PriceProtect™
DriveShield™
GarageGuard™
Services
Insurance
Car Insurance
Compare Car Insurance with Jerry
Jerry’s Expert Advice
Car Insurance Estimates
Home & Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance
Repairs
Car Repair Estimates
Repair Estimates for Popular Services
Advice
Read Car Content
Browse Jerry Car Advice
Check Out Expert Car QnA
Learn About How We Create Content
Jerry Data & Research
How often do you have to pay car insurance?
I just got car insurance for the first time, so I’m still not exactly sure how it works. Do you pay for insurance every month?
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Most car insurance companies will allow you to pay your premium:
- in full up front, or
- in installments each month.
Paying in full means, if you have a six-month policy, you’d pay your entire six-month car insurance premium prior to the policy going into effect. The same applies to a 12-month policy.
If you chose to pay in installments, you will pay monthly on or before your bill’s due date. Your total premium will be divided by the length of your policy term (typically six or 12 months).
Most monthly payment plans have added fees. So often, it’s beneficial to pay in full if you are able.
Another advantage to paying in full is refund eligibility:
- If you pay your entire premium up front but need to cancel your insurance before your term is over, you’ll likely be eligible for a refund on the remaining months.
- If you pay your premium in monthly installments but need to cancel your insurance before your term is over, you probably won’t receive a refund.
To determine how often you’ll need to pay your insurance, you’ll want to read through your policy documents or
policy declaration page
. Both should detail your premium amount, along with your payment method and payments due.If you feel your insurance is lacking or you’re paying too much for it, try
Jerry
. The Jerry app can gather low-cost quotes from over 50 top insurers in minutes and deliver the best deals directly to your phone for free. No paperwork. No phone calls. Just savings.”View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance
You Might Also Be Interested
Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry
What Others Are Asking
Browse More Content
Insurance in Your State
Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance
No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls
Quotes from top insurance companies