Can you have car insurance in two different states?

Can you have car insurance in two different states? When life takes you to several different states within the course of a year, making sure you have the right car insurance to protect you in the event of a theft or accident can be confusing. Traveling itself can be stressful; tack on a sudden accident and you might think your only choice is to panic. However, the rules are pretty simple when it comes to these situations, and we’ll walk you through your options.

There is a lot to consider, but the quick answer to whether or not you’re covered across state lines is yes. If you’re insuring your vehicle in a split-state situation, your provider is going to be most interested in where the car is physically located for the majority of the time.

So, if you’re wondering, “can I insure a vehicle in another state?” or, “can I have car insurance from another state?” please read on for more information on getting car insurance in a different state. When you’re ready to find affordable car insurance in two states, or even more than that, enter your ZIP code above to compare car insurance rates in two states from multiple companies at once.

Where does your car reside?

When living in two states, car registration and insurance may seem complicated. Let’s take a look at a hypothetical situation that’s quite common among those considering getting car insurance in another state.

If your legal residence is in Ohio, but you escape the cold winters by heading to Florida for the most brutal months of the year, you have a split-state insurance issue to consider. How you handle your car insurance in this situation depends upon your vehicles and how you use them.

• Do you have one vehicle that you leave in Florida all year? If that’s the case, you’ll want to register that car in Florida and purchase a Florida insurance policy to cover it.
• Do you bring a car with you to Florida that spends more time in Ohio? In that situation, the proper handling would be to insure it in Ohio.
• Do you split your time equally between the two states? If this is the case, you can choose the state insurance and registration that is the least expensive.

If you’re insuring your vehicle in a split-state situation, the insurance company is mostly interested in where the car is physically located for the majority of the time.

When considering car insurance in another state, legal residence is important, but less of a concern than where the car is primarily located and driven.

Do all states require auto insurance? Nearly all do. Rating factors for car insurance vary from state to state. In fact, rates vary from one ZIP code to another because where you live will partly determine the level of risk faced by your insurance company. Out-of-state car insurance coverage options are available if you don’t plan on permanently moving.

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Do insurance requirements differ by state?

Additionally, insurance requirements might differ from one state to another. For instance, Ohio has state minimum requirements of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).

In Florida, required insurance is $10,000 for personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 for property damage liability (PDL).

Of course, to protect yourself best, carrying higher policy limits might be wise, such as 100/300/100. For a list of car insurance requirements by state, look at the chart below.

Additionally, having coverage to repair your vehicle in the event of a loss requires comprehensive collision coverage as well. Also, keep in mind any limits imposed by your lending company or employer.

How can you avoid insurance problems?

Can my car be registered in one state and insured in another? Well, continuing with our hypothetical example, if you buy a car while you spending your winter in Florida, most dealers will title and register it in Florida unless they are instructed otherwise.

Because of this, If you’re planning to remove this vehicle from the state and drive it primarily in Ohio, you need to add it to your Ohio insurance policy.

You also must register it with the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles. This can be done via mail. If it’s a pre-owned vehicle that is subject to EPA inspection, there’s a temporary waiver available to accomplish this until you get back to Ohio.

If the vehicle will stay in Florida, insure and register it within the state as normal.

Do not allow the dealer to add this vehicle to your Ohio insurance policy, as this can cause you problems with the state of Florida. If you have a Florida registration and license tag, you must have a Florida insurance policy on your vehicle.

If you’re interested in getting insurance in a different state than registered, compare rates from different companies using our comparison tool.

Are there any military exceptions?

Active-duty military personnel stationed away from home may also be confused about this issue, especially if their state of residence is subject to rapid changes.

For this reason, most insurance companies allow military personnel to use a declared state of residence, which may make it easier to get car insurance in a different state.

This allows them to have stable vehicle registration, even if they themselves bounce from one state to the next. Even so, the state where you register the vehicle might insist that you have in-state auto insurance. Where can I find cheap military insurance policies? Comparing insurance companies can turn up some that are more military-friendly in situations where frequent moves are necessary.

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What about college students?

Many college students go to school out of state and keep their car insurance in a different state.  This causes many students to wonder, “can I insure a car in multiple states?”

This can be a sticky situation, since most states will require that your car registration match your current address, with corresponding insurance. Still, it’s worth talking with your insurance agency and comparing other companies to see if they have options for students temporarily living in another state. For students especially, it’s handy to check if your provider will allow for temporary registration if they’re only going to be out of state for a portion of the school year.

You might also be wondering, “can I be on my parents’ car insurance if I live in a different state?” Again, different insurance companies have different policy and registration requirements, so it’s best to consult your agent.

Should you split registrations and insurance?

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to be careful splitting your insurance and registration. Even if you’re temporarily working in another state and have maintained your home state insurance, you should register your vehicle there. Registration is going to be necessary no matter where you are and is just as important as having proof of insurance in times of an accident. You don’t want to be without these vital pieces of information, plus you want to be able to prove you’re the owner of the vehicle you’re driving, even if you’re out of state.

Most state laws consider you a resident if you’re gainfully employed, regardless of future plans, for a few months. For this reason, they would expect your vehicle to be registered in the state of your residence.

That’s the long and short of it, though it can be a little confusing. Can an auto insurance company refuse to pay? The short answer again is yes. Remember that the insurance company expects to know where your car actually resides and is driven. Make the changes you need to keep yourself compliant.

This will avoid any hesitations or denials of payment in the case of an incident. Before you make your car insurance policy changes, take the extra few minutes to compare rates and review insurers so that you get the best quality and value for your money.

Can you have car insurance in two different states? The Bottom Line

If you’re still confused, you can always speak with an insurance agent, who will be able to give you further information. With the varying levels and types of coverages that are out there, not to mention all the rules and regulations, it’s always a good idea to speak with your agent about any concerns or questions you have. Clarification will ensure that you’re following whatever insurance laws are in effect in your state, or multiple states as the case may be.

If your situation calls for it, you’ll need to buy car insurance in two states. If you do end up needing a separate policy, that could become expensive. Though you can ask any of the uninsured drivers out there who have been caught if the increase in price is worth it, and their answer will probably be a resounding yes. For the best prices, enter your ZIP code below to compare car insurance quotes in two states from top companies in your area today.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Can you have car insurance in two different states?

So, can you get insurance in a different state? Hopefully, now you know the answer to this question, but keep reading to learn the answers to some other commonly asked ones.

#1 – Can I have auto insurance with two different companies?

When asking, “can I get car insurance in a different state?” you may also be wondering about getting your vehicle insured by two different companies. If you have two cars then you may be able to insure them with different companies. However, some companies will cut you a deal on your auto policy if you have multiple vehicles.

#2 – Can I register my car in two states?

As mentioned above, you should register your car with the state in which you primarily reside.

#3 – Can I have a car registered in a different state than my license?

It’s important to have your car registered in the same state as your license tag. However, there are several states that don’t require you to change the address on your license.

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