I am going to purchase a used vehicle. Do I need to buy the car first before buying used cars insurance?

Damon

Houston TX

You definitely need to buy used cars insurance if the used car will be your first vehicle. In many states, you will need to do this before taking ownership of the car. If you are just replacing your car and you already have car insurance active, your existing car insurance policy may cover your used car for a couple of days. To be sure about this you may contact your car insurance company before buying auto insurance.

Before buying either a new or used vehicle, please do call your insurance provider to inform them regarding the vehicle that you would like to buy. They can provide you the quote for the vehicle so you will have an idea how how much it would cost adding an automobile to your policy. This can help you budget your finances as well. Your insurance provider can then inform you should call and add the automobile so it will be covered.

Do I have to purchase full car insurance coverage for a used vehicle that I’m planning to get here in Alabama?

Oliver

Huntsville, AL

Not necessarily, car insurance for used vehicles would usually cost much lower due to the fact that the value of the vehicle itself has depreciated. This means that you can maintain adequate comprehensive and collision coverage for much less than it would normally cost you on an expensive vehicle. If the actual cash value of your vehicle there in Alabama is low enough, you may even find it more cost effective to have relatively minor damages fixed yourself, and drop comprehensive and collision coverage all together. You can even opt to increase your policy’s deductible and take advantage of lower premiums for doing so.

You should still maintain the required amounts of liability insurance coverage, as mandated by the financial responsibility laws of your state. No matter how old or used your vehicle is, it’s still a moving object that still has the potential to inflict damage to property and injuries to people, which you may be sued for, so dropping liability is something you do not want to do.

With used cars, you actually get the flexibility of balancing risk versus costs. Here are some other helpful tips to insuring a used vehicle:

1.Do you have good medical insurance coverage? If so, then you may choose to drop Personal Injury Protection since your medical insurance will pay for treating injuries caused in a car accident.
2.Driving a used car won’t disqualify you from discounts that you may be eligible for, so don’t forget to ask.
3.Always shop around. This website is a great way to start your search or affordable used car insurance.

I just bought a used car that’s really low priced. Do I need to have used car insurance?

Tom

Colorado Springs, CO

No matter how much your car costs, whether it is a very expensive brand new sedan, or a really cheap old clunker from the used car garage, you will need to provide at least the minimum levels of liability insurance as it is required in your state. This is because the insurance coverage is one way of showing to the state that you can very well pay for the damages you are most likely to inflict from driving your car on the streets. Not having one would cost you your driving privileges. You will also end up depleting your savings from paying state-imposed fines for driving around uninsured. Worse, your car might just be seized by the government to make sure that it is not loose on the streets without insurance.

Since you have a used car, obtaining used car insurance would be your best option, so you do not have to pay enormous amounts on coverage. Most owners of used cars choose the higher deductibles on their Comprehensive Insurance to considerably decrease their premiums. And this is just a good move as there is no point in insuring your used car for such high limits since it only costs really cheap on the used car lot. Additionally, it would hurt to pay expensive rates on Comprehensive Insurance and just end up accepting a really small settlement if it gets to be declared a total loss after an accident.

This year I am planning to buy my first used car. I am just wondering if I need to get used car insurance in California first before I buy the car?

Erik

Los Angeles CA

If this is your first car then yes you will have to obtain used car insurance before taking over the ownership of a used car in the state of California. If you already have car insurance and you are just replacing a car on your existing car insurance policy then the car insurance coverage might insure your first used car for a couple of days. I suggest that you check with California Laws to be sure and ask your car insurance company.

Keep in mind that before you buy a used car, I would advise you to speak with your car insurance company to inform them about the car you might want to buy. Your car insurance agent should be able to provide you a car insurance quote of what it will cost to add the car to your car insurance policy, that may be able to help you budget for your used car and used car insurance purchase. Your car insurance carrier will be able to inform you when you should call and add the car so it will be have coverage.