy, but in some cases, you might have to get a new car insurance policy. For instance, if you are both insured on the same policy, you can likely ask your insurance company to remove your spouse and keep you as the main policyholder. You would then be responsible for paying the premiums if you weren’t already. If you aren’t already on the policy or the title of the vehicle, you might need to get a new car insurance policy. To find out what the best approach is for your situation, it may benefit you to reach out to your insurance company or agent, explain the situation and have them provide a solution based on the registered vehicle title owner(s) and current policy details.
- If a refund is due, the car insurance company will typically issue one if the policyholder dies and the policy is canceled. A refund may be due if the policy is paid in full and has not reached its expiration date, or if the policy is paid monthly and the month has not ended. For instance, if the monthly premium was paid on January 1 and you cancel the policy on January 3, you may get back a portion of that month’s premium. Every insurance company is different, and so are the rules that govern those companies in every state. Talk to an insurance agent or company representative at the deceased person’s insurance company to find out if there will be any refunds.
- Yes, you can still drive a relative’s car if they pass away. However, you will typically have to purchase an insurance policy to cover you and the vehicle, especially if the vehicle is being retitled in your name. Depending on the insurance company, you may be able to continue their policy until it renews, especially if you are already a listed driver. Either way, you may want to be prepared to get a new car insurance policy once the insurer is made aware your relative has passed away.
- How long you can stay on your parents’ car insurance policy if they die depends on how the policy is written, who the listed drivers are and how the vehicle is titled. The company may allow you to remove your parents as drivers and make you the policyholder or you might have to purchase a new policy. Each situation is unique, so you should speak with your insurance agent to determine what the next step is to ensure you and your vehicle continue to be protected and don’t face a lapse in coverage.