There are several reasons you may need car insurance now. You could be buying your first car and need to meet the minimum car insurance requirements in their state. Or maybe your current car insurance policy is expiring, and you need same-day coverage so your coverage doesn’t lapse.
With online quote options, it is now easier than ever to get a car insurance quote instantly for same-day coverage as long as you have the required personal information ready. MoneyGeek identified the best insurers with online tools to help you get a quote and proof of insurance immediately. We also analyzed the cheapest companies that can offer you same-day coverage. However, if you can plan to purchase car insurance in advance, you may be able to find cheaper car insurance rates with more discounts.
Most insurance companies offer online quotes that are close to final, so you can get car insurance in a matter of minutes or hours.
If you're looking for cheap instant car insurance, it's worth taking some extra time to compare multiple quotes.
If you can avoid it, don't get car insurance the same day you need it. Buying in advance can help you save money and figure out which company is the best fit for you.
MoneyGeek found that of the top 15 auto insurance companies in the country based on market share, Auto-Owners Insurance is the only one that doesn’t offer the option to get an online quote. This means if you need car insurance now, you can get same-day car insurance quote from State Farm, GEICO, Progressive and other major names. Your car insurance tends to go into effect immediately after you finalize your purchase, which will usually require talking to an agent of the company.
If you have the necessary information ready, it getting car insurance quickly is possible, though an insurance company may need additional information beyond that asked for in its online quote tool.
Auto-Owners, which doesn't offer online quotes, works with independent agents in participating states to provide quotes, usually within 24 hours of a request being made. Auto-Owners customers may still get same-day coverage, but customers will have to call the company and contact an agent.
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Just because need car insurance fast doesn't mean you can't find a company that fits your situation. MoneyGeek has the resources you need:
Even if you need car insurance with same-day coverage, you should still be able to get an auto insurance policy that’s the affordable. The cheapest car insurance companies nationally include some of the biggest names like GEICO and State Farm, and these companies have online quote tools to help you get same-day coverage.
But the cheapest options for car insurance depend greatly on where you live. The table below details the average cost of same-day car insurance by state. Click on your state to learn more about the cheapest insurers in your area.
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The quotes provided are for coverage limits of $100,000 per person for bodily injury, $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $100,000 per accident for property damage. Comprehensive and collision insurance are also included.
If you want an instant quote estimate but aren't necessarily interesting in buying coverage today, use MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator. It can help you get an accurate quote without entering specific personal information, so you won't have to worry about phone calls and emails.
The key to getting car insurance immediately is to have the right information available before you start an online quote. You should already know most of the information, like your address, age, marital, and employment status. The rest of the needed information is more specific, including:
Do you know how much car insurance you need? First-time car buyers have several options on how much liability insurance to buy and whether to add comprehensive, collision and other coverages. Most insurance experts advise purchasing as much liability insurance as you can afford. MoneyGeek recommends newer car drivers choose full coverage to protect their finances and their vehicle.
Not all drivers will qualify for immediate same-day car insurance coverage. There are three scenarios where a driver may not be able to get an online quote instantly:
In the last situation, car insurance companies may not cover you now or at all. These high-risk drivers should contact their state’s Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office, which helps drivers who can’t find car insurance.
Ideally, you should always buy car insurance in advance rather than on the same day you need it because it can help save you money and give you more time to explore your options. Even those who don't have their car yet should get car insurance before buying a car.
Buying in advance will entitle you to advanced quote discounts, and it will also allow you to contact an agent and make sure all available discounts are applied to your policy, not just the ones listed on the company's online quote tool.
For instance, if you plan which insurance companies you are going to shop with ahead of time, you can combine it with your home insurance to get a home and auto bundle discount, one of the best ways to save.
Buying car insurance in advance is also less risky. A lapse in car insurance coverage could increase your car insurance rates by hundreds of dollars per year, even if the lapse is only a few days. Planning ahead to make sure you have secured continuous coverage will help you avoid such penalties.
With many insurance companies, buying a car insurance policy at least seven days before the needed effective date entitles you to an advanced quote discount.
Not all online quote tools offering same-day coverage and proof of insurance show all possible discounts, which means you could be missing out on potential savings.
An online car insurance policy might not include all available coverages like pay-per-mile insurance, which may be a good choice for low-mileage drivers.
If you still have questions about buying car insurance today, check out answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Professor of Accounting (Retired), College of Business, Lipscomb University
Assistant Professor of Marketing at Fayetteville State University
Economics, Finance, Philosophy Professor at the College of Southern Nevada
Associate Professor of Business Management at Borough of Manhattan Community College
Agency Owner of Insurance Brokers Group
Assistant Professor of Finance at University of Northwestern - St. Paul
Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Southern Indiana
Assistant Professor of Economics, CAS Undergraduate Economics Program Director at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Senior Lecturer in Economics at UMass Boston
Visiting Professor of Business at Eureka College
Adjunct Professor at Cumberland University
Department Chair and Professor of Finance at the University of Louisville College of Business
Assistant Professor of Finance at Indiana University Northwest
Professor of Finance in the Economics and Finance Department at St. John's University
Executive in Residence and Lecturer, Wealth Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of New Hampshire
Professor of Business Finance at Carroll University
Professor of Accounting at Christian Brothers University, CPA, CGMA, CFE
Assistant Professor in Marketing at the University of South Dakota
Assistant Professor of Business, Finance and Management at Baton Rouge Community College
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