Car Insurance Across State Lines

There are a million things to think about when you're making a move to a new state, and your car insurance is probably low on your list. It's one of those things that most people figure they can deal with when it comes up. However, each state has different requirements for bodily injury and property damage coverages, and you also need to find out whether your new state is an at-fault state or a no-fault state Not updating your car insurance coverage to reflect your new home state can leave you open to tickets and maybe even a lawsuit. It pays to do some homework!

Make the DMV Your First Stop

Luckily, we live in an day and age where a trip to the DMV no longer means waiting in lines for hours at a time. Visit the DMV's website, and you'll find a wealth of resources. You'll learn how to apply for a new driver's license or ID card, and they have information on registering your vehicle in your new home state. They even have helpful articles about local fun facts, history, tourism, and the unique economy.

You can also find plenty of information about your new home state on the state's official website. Look for the website that ends in ".gov" so you know you're in the right place. Browse the news articles and visit sections about highway safety. Each state's rules of the road differ, and you may learn something important about your new home. For example, are you likely to hit a deer? Or an armadillo? Is it legal to pull over on the shoulder in the event of car trouble, or do you need to use a designated breakdown lane? Getting to know your local rules and customs will help you stay safe and out of trouble.

Upgrade or Downgrade?

When you make the switch to your new address, call your car insurance provider and register the change of address. Make sure you remind them that you're moving to a new state, and ask them how the car insurance requirements are different. Each state has a coverage amount for bodily injury and property damage. These numbers are expressed this way: 25/50/15. In this example, the state requires your car insurance to pay out up to $25,000 per person injured in an accident, $50,000 total for all persons injured, and up to $15,000 to cover property damage. Make sure that your current coverage is adequate. You may need to upgrade, or you may be able to choose less coverage than you were previously required to carry.

Also ask if you're living in a no-fault state or an at-fault state. If you've been living in a no-fault state, you just billed your own insurance company when you were in an accident. However, if you've moved to an at-fault state, you need to bill the car insurance of the party who cause the accident. This is a trickier system, so make yourself aware. If you end up getting rear-ended and don't bother to find out the other driver's insurance information, you could end up poring over police reports and getting a headache. Just what you don't need after a big move!

Reassess Your Coverage

Since you're going to need to spend some time online and on the phone dealing with your insurance, it's the perfect time to do a little comparison shopping and see if you can save some money. Different car insurance companies operate in different states, and you could find a company that serves your new state and can save you a lot. Before you upgrade or downgrade your coverage, see if you can save money doing it. Visiting carinsurancerates.com can help you compare companies and rates quickly and easily. You have enough to worry about when you're moving - don't worry about paying too much for your car insurance!