How to Get Same-Day Car Insurance
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Most car insurance companies let you start your policy immediately on the same day you buy it. The best way to get same-day coverage is to have all your info ready and get quotes online.
Which insurance companies sell same-day insurance online?
Many of the most popular insurance companies will allow you to get a quote and buy car insurance online immediately. And you can often buy coverage on your phone or tablet, so you don't even need a computer to do it.
Can you buy insurance online immediately?
Company | Y/N | |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | Yes |
| American Family | Yes |
| Amica | Yes |
| Auto-Owners | No |
| Erie | No |
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Can I get car insurance instantly?
Yes! If you need car insurance quickly, you can generally call or go online to get a quote and have coverage for your car all in one day. For example, if you've just bought a new car at a dealership and need coverage in order to drive it off the lot, you can get the policy you need almost immediately.
The most convenient way to buy insurance and put it into effect on the same day is often to buy it online.
Larger insurance companies, like State Farm, Progressive and Geico, are more likely to offer same-day insurance than smaller or more specialized insurers. Smaller insurance companies typically require you to call one of their agents or go into an office to secure a policy.
How long does it take to get car insurance?
When you're buying car insurance, the insurance company will ask you what day you want your policy to start. You can usually choose any date between today — that's same-day car insurance — and a month from now.
If you already have car insurance, you'll want to choose the day that your current car insurance ends so there's no gap or overlap. If you don't already have coverage, choose the date you will own your car. If that's today, choose today. If your car won't be ready until two weeks from now, buy it for then.
You can't buy car insurance retroactively, even on the same day. If you were in an accident or got a ticket for driving without insurance, you can't buy coverage later and be covered by insurance.
What do I need to get a quote and buy insurance online?
Even if you're working with an insurance company that can provide auto insurance immediately, you'll need some info about yourself, your household and your car to get coverage quickly.
The insurance company will use info you provide, plus info from third parties, like your credit score, to set your rates and provide you with a car insurance quote.
Info you'll need to get a same-day insurance policy
- Full name, occupation, driver's license and Social Security number of all drivers you want to add to the policy
- Your average commuting distance
- Your legal and mailing address
- Current auto insurance policy details, if any
- Details of each car you're insuring, including make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Date you bought your car and current mileage
- Credit or debit card number
What can prevent drivers from getting car insurance immediately?
In some circumstances, it's possible that an insurance company won't be able to provide you with insurance coverage right away. This might be because the company is missing key info about you that it needs to set your rates.
For example, car insurance companies consider where you live when they are setting rates. If you recently moved and the insurer can't verify your address, it may not sell you a policy right away.
There could also be something about your current situation that means the insurance company needs more time to set your rate or approve your coverage. You may be looking for coverage for a rare or high-value car that isn't in the insurance company's price database. Or a checkered driving history may mean an insurance company doesn't offer you a quote at all.
Reasons you may not get an insurance quote immediately
- You're missing any of the info required to apply for insurance, even if it's listed as "optional" in the application
- You recently moved
- You have multiple recent at-fault accidents or tickets
- You own a rare or specialty car
If an insurance company isn't able to sell you insurance online immediately, try calling the company to determine what's causing the issue and to solve the problem. If you're not able to take care of it quickly, you may just need to move on to another insurance company.
Are there reasons I shouldn't buy same-day car insurance?
While there's no denying that it's convenient to buy car insurance on the same day you need it, it's not your only option, and there are benefits of planning ahead. If you buy coverage in one day, you'll have less time to find the lowest prices for car insurance, which is the best way to save money on your insurance.
Some insurance companies will give you a discount for buying insurance ahead of time. Not every company offers this discount, but if it's available, you can save 3% to 10% for buying in advance. For example, American Family gives you a discount if you buy your insurance more than seven days in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get same-day insurance?
Yes! Your car insurance policy will usually go into effect immediately after you buy it. You can buy a policy online on your phone from anywhere, and you will be covered immediately. But keep in mind that the best way to find the lowest price is to compare quotes from multiple insurers, and that may be hard to do if you're buying a policy at the last minute.
Is same-day insurance legitimate?
Yes, major insurers including Geico, Progressive and State Farm allow you to buy a policy and have it go into effect immediately.
Is same-day insurance more expensive?
Not necessarily. Car insurers don't charge extra just to activate your policy immediately. However, some insurers, like Travelers, do offer an advance-shopping discount for buying a policy that starts more than a few days after you buy, so you could be missing out on a possible discount by buying a policy the day you need it.
What do I need to get same-day insurance?
You'll need the same info you need for any car insurance policy: Your driver's license, your car's make, model and VIN, and info about your current or previous insurer, if you have one.
Is same-day car insurance retroactive?
No. If you get in a crash and then buy a policy on the same day and try to make a claim, you will almost certainly be caught. Not only will you have your policy dropped immediately, you will have committed insurance fraud — a crime.