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What happens if I forget to renew my car insurance?

I don't have autopay set up for my car insurance. I think my policy is set to renew soon, but I have to send in the payment. What would happen if I forget to renew my insurance?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Remembering due dates when bills aren’t on autopay is a hassle. I know I wouldn’t be able to keep track!
If you forget to renew your
car insurance
, you won’t have coverage. The day that your policy expires is technically your policy renewal date. If you don’t send in your payment before that date, your
insurance would lapse
and the insurer would cancel your coverage.
A lapse in insurance coverage means you have no insurance coverage. If you drive
without car insurance
, you risk fines and license suspensions. If you’re in an accident during this time, you’re not covered either.
Yet even if you forget to renew your insurance, you can still reinstate your policy! Most insurance companies will let you reinstate your policy if the payment is only a few days behind.
Call your insurance company to confirm your renewal date. If your policy is still active, consider shopping around before renewing.
Personal finance experts always recommended to comparison shop at policy renewals to ensure you’re getting the best rate. If you want to leave the hard work of gathering quotes to someone else, use
Jerry
. This app can collect quotes from up to 50 top insurance companies in seconds!
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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.

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