Dairyland’s grace period for missed payments is 10 to 15 days, after which your policy is canceled. But if you miss a payment for your policy renewal, your insurance may automatically expire at the end of the term.

A lapse in insurance coverage is nothing to joke about—not only is it dangerous for you but also if you’re caught driving without valid insurance, it could lead to severe consequences and the classification as a “high-risk driver.” As such, a single missed payment could impact your insurance premiums for longer than you’d like to think!

But most insurance companies understand that things happen—due dates are accidentally overlooked or unexpected expenses pop up. That’s why grace periods exist. If you have an insurance policy with Dairyland and are looking for details on their grace period, here’s what you need to know.

MORE:

11 car insurance hacks to save you money

Compare quotes from 50+ insurers with Jerry in under 45 seconds?

Find Savings!

4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars

4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

Does Dairyland give you a grace period after your auto insurance expires?

Yes, if you miss a payment with

Dairyland

, there is a grace period for payments. Although the exact duration varies between states, you’ll have an average of between 10 and 15 days after your due date to complete your payment and keep your insurance policy active.

If you cannot make a payment, your Dairyland insurance policy won’t automatically be canceled. Most states have laws that protect drivers from having their policies canceled without prior notice from the insurance company.

In most cases, you’ll receive a cancellation notice when you miss a payment, making you aware that you have X number of days to complete the payment and avoid a lapse in coverage. If you don’t have paperless billing, this notice will likely come in the mail, meaning your grace period will be shorter once you receive the notice. Otherwise, it may be sent to your email.

Remember that missing a regular payment is one thing, but if you miss a renewal payment, your policy could automatically expire at the end of the term.

Do your best to always make payments before the grace period is up. Missing a payment, even by one day, will likely result in late fees, and you’ll still be required to pay for the time you’re insured—even after the missed payment.

If you miss a payment, get in touch with a Dairyland representative as soon as possible to get your questions answered.

If you cannot pay your insurance bill within the grace period, Dairyland will cancel your insurance policy, meaning you’ll be without coverage. And since

driving without

insurance is illegal in all states, you could be up against some hefty charges if caught. So, it’s always recommended to make your payments on time—or at least before the grace period ends.

MORE:

What happens if you’re caught driving with no car insurance?

What are the benefits of a grace period?

Insurance providers offer a grace period as a convenient way for drivers to avoid a lapse in coverage if they can’t complete a payment. This is very generous since

lapses in coverage can negatively impact your insurance premium

One month or less without car insurance coverage can result in an 8% rate increase, while 30 days or more without coverage can increase your premium by a whopping 35%!

MORE:

How police catch uninsured drivers

Dairyland continuous insurance discount

Another big reason you want to avoid a lapse in insurance is that Dairyland offers customers a continuous insurance coverage discount. But if you don’t pay before the grace period ends, your coverage will lapse, and you won’t be eligible for that discount anymore.

How long is a typical grace period for car insurance?

While most insurance providers offer a grace period on missed payments, not all do. So, you’ll want to check with your provider to confirm your coverage terms. Among insurers that do, the average period is about 10 days from the original payment due date. However, the timeframe varies between providers.

Dairyland offers a 10 to 15-day grace period (depending on your state), which is about average. That’s good news for you if you struggle to keep up with your insurance payments!

MORE: Dairyland Insurance: Everything you need to know

Consequences of a car insurance lapse

What happens if your car insurance policy lapses? Depending on where you live, the consequences can be severe and may range from fees associated with making a late payment to jail time if caught driving without insurance.

Some of the consequences include:

Accident costs: Car insurance—even basic

liability coverage

—protects you in the event of an accident. If your insurance policy isn’t active and you’re involved in a crash, you’re left to absorb the costs. And they can be steep!

Penalties: The penalties can be severe if you’re caught driving without insurance. In

South Carolina

, for example, the consequences may include license suspension, plate seizure, jail time, and fines.

