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How do you insure a car before you buy it?

I want to make sure I have everything ready to go before I buy a car. I’ve heard that it's better to have insurance before I purchase a car. How do I do that?

avatar
Lauren Smith · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Not only is it possible to purchase car insurance before you buy a car, it’s recommended! You’ll need
car insurance
before you drive your car off the lot.
You’ll just need to do a bit of research and have some information ready to go. If you know the car you want to purchase, you’ll need the following information:
  • Car’s make and model
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Once you decide on a vehicle, you’ll also need some personal information handy:
  • Driver’s license number
  • Your address
  • Recent driving history
  • Your date of birth
  • Marital status
If you have all that information together, you can easily contact insurance providers to get quotes. You can either call a local agent or look for quotes through online portals. It’s a good idea to compare several quotes so you know you’re getting the best rates.
Perhaps the easiest way to shop for quotes is with
Jerry
Jerry pulls quotes from over 50 top companies in under a minute and delivers the best deals right to your phone. No long forms. No calling around. Just savings. The average Jerry user saves $879 a year on car insurance.
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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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