Auto insurance is regulated state by state. When you move, your current policy usually keeps you covered for a short period, but the requirements, prices and sometimes the types of coverage you need all change.
Before you move
- Tell your insurer your move date and new address. Rates are set by ZIP code; your premium will change.
- Ask whether your insurer writes policies in the new state. Not all do, and some use different underwriting companies.
- Get quotes from partners in the new state for comparison before you arrive.
After you arrive
- Register the vehicle and get a new driver's license within the state's deadline, commonly 30 to 90 days.
- Update the policy to the new state's requirements. Some states require PIP; some require UM; minimum liability limits differ.
- Update the garaging address (where the car is kept overnight) which drives the rate.
- Confirm your new policy is bound before canceling the old one.
Things that change
- No-fault vs. at-fault system, which affects injury claims and PIP requirements
- Minimum liability limits
- Whether credit-based scores are allowed
- Inspection and emissions requirements
- Whether your existing discounts carry over
Multi-state households
A student at school in another state or a family member with a car elsewhere may need a separate policy in that state. Ask.
Don't let coverage lapse
A gap of even a few days can raise rates for years and, in some states, trigger registration penalties.
Requirements vary widely between states; your new state's department of insurance website lists the basics. This is general information, not insurance advice.
Documents to have ready for new-state quotes
Quotes in a new state come back faster and more accurate when you have the details in front of you. Gather these before you start calling around or filling in forms:
- Your current declarations page, so you can match or adjust coverage deliberately
- Driver's license numbers and dates of birth for every driver in the household
- The VIN, year, make, model and current mileage for each vehicle
- Lienholder or leasing company names and addresses
- Your new street address and where each car will be parked overnight
- Your exact move date and when you expect to register the cars
- Proof of continuous prior coverage, which some insurers use in pricing
- Details of any accidents, claims or violations in recent years
Be precise about dates. Your new policy needs to be active on the day you start living and garaging the car at the new address, and the DMV will usually want proof of in-state coverage when you register. Some states verify insurance electronically, so the policy may need to be issued before you can finish the registration.
How the move differs by situation
Not every move follows the standard pattern. A few common situations have their own wrinkles.
Active-duty military members can often keep their legal residence, license and registration in their home state while stationed elsewhere, under federal protections for servicemembers. Insurance still has to reflect where the car is actually kept, though, and some insurers specialize in military families. Ask how a transfer or deployment is handled.
College students who take a car to school in another state often stay on a parent's policy, but the insurer needs to know the car is garaged at school. Rates may change, and a few states have their own rules for nonresident students.
People who split the year between two homes, sometimes called snowbirds, generally insure the car based on where it's kept most of the year. If the car stays at one home, tell your insurer so the garaging address and mileage are accurate.
In every case, the answer depends on both states' rules and your insurer's policies. Explain the full situation and get the answer in writing.
A realistic example
Consider a hypothetical: Chris is moving from a no-fault state to an at-fault state for a new job. Six weeks before the move, he calls his insurer and learns it writes policies in his new state, but through a different company, so he'll need a new policy.
He pulls his declarations page and requests quotes from his current insurer and several others, keeping the liability limits the same. PIP isn't required in his new state, so he chooses to add medical payments coverage instead. He sets the new policy to start on his move date and confirms it's issued before he hands in the keys to his old apartment.
After arriving, he registers the car and gets his new license within the state's deadline, bringing his new insurance card to the DMV. Only then does he cancel the old policy and ask about a refund of unused premium. There's no day without coverage in between.
Common questions
Can I keep my old car insurance after moving to another state?
Only for a short time. Your policy is written for the state where the car is garaged, so once you've moved, it needs to be updated or replaced to meet the new state's requirements. Continuing to use an old address after you've moved can be treated as misrepresentation, which could complicate a claim. Most states also expect you to register the car within a set deadline.
Will my car insurance go up or down if I move to another state?
It could go either way. Rates depend on your new ZIP code, the state's minimum coverage requirements, whether it's a no-fault state, local claim and repair costs, and which rating factors the state allows. Moving from a rural area to a city often costs more, and the reverse can cost less, but there are plenty of exceptions. The only reliable answer comes from new quotes.
Do I get a refund if I cancel my car insurance after moving?
Usually, if you paid in advance. Most insurers refund unused premium on a prorated basis when you cancel mid-term. Some apply a short-rate method or a cancellation fee instead, which reduces the refund. Ask how your insurer calculates it before you cancel, and cancel only after the new policy is active so there's no gap in coverage.
Set your new policy to start on your move date, and cancel the old one only after you have the new insurance card in hand.
