Depending on your car insurance company, you may be able to pause your indebtedness coverage if you won ’ metric ton be operating your fomite for an elongated period of time. If you pause your liability coverage, you should keep comprehensive examination insurance to protect the vehicle itself from damage. But this option is only available for drivers who are putting their cars into storage and won ’ t be driving them at all, and not every insurance company will allow you to do this. rather than trying to “ pause ” your car indemnity, you should consider lowering your coverage limits or patronize around for newfangled coverage. Key Takeaways
- You broadly can ’ t pause your car insurance, but you may be able to suspend your indebtedness coverage if you won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate be operating your vehicle for 30 days or more
- In some states, you may need to file an “ affidavit of non-use ” at the DMV stating that your presently registered fomite will not be in use before you can drop liability coverage
- rather of suspending separate of your indemnity, consider reducing your coverage by shopping about for lower rates
Pausing your car policy
You technically can ’ metric ton “ pause ” or “ freeze ” your car indemnity — it ’ randomness required by jurisprudence in about every state of matter. The merely way to pause your car insurance is to cancel your coverage in its entirety, which you should only do when you ’ re switching policies or getting rid of your cable car. Some insurers offer the choice to suspend your indebtedness coverage if you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate predict using your fomite for a calendar month or longer — but you would calm retain comprehensive examination coverage for the vehicle itself. Liability coverage is the coverage that covers the costs of price or injury you cause with your car, and it ’ s necessity if you ’ re going to be driving. But suspending liability coverage international relations and security network ’ metric ton always an choice, even if you are putting your cable car in storehouse for months : Your lienholder or lessor may require you to maintain a certain sum of coverage, in which encase you couldn ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate drop your liability coverage. And even if you ’ re driving less than common, many insurers do not offer the option of suspending car insurance coverage. If your cable car insurance company does allow you to downsize to comprehensive coverage, your liability coverage may be dropped temporarily. Comp-only coverage, besides called car-storage indemnity or seasonal vehicle policy, protects your vehicle from non-driving perils like damage from fire, larceny, vandalism, falling objects, malicious activity and extreme weather, and is a compulsory minimum if you wish to suspend or reduce your coverage. Reducing coverage to comp-only will not technically “ pause ” your car insurance, but it will significantly lower your premiums. If you decide to operate your car while your indebtedness coverage is suspended ( or while you have a lapse in coverage ), you won ’ triiodothyronine be financially protected from checkup expenses or property damage you cause with your car, and you risk fines and early consequences for driving uninsured. There is generally no set time limit on how long you can suspend your liability coverage but you must restore your coverage before you begin driving your car again .
When to pause your car indemnity
If you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate design on operating your vehicle for 30 days or more and your car insurance company allows it, you can pause your liability coverage until you ’ re cook to get back behind the bicycle. It may be potential to pause your liability coverage if :
- Your car is in long-run storehouse
- You ’ re traveling afield
- Your license is suspended
- Your car is in need of animate
- You ’ ve been deployed overseas
- You ’ re ineffective to drive due to illness or injury
In addition to pausing your car indemnity, you may besides need to file an “ affidavit of non-use, ” notifying your state ’ sulfur DMV that your fomite will not be operated for an offer period of time. Drivers who ’ ve financed or leased their cars may need to consult with their lienholders or lessors before suspending their indebtedness coverage. Lienholders are share owners of your vehicle until you ’ ve paid it off, so they have a stake in which coverage you can and can not suspend. similarly, if you ’ ve leased your cable car, your lessor may require you to keep your current coverage, meaning that dropping liability coverage wouldn ’ metric ton be an option. ready to shop cable car insurance ? Start calculator
Pros and cons of suspending liability coverage
If you ’ re storing your car away for the foreseeable future and your insurance company allows it, you can reap some long- and short-run benefits from suspending your indebtedness coverage, but the decision comes with some cons to consider .
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You won’t have to pay for coverage you’re not using | You assume the cost of all liabilities if you decide to operate your vehicle without liability coverage |
| Your vehicle is still protected from damage | Drivers with auto loans or leased vehicles may not be eligible for suspended coverage |
| You can avoid a lapse in coverage, sparing you from an increase in future rates | Insurance suspension is not offered by many auto insurers, in general |
| You’d probably be breaking the law by driving without liability insurance |
What happens if you suspend your car insurance?
