Home Car insurance Car insurance rates How to buy cheap car insurance for a new car How to buy cheap car insurance for a new car If you're buying a car, you'll need to get a new policy or extend your current policy. Whatever you do, don't drive uninsured with a new vehicle. View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Lena Borrelli Lena Borrelli Lena Borrelli is a freelance writer from sunny Tampa Bay who has worked with such leading industry titans as Gronk Fitness, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Simon Corporation. Her work has most recently been published on sites like TIME, Microsoft News, Bankrate, Investopedia, Fiscal Tiger, The Simple Dollar, ADT and Home Advisor. Reviewed by Laura Longero Laura Longero Laura Longero is a content strategist and communications leader with more than 15 years of experience in content development in journalism, marketing and communications for start-ups to global companies. She started her career as a reporter and editor and honed her journalistic skills at the USA Today Network, working in several roles, as well as managing content and writing at MoneyGeek and XYZ Media. Updated on: April 18, 2024 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. There’s nothing like that feeling of driving a brand-new car off the lot. However, in all the excitement, do not forget to protect your vehicle with the right amount of auto insurance. Before you buy your next car, learn how to protect it with new car auto insurance. How to get cheap auto insurance for a new car Many car dealerships will not let you drive off the lot until you have proof of auto insurance for a new vehicle. Auto insurance is required by law in nearly every state, so make sure that your new car is insured before you go to the dealer to pick it up. However, if you already have insurance for an existing vehicle, this step could be as simple as calling your agent. Many policies automatically extend your current coverage to your new vehicle, at least for a few days. Some states, such as Texas, even require insurers to automatically extend the customer’s existing coverage to a new vehicle. However, it’s important to note that there may still be limitations on the extent of the coverage. Key Takeaways Research the cost of car insurance on a particular type of vehicle before you buy it. Your current auto insurance policy may have a grace period and extend coverage to your new car for up to 30 days. The average cost of car insurance for a good driver with good credit is $146 per month or $1,758 per year. Never drive a new car off the lot without making sure you have adequate insurance coverage first. New car insurance coverage requirements Whether your car is brand new or just new to you, if you’ve financed it, your lender will require you to get a full coverage auto insurance policy. But what does that mean? Full coverage is a combination of comprehensive and collision, property damage liability, bodily injury liability and any other coverages required by your state or lender. Essentially, your lender will want to ensure that the vehicle is fully covered for any potential damage or destruction because they own the vehicle until you’ve paid them back in full. If you are not financing your new car, you’re only technically required to have your state’s minimum requirements. However, we strongly recommend you get more than state minimum liability coverage. Unless you can afford to replace or repair your car if it is destroyed or damaged, you need some comprehensive and collision coverage, too. And most people need more liability coverage than your state requires — Insure editors recommend liability limits of 100/300/100. Average car insurance cost If you have good credit and a good driving history, your car insurance rate will be, on average, $1,758 annually, or $146 per month, for a full coverage policy. But of course, that will vary substantially depending on where you live, what you’re driving and other factors. How much is insurance for a new car? Auto insurance for a new vehicle can cost substantially more than insurance on an older vehicle. After all, the value of your new car could be significantly more than that of a used vehicle. Many auto insurance providers base rates on factors like your state, vehicle make/model, annual mileage, age, driving record and credit score (except in states where this isn’t allowed). So, you should expect to pay more in insurance for a vehicle with a higher value and you should also expect to pay more in insurance if you’ve financed the new car and your lender requires full coverage. Compare car insurance rates You don’t want to be in the middle of purchasing your new vehicle to discover you can’t afford its insurance. To find the best car insurance rates, get multiple car insurance quotes and compare auto insurance rates by car model. In the table below, see the lowest rates for new car insurance coverage, both full coverage and state minimum. RankCar insurance providerFull coverage annual rateState minimum annual rate (liability only)1Concord$872$2902Progressive$895$3153Geico$1,089$3184USAA$1,111$3585North Carolina Farm Bureau$1,141$3326Safety Insurance$1,217$4357Depositors Insurance$1,262$4768Erie$1,268$4149MMG$1,319$40210Travelers$1,322$599 How can I lower my car insurance rates? There are several ways to save money and receive the best car insurance rates: Opt for a higher deductible, which can lower your overall rates, but this will mean more money out-of-pocket if you experience a claim. Enroll in a defensive or safe driving course to save money on your annual auto insurance premium. Look for discounts. Insurance companies offer various discounts you may qualify for to help reduce your auto insurance. Consider usage-based insurance. If you are a low-mileage driver, you may benefit from a pay-per-mile policy. Additionally, if you’re a safe driver with good driving habits, you may benefit from a program that monitors your driving and rewards you. QuickTake Factors that affect your car insurance rates in 2024 Car insurance rates by state in 2024 Car insurance for women: Average rates in 2024 Most and least expensive trucks to insure in 2024 Determining which drivers should be listed on your car insurance policy Cheap car insurance buying guide: How to get affordable coverage How much does car insurance cost a