If you’re getting ready to purchase a new vehicle, you need to get a car insurance policy. If you can’t show proof of insurance, the dealership won’t let you take the car home. In this situation, you might be wondering, how long does it take to get car insurance? The short answer is, it depends. However, you might be able to get car insurance almost instantly, depending on the insurer.
How long does it take to get a car insured?
There’s no specific length of time it takes to get a car insured. It really comes down to whether you already have a car insurance policy and what insurance company you choose.
If you have an existing auto insurance policy, you can probably get car insurance for a new vehicle pretty quickly. You usually have two options. One option is to call your insurance company and let them know that you want to insure a new car. You’ll need to provide the vehicle’s information, like the VIN, make, model, year, trim level, and mileage.
The second option is to add the new vehicle to your existing policy online if you have access to digital policy management tools, like your provider’s app or online portal. After inputting the information about your new vehicle, you will see the updated premium. Once you pay the first month’s premium for the new vehicle, your insurance coverage will take effect.
For some people, it might only take a few minutes to insure a new vehicle, especially if you can add the vehicle yourself. But if you don’t already have a car insurance policy, the process will probably take a little longer.
If you need to open a new policy, you will have to go through the application process. This process usually doesn’t take long if you work with an insurance company that allows you to apply for and buy coverage online. In this case, it might take 30 minutes to an hour to insure the vehicle and get your ID cards.
When do I need to buy car insurance?
If you own a vehicle that is registered in your name, you are legally required to carry car insurance in almost every state. Without car insurance, you can’t legally drive.
If you’re planning on purchasing a new or used vehicle, you must insure the car before you can get the keys and take the car home. However, this might be as simple as adding the new car to your existing policy, which only takes a few minutes.
Another time you may need to buy car insurance is if you’re thinking about switching providers. If you want to change car insurance companies, you must purchase a new policy before the old policy expires. Having a lapse in coverage on your insurance record can have negative consequences, and you could pay higher car insurance rates in the future.
