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Can I drive my new car home before buying car insurance?
I am going to buy my first car today and am unsure of how the process works. Am I okay to drive my car home before I buy my new car insurance policy?
Johnny Puckett · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Typically, you cannot drive your new car home before buying
car insurance
. However, there may be an exception if:- You live in New Hampshire or Virginia, OR
- You have an active car insurance policy that includes a grace period when you add a second car to your policy. (This usually only applies to private car sales)
Your car dealership will
verify your insurance
before you can take your car home if you live in one of the 48 states that require car insurance
. If you buy a car from a private seller, you may not be required to show proof of insurance—this is when a grace period might help you out.With or without a grace period, it’s best to get your insurance policy into place before buying the car, or at least as soon as possible.
If you know what kind of car you want to get, you can start to get your insurance policy set up. Once you know the vehicle identification number (VIN), you can update the policy with your insurer.
Expert tip: It’s easier than ever to buy car insurance on your phone! Use an insurance shopping super app like
Jerry
to find and set up the most affordable policy for your new vehicle before the ink has dried on the dotted line.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
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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