at least a week in advance. In both scenarios, drivers will need to provide their new vehicle’s identification number (VIN), make, model, and year.

It’s possible to get car insurance before buying a car

Whether you’re in the market to purchase a new (or used) vehicle for yourself, your teen driver, or for occupational purposes, you will need a car insurance policy. To make sure all your bases are covered, it’s best to start

shopping for a new auto insurance policy

at least one week in advance. This way, it gives you time to compare prices, secure the coverage you need, and iron out any other details.

Keep in mind that if you’re planning on purchasing your vehicle from a dealership, you will be asked to provide

proof of insurance

before you can actually take your car home. Modern dealerships will generally

verify your car insurance policy

using insurance verification software or standard phone-call, so it’s ideal to ensure that you have a policy in place prior to streamline the buying process.

New car grace period: When you purchase a new car—whether it’s from a dealership or a private seller—most insurance companies will provide you with a 7-30 day grace period if you’re looking to
add your policy to your existing coverage
. All you have to do is call your insurance provider with your new car’s VIN, mileage, and year, make, and model. You might even receive a
multi-car discount
!

The best way to get car insurance before buying a car

When buying a car insurance policy, you can either source quotes independently, partner with an insurance agent, or connect with a broker, like

Jerry

. With the Jerry app, you can search for car insurance quotes and purchase policies all from the comfort of your home. Here’s how.

1. Gather the information you need

You can’t buy auto insurance without knowing your car’s:

Make, model, and model year

Odometer mileage

Vehicle identification number (VIN)

You’ll also need the contact information of every person of eligible driving age within your household, including their legal name, birth date, social security number, and driver’s license number. Keep in mind that the driving record of all drivers added to your policy will impact your final rate.

Learn more:

What to bring when buying a car

2. Find the insurance coverage you need

Next, you need to choose your auto insurance coverage. This includes what

type of coverage

you prefer, the amount of coverage you need, and any additional coverage options.

First thing’s first: you need to meet your

state minimum car insurance requirements

before you can register or drive your new car. At $927 per year (or $77 per month), you can purchase a minimum coverage policy to meet this requirement. This policy type comes with both

bodily injury liability

and

property damage liability

coverage—but the total coverage limits required will vary by state.

When shopping for car insurance, it’s important to remember that not all car insurance providers calculate rates the same, meaning that your total cost may be different from one provider to the next. Here’s a look at how the minimum rate changes across some of the

best insurance companies

in the nation:

Insurance company	Monthly coverage cost	Annual coverage cost
Allstate	$85	$1,019
Aspire Insurance	$78	$938
Bristol West	$158	$1,893
Dairyland	$116	$1,398
Gainsco	$98	$1,179
Kemper	$69	$831
National General	$94	$1,128
Plymouth Rock	$110	$1,316
Progressive	$79	$947
State Auto	$58	$693
Travelers	$59	$711

While liability insurance is

light on your wallet, it’s unlikely to meet

your insurance needs

. The state minimum coverage only covers medical expenses and property damage for third parties—not your own. As such, most drivers will benefit from a full coverage policy.

Opting for a

full-coverage car insurance policy

costs an average of $1,984 per year or $165 per month, but it’s worth it in the long run. Besides the state minimum coverage, it generally also comes with

collision insurance

and

comprehensive coverage

, which cover your expenses in the event of an

at-fault car accident

or theft.

Here’s how much a full coverage policy may cost you with different insurers:

Insurance company	Monthly coverage cost	Annual coverage cost
Allstate	$198	$2,380
Aspire Insurance	$180	$2,164
Bristol West	$361	$4,330
Dairyland	$321	$3,857
Gainsco	$222	$2,659
Kemper	$176	$2,110
National General	$211	$2,534
Plymouth Rock	$227	$2,728
Progressive	$178	$2,137
State Auto	$162	$1,939
Travelers	$141	$1,691

Along with a full coverage policy, drivers should also consider increasing their liability limits beyond the state requirements. Most experts recommend limits of 50/100/50 or 100/300/100 to protect your assets and future income—however, the final amount is entirely dependent on your financial situation.

If you’re leasing or financing your new vehicle, most car dealerships will require you to purchase a full coverage policy to cover any damages. With a car loan, it may be wise to also invest in
gap insurance
and a higher deductible in the event of a total loss.

Learn more:

How much car insurance do you need?

3. Shop for car insurance

To help drivers find the best provider for them, Jerry experts recently conducted one of the largest consumer surveys in the nation. For this survey, over 15,000 respondents rated their experience with their current providers.

