It can be tricky to get car insurance if you don’t have a permanent residence. If you are homeless or between homes, you may not have an address to give to the insurance company. Does that mean you can’t get car insurance? Not necessarily. Read on to find out the ins and outs of getting car insurance without an address.
Why Does Having an Address Matter?
While it may feel like an act of discrimination to require a permanent address in order to get car insurance, the insurance companies see things very differently than consumers. For them, your address is a major factor in rate determination, which is all about assessing the risk you may pose to the company.
Insurance companies look at your address and can use statistics about the area, such as the number of accidents, the weather and the population density, to figure out the rate consumers in this area will pay. So, if you can’t give them a permanent address, they will simply decide you are too risky and deny your policy application.
What Can You Do If You Don’t Have an Address?
If you are homeless or living in your car, you may find it impossible to obtain an auto insurance policy. While you get back on your feet, you could keep your vehicle at a friend’s house and use their address to get car insurance. Be careful though. You must park your vehicle at the location you specified when not in use. If the insurance company finds out that you don’t really keep your car there when it’s not in use, they could drop your coverage, or worse, deny a claim should you have an accident.
Remember, if you are temporarily living somewhere, this is not good enough. Insurance companies still see this as too much risk. Any living situation that will last less than 30 days is a red flag to car insurers. But, if you can turn your temporary situation into a more permanent one by signing a lease, you can use this address to start your policy. Let’s talk about that in a little more detail.
What If I Am Moving and Don’t Have a New Address Yet?
If you are moving to a different state, you will likely get an automatic grace period to register your car. Most states allow 30 days for you to get things in order. Be sure to know the laws in your new state by checking with the motor vehicle department. You will have to start a whole new policy in our new state.
And when starting a new policy, be sure understand the coverage you need so you are sure you are getting the best deal. When you’re ready to take a comprehensive look at your car insurance, we’re here to help. InsuranceWins sends you up-to-date quotes from companies you know, with just a few easy steps. Fill out the form and start learning how you can save on your auto insurance!
