UPDATED: AUGUST 07, 2023 | 2 MIN READ
Obtaining car insurance could be challenging if you don’t have a permanent residence. Car insurance companies use your address to gauge your location’s risks and the areas you will most likely drive in. Fortunately, you have options; we’ll explain them throughout this article.
Table of contents:
- Can You Have Car Insurance Without a Permanent Address?
- Homeless Car Insurance
- Why Does The Car Insurance Company Need My Address?
- Getting Car Insurance Without an Address FAQs
- Can I Get Car Insurance While Living In a Hotel?
- How Do I Register and Insure My Car In a New State If I Don’t Have My New Address Yet?
- What steps can I take to lower my auto insurance costs after a move?
- How to Get Car Insurance Without a Permanent Address
Can you have car insurance without a permanent address?
The short answer is no. Car insurance companies need to know where the vehicle is housed to calculate your rates correctly.
Many people get around this by providing false information to their insurance companies. You shouldn’t do this, though.
Steps to follow to get insurance when you don’t have a permanent address:
- Research to understand and determine which insurance coverage is necessary by your state. Once you know what coverage is needed, you can choose the type that fits your budget.
- If you need assistance learning insurance basics, speak to an insurance agent. This way, you know you’re purchasing the right coverage for you.
- Obtain a P.O. Box to use as a temporary mailing address.
- Once you can obtain a permanent or less temporary residence, update your address with your insurance company.
Providing proof of residency is sometimes necessary for insurance companies, so you will need to provide one or more of the following as evidence of your address.
- Utility bill within the last few months
- Bank statements for the last few months
- Medical bill or some other form of a bill that has your address on it
- Copy of your driver’s license
When you establish your permanent home, understand that the cost of your insurance premiums could change depending on multiple factors.
Homeless car insurance options
If you are homeless or live in your vehicle, you might not be able to obtain insurance. The insurance company will view a person living in their car as a considerable risk.
If you are homeless but require car insurance, the best thing you can do is keep your vehicle with a friend or family member who has a residence and use that as your address for your quote. Be sure that you keep your vehicle parked at that location when you are not using it.
Why does the car insurance company need my address?
Car Insurance companies ask for your physical address to determine the area’s risk. When you have a car insured and live in an area with a higher crime rate, your car insurance rates are typically higher. This is because there’s an increased risk of theft and vandalism.
There are many factors that the insurance companies use when determining your premium and what you will pay for your coverage, such as:
- Credit score
- Age
- Driving history (years of experience on the road)
- County (ZIP Code)
- Insurance history
- Activity in the area (i.e., crime rates, risk of accident)
- Annual mileage
The insurance company will quickly reject your application if any address information is falsified.
How to get car insurance without a permanent address
If you don’t have a permanent address, you can list a temporary address on your insurance policy application. This address needs to be one you stay at frequently because insurers use your car’s location to help determine the proper rates. Also, as soon as you get a permanent address, you need to notify your insurance company and update your vehicle registration.
FAQs
Can I get car insurance while living in a hotel?
Yes. Your insurance company needs an accurate address for the location of your vehicle, especially if you have full-coverage insurance. If that happens to be a hotel temporarily, that’s okay. However, you should tell your insurance company the hotel’s address isn’t your mailing address and update your address once you’ve established a permanent residence.
How do I register and insure my car in a new state if I don’t have my new address yet?
Find a residence in your new state before you update your car insurance and registration. Most states and insurance companies have grace periods that allow for people who are moving. Your car insurance should still cover you if everything is updated within the legal time frame.
Of course, this varies between companies, so it’s always wise to check with your auto insurance company for the exact process.
What steps can I take to lower my auto insurance costs after a move?
After moving into your new place, get car insurance quotes from multiple companies to determine the most cost-effective option. Also, be sure to ask every company what discounts are available to you.
How to Get Car Insurance Without a Permanent Address
Getting car insurance without an address might be difficult. However, it’s not impossible. Get a quote from several insurance companies to ensure you’re getting the best rates and discounts available to you.
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