Insurance rate increases: When you reinstate your policy, you may see an increase in your premium depending on how long you go without coverage. Missing a payment, even by a day, can result in a flat fee due to the lapse in coverage following your grace period.

But it doesn’t end there. If your insurance does lapse, your insurance provider may consider you a

high-risk driver

, which means your insurance premium will likely go through the roof once it’s reinstated. And as a high-risk driver, you may also be required to file an SR-22.

MORE:

How to fill out and file an SR-22

A lapse in coverage may also:

Impact on your driving record: In several states, car insurance providers are required to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if a driver has a lapse in coverage, which may go on your driving record.

Difficulty resuming insurance coverage: Depending on the circumstances of your lapse, some providers may consider you too high of a risk and deny you coverage altogether.

What to do if your Dairyland car insurance lapses

If you can’t make your insurance payment on time or your insurance policy has already lapsed, contact Dairyland immediately at 1-800-334-0090 to see if you can get your policy reinstated. In most cases, you should get your coverage restarted.

Before you call them, there are a few things you’ll want to be prepared with:

Car insurance policy number

Full name and address

Driver’s license

As well, if you’re reinstating your insurance policy, you’ll likely be liable for paying the following:

A fee for missing the original payment

The amount owed for the grace period (for the time you were still covered after you missed a payment and before your policy lapsed)

If you cannot have your policy reinstated, it’s time to look for a new one. You can purchase directly through Dairyland or comparison shop using an online tool to see if there’s a better deal!

Once you have insurance coverage, be sure to call your state’s DMV to update your insurance information and ensure your policy meets the legal

minimum insurance requirements in your state

MORE:

How does a car insurance lapse impact rates?

How to avoid a coverage lapse

There are several easy ways to avoid a lapse in insurance coverage.

Don’t miss a payment: If you haven’t already, set yourself up for automatic payments via a credit card or an electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your bank account. You can do this by logging into your

Dairyland account

online or through the mobile app. If you have automatic payments set up, regularly check your account information to ensure it's up-to-date to avoid any payments being denied.

Set reminders: If you haven’t signed up for auto payments, keep a reminder on your calendar, computer, or phone about when the payment is due. This is an easy way to avoid late payments and the charges that go along with them.

Sign up for digital alerts: If you haven’t signed up for paperless billing, your coverage could end, and your insurance could lapse while you’re waiting for the notice to arrive in the mail. By opting into electronic billing alerts, you’ll receive an email or message notifying you of the missed payment.

Remember to renew your policy: Most insurers will notify you when it’s time to renew, but setting up alerts yourself is a good idea. Adding an insurance policy renewal reminder to your phone or calendar can prevent a lapse in coverage or missed payments. It can also help you save money when it comes time to renew!

Get in-between protection: If you don’t currently have a car, consider investing in

non-owner car insurance

to keep you protected, especially if you’ll be driving someone else’s car. It provides liability coverage if you’re involved in an accident in another person’s vehicle and prevents your insurance from lapsing.

Life happens—and so do insurance lapses. While the consequences of insurance lapses and driving without insurance can be serious, there are several ways to avoid it. If you’re struggling to meet the costs of your current policy, consider shopping around for better-priced insurance. Quotes can change in as little as six months, so it’s wise to circle back now and again.

MORE: How do I get car insurance for about $50 a month?

Dairyland insurance grace period for new cars

While Dairyland doesn’t specify the grace period duration for new cars, most insurance providers will give you 30 days to notify them about adding a new car to an existing policy.

If you don’t inform your insurance company and you’re involved in an accident, you could be on the hook for some steep repair costs and/or medical bills.

MORE:

New car insurance: What coverage do you need when buying a new car?

“
Jerry
is a great service made easy for a newbie. It was my first time buying car insurance and everything was quickly taken care of. Everything was done in the app, so that was incredibly satisfying.” —August M.

RECOMMENDED