If you won ’ triiodothyronine be operating your vehicle for 30 days or more, you may be able to suspend your liability coverage, so you won ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate be paying for that insurance while your car is not in manipulation. however you should inactive keep comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle from non-driving perils like burn, falling objects, vandalism and larceny. not every indemnity ship’s company will allow you to suspend your indebtedness coverage ; this option may merely be available for drivers who are putting their cars into storehouse and won ’ metric ton be driving their vehicles at all .
Alternatives to suspending your cable car policy
Looking for a room to lower your car policy rates ? rather of suspending your liability coverage while your fomite ’ s not in function, consider other options to lower your monthly car policy costs .
1. Reduce coverage
Reducing your coverage can help you save money while you ’ re not driving. Try lowering your indebtedness limits or removing add-ons like wayside aid and collision policy from your policy since you won ’ metric ton be needing a tire change or postaccident repairs in the future calendar month .
2. Switch to usage-based indemnity
With usage-based policy, you can pay for the miles you actually drive — so if you drive less, you ’ ll pay less. Some companies offer entirely usage-based car indemnity, but you can besides lower your rates by enrolling in a usage-based or behavior-based program and allowing your insurance company to track your condom drive .
3. Remove yourself from coverage
If you ’ re on a divided policy, the chief named insured can remove you from the coverage which may remove your demographics from the average car bounty and lessen the costs. however you may not be able to drive the car once you ’ ve been removed from the policy .
4. Take advantage of every available deduction
Most insurance companies offer a wide crop of discounts. Make sure you ’ re getting every available option to save. typical discounts include savings for students, and for certain professions, like nurses. You can besides get discounts of up to 10 % at most indemnity companies for going paperless or by paying your annual agio in entire. And condom drivers can save even more by having a clean record, or taking a defensive drive path. There are besides low-mileage discounts if you ’ re driving much less than you used to. Check with your insurance company to make sure that you ’ re getting every discount for which you qualify. ➞ Learn more about car policy discounts
4. workshop around for cheaper car insurance
If your policy is up for refilling, or if you just want to find better rates, you can shop around for cheaper car insurance and secure the coverage you need at an low-cost price. You may even be able to find the lapp coverage you have now at a cheaper rate by comparing quotes online or through an independent agent .
5. Cancel your policy
If you ’ re getting rid of your car, you can cancel your policy all in all. The process is simple, and can be completed on-line or over the call. All you need to do is ask your insurance caller about the process, sign and send a cancellation letter, and get a comment of your policy cancellation .
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to insure a car that is not being driven?
All registered vehicles must be covered by the express ’ s minimum measure of indebtedness policy if you ’ re going to drive them on public roads. If you own a car that you ’ re in truth never, always going to drive, you may want to look into comp-only coverage, besides called car repositing indemnity, which covers the types of damage that can happen while your car is being stored away and not being driven. But if you ’ re going to drive your cable car occasionally, even once a calendar month, you ’ ll need a car policy policy that includes indebtedness coverage.
Do you get a refund if you cancel auto insurance?
If you paid in full at the start of your policy and you cancel before the policy term is up, your indemnity will refund you the remaining symmetry on your annual premiums, minus any cancellation fees. But if you pay your premiums month-to-month, you ’ d alone be refunded for the remaining half month if you decide to cancel your car indemnity policy after you ’ ve already paid for that month .
Is it bad to cancel car insurance?
If you stop making payments on your car policy and your policy is canceled for non-payment, future insurers may consider you a high gamble driver and charge you higher premiums as a result. In the worst case scenario, an policy party may deny you coverage wholly. But if you ’ re barely switching policy or you ’ ve sold your car and won ’ metric ton be driving anymore, it ’ sulfur very well to cancel your policy. You can cancel your existing car policy at any time, but if you plan to hush drive your vehicle, make certain that you ’ ve got your next policy ready to go before you cancel your current coverage .