As a result, we learned the following: 1) the size of an insurance company doesn’t always equate to the cheapest car insurance rates, and 2) name-brand providers don’t always get the best scores with policyholders.

When

comparing car insurance companies

, it’s important to consider factors outside of cost, including customer service, claims handling, and overall satisfaction. Here’s a list of the providers who scored higher than average in our survey in each of these categories:

Insurance company	Overall Jerry rating	Customer service rating	Claims handling rating
State Auto	4.5	4.4	3.4
Travelers	4.6	4.5	4.5
Nationwide	4.3	4.0	4.5
Clearcover	4.6	4.6	4.6
Kemper	4.1	4.2	3.5
Safeco	4.5	4.4	4.0
Aspire Advantage	4.9	4.7	3.5
Progressive	4.3	4.2	4.0

But we can’t deny that cost is an important factor, especially if you’re a first time buyer or new driver. That’s why we not only picked the top providers with the highest scores—they also have the lowest rates. Take a look at the average monthly cost for car insurance with these insurers:

Insurance company	Minimum coverage	Full coverage
State Auto	$58	$162
Travelers	$59	$141
Nationwide	$61	$155
Clearcover	$66	$130
Kemper	$69	$176
Safeco	$70	$165
Aspire Advantage	$77	$180
Progressive	$79	$178

The providers above are only a short list of insurers who offer lower car insurance costs. If you choose to use the Jerry app to help you purchase car insurance, you can compare rates from dozens of top insurers in your area, all customized to your unique driver profile.

But the savings don’t stop once you’ve secured a policy. Even after you’re insured and have your vehicle in the driveway, you can still save by shopping for car insurance with Jerry every six months.

Are you overpaying for your car insurance?

Compare rates from dozens of top providers using the Jerry app

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4. Apply any discounts for additional savings

Most providers offer

car insurance discounts

to help drivers continue to save on current policy costs. Here are some of the most common options:

Good driver: Drivers who maintain a

clean driving record

or remain accident-free for a specific period of time can earn savings with this discount.

Good student: If you’re a student buying a new car, you can offset the cost of

new car insurance

by maintaining a B average.

Paid in full: Sometimes car payments are enough to worry about. If you want to avoid monthly bills, consider paying your premium in full. Not only can you get a fair sized discount, but you may also qualify for a refund if you opt out of your policy early.

Multi-vehicle: If your household has more than one vehicle, you can lower your monthly premiums by putting your new vehicle under the same policy.

Once you know which discounts you’re eligible for, add them to your profile in the Jerry app and re-run quotes. You may see your rates lower!

Learn more:

How to add a new car to your insurance policy

How long does it take to get car insurance before buying a car?

Buying a brand-new car can be a long process, and adding insurance shopping to the list can make it feel even longer.

While it’s advised that drivers shop for car insurance at least a week prior, Jerry can help you find and purchase a

same day policy

with some of the top insurers in your area. The entire process, from quoting to securing a policy, takes approximately one to two hours.

Looking for same-day coverage with some of the best providers?

Compare with Jerry

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FAQ

How soon after buying a car do I need insurance?

It’s best to buy insurance coverage for a new vehicle at least a week before picking it up, but if you have a policy with a

new car insurance grace period

, you have 7-30 days to find coverage.

Do you need insurance to buy a car from a private seller?

You need to buy car insurance before picking up a vehicle from a private seller because

it’s illegal to drive without car insurance

under any circumstance.

Can I drive a car I just bought without insurance?

Unless your existing policy provides a

new car insurance grace period

it’s illegal to drive uninsured

no matter how recently you bought the vehicle.

What’s the best car insurance for a new car?

Based on Jerry’s data,

State Auto

Progressive

, and

Clearcover

offer the

cheapest new car insurance

for a 2023 model.

Meet our experts

Jasmine Kanter

Jasmine Kanter is a non-fiction writer specializing in comprehensive content that's accessible to beginners, experts, and everyone in between. Since joining the Jerry team, Jasmine has penned over 300 articles on car insurance requirements, driving tips, and car maintenance.

Prior to joining Jerry, Jasmine worked as a graphic designer, storyboard artist, and French customer service representative. She enjoys collecting hobbies and babysitting ducks in her spare time.

Kianna Walpole

Expert Insurance Writer & Editor

Kianna Walpole is an insurance writer and editor with a comprehensive background in consumer behavior and online publishing. With experience in car insurance, maintenance, and repair, she is dedicated to building informative content that helps customers reduce costs while achieving the best service. Prior to joining the Jerry editorial team, Kianna worked as a junior editor in the content marketing industry, using consumer data and key insights to create and edit content for an array of large-scale clients in the real estate, cybersecurity, and healthcare industries.