“Congrats on your upcoming trip! Unfortunately, most car insurance
companies won’t allow you to put your insurance on hold—but there may be other cost-saving opportunities for you! Contact your insurance agent and ask if they can put your vehicle on a storage plan.
A storage plan removes all of the liability coverage
and collision coverage from the policy, leaving only comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage will still protect your car from losses like fire, theft, and vandalism. These are common losses that can occur when cars are parked for a while. When a car is put in storage, it no longer meets the legal requirements to be on the road. Therefore, during this time, no one can drive the car and you should check with your local DMV to see if your plates would need to be surrendered.
If your car insurance company says no to the storage idea, you have two options:
Continue paying for coverage
If you continue to pay, just lower your coverage to the state minimum to save money. If you cancel your coverage, you technically are in a lapsed period, which may affect your rates when you return the the U.S. and ultimately cost you more money. However, if you don’t want any expenses while you’re abroad, you may want to cancel your insurance.
If you cancel or get a storage plan, you’ll need new coverage when you return. One easy way to find the best plan for you is to use the Jerry
app—we’ll get you multiple customized quotes instantly and help you switch to any new plan you choose. That way, you can get your insurance set up before you even leave the airport!” MORE: 8 ways to prepare your car for winter driving or storage