month in 2024? The most expensive and cheapest cars to insure in 2024 Car insurance rates by ZIP code (2024) Average car insurance rates by age and gender How does mileage affect car insurance rates in 2024? Car insurance basics: What is car insurance? Compare and shop auto insurance Average car insurance cost in 2024 Car insurance estimate by model 2023 Car insurance for leased cars: A comprehensive guide Why you must insure all the cars you own Auto insurance quotes comparison - How and why you should compare car insurance rates? Cheap thrills: 7 cars with high horsepower, reasonable insurance Most and least expensive convertibles to insure Popular cars that are cheap to insure 5 luxury sedans with low insurance costs Insuring 2015's cheapest cars The least expensive small SUVs to insure Baby you're much too fast: Speedy cars with the cheapest insurance The least expensive 2011 hybrids to insure See more > Will my old car insurance cover a new car? If you’re already paying for a car insurance policy, you may wonder if you can just use it for your new car. The answer is yes. Many insurance companies offer a new car grace period. However, ask your insurance agent about a grace period before purchasing your new car — and contact them immediately once you’ve made your final decision. How long do you have to add a new car to your insurance policy? Many insurance companies offer up to a 30-day grace period for a new or new-to-you vehicle. This will give you a bit of time to finalize everything with the new car and new policy. Your auto insurance provider should be able to provide instant proof of insurance so you can hit the road in your new wheels without delay. What is gap insurance? Gap insurance pays out the difference between what you still owe on the car and the amount your insurer will pay if the car is totaled (the actual cash value, or ACV) while relatively new. For example, let’s say you bought a new car, financing it with a loan of $30,000. Two weeks later, the car is totaled in an accident and valued at just $25,000. Without gap insurance, your insurer only pays the car’s current value, leaving you with a $5,000 bill. However, if you have gap insurance coverage, also known as “auto loan/lease insurance,” that bill won’t come out of your pocket. Frequently asked questions Can I get an auto insurance quote before I buy a car? Once you’ve chosen the car model, you’ll need to shop for an insurance company, especially if this is your first car. Insurers use different formulas for setting rates, so the price of a policy can vary by hundreds of dollars. That means you could overpay for coverage if you don’t shop for the lowest rate. You should get quotes from at least three insurers when shopping for a policy. Which insurance companies sell new car insurance? All major auto insurance companies offer coverage for new cars. How do you get car insurance without a car? If you do not yet own a vehicle, start with a non-owner’s policy. To help you find the best coverage for your situation, consider how much car insurance to buy and try using the Auto Insurance Advisor tool. Can I drive a car without auto insurance if I just bought it? In most states, it is illegal to drive without car insurance – even if you just bought your car. The last thing you want to do is inadvertently drive home without insurance — a crime with strict penalties. Further, if you drive an uninsured vehicle and get into an accident, you’ll be liable for the injuries and damages you cause to others as well as the damage to the new vehicle. Never drive uninsured. How soon after buying a car do you need insurance? Policies that extend coverage to new cars typically give you seven to 30 days to buy a new policy and inform your car insurance company that you purchased a new vehicle. However, it is always a good idea to notify your insurance company before picking up the car. For one thing, you will want to ensure that the extended coverage includes collision and comprehensive. If it doesn’t, your finance or leasing company will require you to add physical damage coverage to your new car before you drive it home. Will my old car insurance cover a new car? While your existing auto insurance policy may very well automatically extend to your new car, the coverage may not be enough for a new vehicle. Some policies only extend coverage to a new vehicle if it is replacing the existing insured vehicle. The insurer may also only extend the same coverage that was on your previous vehicle. Without adequate coverage, you could find your new car not covered by insurance should you get into an accident on the way home. Do I need car insurance if I’m leasing? You may need to upgrade your coverage if you’re leasing a vehicle. Leasing companies require that you carry higher liability limits of $100,000/$300,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. Typically, insurance companies can get you the coverage you need within 24 hours. How do I transfer a title on a new car? Title procedures vary by state and local governments, but most of the time, if you have financed your new car, the lender will keep the title until you have paid the car off. The lender will also be listed as a lienholder on the title. This ensures that if you were to try to sell the car, the lender would be paid off before the title could be transferred to the new owner. If the new car is not financed, the seller will provide the title once you’ve paid them. Then you’ll complete your registration and tags with the DMV. You will need to show proof of insurance to get tags and registration for the vehicle. Lena BorrelliContributing Researcher | . .Lena Borrelli is a freelance writer from sunny Tampa Bay who has worked with such leading industry titans as Gronk Fitness, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and Simon Corporation. Her work has most recently been published on sites like TIME, Microsoft News, Bankrate, Investopedia, Fiscal Tiger, The Simple Dollar, ADT and Home Advisor. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2024 Car insurance rates by state in 2024 What is full coverage car insurance? How much does car insurance cost for seniors in 2024? A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy in 2024 What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? 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