If you are ready to go car shopping to purchase a vehicle, you should realize that you will need to have auto insurance before you can take your new car home. Having auto insurance is a requirement for drivers in most states, and here are a few things you should understand about it if you want to go shopping to buy a new car.
You cannot leave the lot without it
The first thing to know is that you cannot leave a car dealership with a new car you purchased without car insurance. Not only is car insurance required by most states, but it is also required by car loan lenders. If you buy a car with a loan, your lender will not allow you to leave the lot without proper insurance.
Your current policy may cover it
If you are trading in a car to buy a different one, you probably already have car insurance. If this is the case, your current policy will likely cover the new car you are buying, but this coverage will be temporary. When you get home with your new car, you would need to contact your insurance company to let them know that you traded in your car for a different one. The agent would then update your policy to remove your old car and add your new one, and this would give you the coverage you need for it.
You should contact your agent before you shop if you do not have insurance
If you currently do not have auto insurance and want to buy a car, it is a good idea to call an insurance agent prior to going car shopping. By doing this, you can give the agent your information and let them know of your intentions to buy a car. When you choose the car you want to buy, you could call the agency a second time to give them the information they need to begin your policy. Once you do this and make a payment to them, the policy will begin, and you can drive your new car home. It is also possible to purchase instant auto insurance through the dealer or through an insurance agency while you are at a dealer working on buying a new car.
Driving without car insurance is illegal and is not a wise decision. If you need insurance for your car, contact an auto insurance company today to get covered.
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