You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the technical advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life ’ s fiscal travel. Bankrate ’ s column team writes on behalf of YOU – the lector. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make fresh personal finance decisions. We follow hard-and-fast guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our column team receives no conduct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. so, whether you ’ re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you ’ re getting credible and dependable information. We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and indifferent information, and we have column standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you ’ rhenium read is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct recompense from our advertisers. Bankrate follows a nonindulgent column policy, so you can trust that we ’ ra putting your interests inaugural. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right fiscal decisions. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the respect they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we ’ ra putting accuracy first. Our indemnity team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — sol you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. Bankrate follows a nonindulgent editorial policy, so you can trust that we ’ rhenium putting your interests beginning. All of our content is authored by highly stipulate professionals and reviewed by subject matter experts, who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and worthy of your trust. Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a hanker track record of helping people make smart fiscal choices. We ’ ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the fiscal decision-making summons and giving people assurance in which actions to take following. While we adhere to strict column integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. here ‘s an explanation for how we make money. This content is powered by HomeInsurance.com ( NPN : 8781838 ). For more information, please see our Insurance disclosure. After someone passes away, their car insurance policy will need to be canceled, but it does not happen automatically. And canceling a car insurance policy when the policyholder passes away may be more challenge than you imagine. The process depends on a few things, including whether or not you are related to the policyholder .
What happens to a car insurance policy after the policyholder dies?
After a person dies, their cable car policy policy will need to be canceled, or they will need to be removed from the policy if there are other drivers on it.
One of the misconceptions around car policy is that if the primary policyholder passes away, their policy will be mechanically canceled, and the coverage will stop. unfortunately, the policy company has no way of knowing that a policyholder has passed away until a spouse or proportional notifies them and requests to cancel the policy. If you need to terminate a car policy policy for person who has passed away, the process is normally easier if you are a spouse or a driver insured on their policy. however, if you are unrelated to the policyholder or are the executor of that person ’ randomness estate of the realm but not a spouse, you will probably find that canceling their policy is a lengthier summons .
Closing a car insurance policy for a spouse
If your spouse has passed away and you want to cancel their cable car indemnity policy, the process should be relatively square. Keep in mind that you will most likely still need to submit software documentation to complete the process. here are the basic steps to follow :
- Call the insurance company: Contact the insurance company and let them know that the policyholder has passed away and that you would like to cancel their policy. If you are also insured on the policy, they may ask if you want to keep the policy and become the primary policyholder.
- Provide documentation: The insurance company will probably ask to see documentation verifying the policyholder’s death, like a death certificate or an executor of estate form. If you have to provide any other forms, the insurance company will explain what they need.
- Wait for confirmation: Typically, an insurance company can formally cancel the policy within one day. The last step is to wait for the cancellation confirmation. You may also receive some compensation from the insurance company if you have already paid that month’s premium.
Closing a car insurance policy for someone other than a spouse
Canceling a car insurance policy for a policyholder that you are not related to can be more challenging. however, if you are the executor of their estate or are a acquaintance or relative, you should still be able to cancel their car insurance. here is what you should do :
- Call the insurance company: Call the insurance company, explain who you are and let them know that you would like to cancel the policy for someone who has passed away. You may need to present certain information, like the policyholder’s social security number or personal information, to prove that you are not a stranger trying to commit fraud.
- Provide documentation: Whether you are related to the policyholder or not, you will likely still need to provide documentation to prove that the insured person has passed away and that you are legally allowed to close their policy. As someone who is not related, there may be additional information you are required to provide.
- Wait for confirmation: Cancelling an insurance policy for someone you are not related to may take slightly longer because the insurance provider will need to verify your status as the estate executor. If the policyholder is entitled to any money from past premiums, it will likely go directly into their estate.
What happens to open claims if a car insurance policyholder dies
If the policyholder passes away while they have an exposed call, you can silent go through the process of canceling the policy. The policy party will continue the claim process through to village even if the policy is no longer active. however, keep in mind that the policyholder may still have a deductible taken from the claim payout or other out-of-pocket costs once the claim is settled. If the policyholder has passed away, their estate of the realm will be responsible for paying the sum owed .
Frequently asked questions
What is the best car insurance company?
There is not a one best car indemnity company for every driver. It depends on what you measure most in an insurance company, like cheap rates, estimable customer service, specific coverage options or something else. You should shop around and compare providers using your own criteria to find the best insurance company and the best car policy rate .
If my spouse dies, will I have to get a new car insurance policy?
not necessarily. If you were both insured on the same policy, you can probable ask your indemnity company to remove your spouse and add your identify as the independent policyholder. You would then become responsible for paying the premiums if you weren ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate already.
Will a car insurance company issue a refund if the policyholder dies?
Depending on your insurance ship’s company and when you cancel the policy, the policyholder may be entitled to some money. typically, the compensation would come in the form of a hark back agio. For exemplify, if the monthly bounty was paid on January 1st and you cancel the policy on January 3rd, you may get back a assign of that month ’ south premium. Every policy company is different, and so are the rules that govern those companies in every department of state. talk to an policy agent at the dead person person ’ sulfur insurance company to find out if there will be any refunds .
If my relative passes away, can I still drive their car?
Yes, you are legally allowed to drive person ’ sulfur car if they have passed away. however, you will need to get your own car policy policy on that vehicle. Keep in mind that you can not legally take ownership of a dead person person ’ sulfur fomite until the title is transferred and put into your list .
How long can I stay on my parents’ car insurance policy if they die?
If you live at home and your parents pass away, you can technically no longer stay on their policy. You would need to contact the indemnity provider and cancel the policy or remove them from it. After that, you would probably need to open a fresh policy in your name, unless you can take over as the independent policyholder on their existent policy .