When you decide on a car to buy, you can provide proof of insurance by requesting your insurance company to email or fax your proof of insurance to the dealership or by showing your valid insurance card.
Although it seems counterintuitive, you have to have car insurance
before you buy a car—and dealerships will require you to show proof of your insurance coverage before making your purchase. Let’s take a deep dive into this part of the car-buying process. What is proof of insurance?
Proof of insurance
is documentation that proves you and your vehicle are insured in case of an accident or other incidents resulting in property damage. In every state except New Hampshire, you have to carry a certain amount of liability insurance coverage, but your proof of insurance will also indicate additional coverage, such as collision insurance or comprehensive coverage.
You’ll need proof of insurance to buy a car, register a vehicle, and show law enforcement upon request. Your proof of insurance can be in one or more of the following forms:
Insurance card from your provider
Document from your insurance company listing your name, policy number, effective dates, and the vehicle(s) covered by your insurance plan
Digital copy of your insurance card via your provider’s mobile app (accepted in all states except for New Mexico)
Proof of payment via email or fax from your provider (if you haven’t received your insurance card)
It’s essential that you have valid proof of insurance before you head out to the dealership. If you have purchased an auto insurance policy but have not received your proof of insurance, be sure to call your provider.
Some car dealerships may allow a 14 to 30-day grace period for you to update your existing car insurance. Others may ask you to sign a legally-binding document saying that you have the liability coverage dictated by state law. But in most cases, you will have to verify that you have insurance with one of the above documents.
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How to get proof of insurance before buying a new car
Thankfully, your insurance provider will issue your proof of insurance fairly quickly once you’ve purchased coverage. But even before that, there are some steps you’ll need to take to get the best auto insurance policy for your new vehicle.
Let’s start at the beginning and go from there!
Pick a car
This is probably the most fun part of the car-buying process—finding your ideal car! You won’t need insurance for browsing at the dealership. Once you’ve taken a few test drives, considered the pros and cons, and made your final decision, you’ll be ready to get your insurance set up.
Get the required vehicle information
To sign up for a new insurance policy, you’ll need the following information:
Your legal name, birthday, and driver’s license number
The names, birthdays, and driver's license numbers of other drivers on your policy
Your address (and the address where you’ll be parking your vehicle, if different)
The car’s vehicle identification number (VIN)
The declarations page from your most recent car insurance policy
The coverage that you want on your policy
You’ll also need to discuss a purchase date with the dealer so you can give that information to your insurance provider for a coverage starting date. If you’re in a hurry, most providers will offer same-day coverage
. Remember, you need your insurance in place before you drive off in your new car.
Get a car insurance quote
Most of the time, going with the first car insurance quote you find won’t get you the best deal. Instead, it’s recommended to compare a few quotes to make sure you’re not overpaying for coverage.
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers Secure your new policy
Whether you’re shopping with a licensed broker, like Jerry
, or you’re content with the insurance quote offered by the dealership, you’ll need to provide your new car’s VIN as well as the purchase date. Then comes the final step: securing your policy. Once you provide all of the required information and pay your premium for your new car insurance policy, your provider will send your proof of insurance.
Here are a few ways you can expect to receive your proof of insurance or have it provided to your dealer before you buy your car:
By mail: Your insurer will mail out your paper insurance ID card once you’ve paid your first installment
By email: Your insurer may send you a temporary digital copy of your insurance card while the physical one is in the mail. You can also request a copy of your insurance card and print it out to keep in your car
Through your provider’s mobile app: Many companies, including Geico
, State Farm
, and Progressive
, provide access to your insurance card via your smartphone Fax or email directly to your dealer: Your provider can send the required documentation to the dealership you’re buying your car from to verify your coverage
Keep your proof of insurance with you whenever you get behind the wheel. Failure to provide it to law enforcement can result in a ticket, fine, and other penalties. You’ll also need proof of insurance to show your lender if you are financing your new vehicle.
Whenever your policy renews, your provider will send you an updated insurance card. It’s a good idea to take a photo or print out a copy of your card in case the one in your glove box is lost, damaged, or stolen.
With your proof of insurance in place, you’re all set to purchase your new vehicle!
