Knowing what your auto insurance company offers to you in terms of online policy documentation is very important. TIP: If you buy auto insurance at the dealership you could pay more. If your coverage has lapsed, you need to take quick action to make sure you are not left paying expensive fines or in jeopardy of having your driver’s license suspended. Can you get insurance without registration? You are also required to maintain current registration under your state law and have all of the proper tags on your vehicle at all times that it is driven on public roads. Quotes and offers are not binding, nor a guarantee of coverage. } Some companies even have an app that allows you quick access as needed. One of the biggest is the type of coverage you choose. Collateral protection insurance (CPI): basics and background Sometimes referred to as forced car insurance or lender-placed insurance, collateral protection insurance is enacted when an individual who takes out an auto loan fails to adequately insure the vehicle and the bank or lender forces their own coverage. The insurance company doesn’t want you to file a claim any more than you do. .quote-new-360-mda .responsive-mda .mda-contents { margin: 0; } But can you get an auto registration without insurance? The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save. Ask for the other driver’s proof of insurance and jot down the license plate number. This is especially important if the damage could be used as proof that you were not at fault. Registering in-person almost always means that you will need to show proof of insurance to the DMV employee handling your registration. Not owning a car does not exempt you from the responsibility of driving with insurance. It’s important to understand what your policy entails with its coverage, your rate, and any applicable endorsements that you may have. Most of the states in the U.S. require you to provide proof of insurance and registration as well as a driver’s license upon request. In these states, you will need to show your driver’s license as well as the license of the owner of the vehicle. This means pulling up not only the policy you currently have in effect but also older policies you had in prior years. Some wonder, “do I have to register a car that I don’t drive?” It is a good idea to have any vehicle that you own registered. Others put it in their wallet because it is a way to make sure they have proof of insurance, even when driving someone else’s car. And in this table, a look at the states with the lowest percentage. Anything not listed in the contract is not covered. @media (max-width: 40em) { The cost of the temporary coverage is added to the administrative fee and any fines paid for plates to be returned. You do not want to find yourself in a situation down the line where you have made all the required payments and are left without coverage for an accident or claim. When you become the legal owner of a vehicle, the car has to be registered in your name. In some cases, like borrowing a car from a friend, you may already be covered, either your own normal car insurance or the owner’s policy. Court bills can be expensive if you sue them, or you may never even see the other driver that hit your car in the parking lot. This information is important to have in the event of an accident or if you need to buy or register a new car. What happens with my auto insurance if I can’t find my registration? Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. You’re not the only person who can be affected by a driver without insurance in an accident. @media (max-width: 40em) { For example, if you choose a one-year term and pay in full at the start, you would not have another due date until the following year. Fine: $50; registration suspension until proof of financial responsibility but 30-day suspension if in car accident or knowingly driving without insurance; $50 restoration fee plus license plate fee, Fine: $100 within three years; registration suspension until proof of financial responsibility but 30-day suspension if in car accident or knowingly driving without insurance; $50 restoration fee plus license plate fee. One other thing to watch out for if you do rent a car (with or without rental reimbursement coverage): be careful to decide whether you really need the insurance on the rental car. One thing to keep in mind is that if you are pulled over and cited for not having the required vehicle registration, this could end up with you paying more for your auto insurance in the future. We’ve collected some of the most commonly asked questions and answered them for you so you can check if your car has insurance and learn how to best manage your auto insurance policy. If you do not know if your auto insurance is valid or current, you should not drive a car until you find out. Before you decide to go with any particular auto insurance company for your coverage, shop around online to compare the available rates. Therefore, you are able to get auto insurance on a car that is not yet officially registered under your name at the state DMV. }, Different DMVs require different forms for registering your vehicle, so you may be wondering things like, “do I need a paper copy of my insurance card to register a car?” The answer is “sometimes.”.