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Just like with any recurring bill, you need to pay your car insurance premium regularly or your insurer will stop providing coverage. But unlike with a missed phone bill, the consequences of missing an insurance payment can be far-reaching. After a cancellation for a missed payment, the insurer can increase your rates and your license may be revoked.
You’ll usually have a grace period of between one and 30 days, but you shouldn’t count on it to protect yourself. It’s essential that you contact your insurer as soon as you realize you’re behind on your insurance payments.
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What to do if you can’t afford or miss a car insurance payment
As soon as you realize you will likely miss or have already missed a car insurance payment, call your insurance company to let them know you’re aware of the situation and ask what you can do next. The options available will depend on how long you’ve gone without paying your car insurance bill, your insurance company’s policies and the laws of your state. But no matter the details of your situation, it’s key that you communicate with your insurance company to figure out an arrangement. Ignoring or delaying the issue will only make your problems worse.
If the payment is not yet due
If your auto insurance payment is not yet due, or it hasn’t been processed but you know you won’t be able to afford it, you may be able to postpone payment or extend the due date temporarily while you come up with the money. Depending on your insurer, you may not even have to call an agent to do so. For example, Geico allows customers to delay autopay bills by up to nine days through the company’s mobile app.
The agent you’re working with may have some discretion about how much leeway to give you, especially if you have a credible reason why you won’t be able to make the payment. They may also be able to arrange a partial payment to keep you insured if your insurance company allows it.
If you’ve missed a payment by a few days
If you’ve only missed the payment by a few days to a week, you likely can reinstate your policy without a lapse in coverage or other serious consequences, as you’re still in the grace period. You’ll have to pay the amount you missed, usually with a late payment fee. Make sure to do so promptly, though, as the grace period may vary.
If your car insurance has been canceled
If your insurance premium went unpaid long enough for your coverage to be canceled, you’ll have to apply for a new policy. Unfortunately, your rates will likely increase, as car insurance companies charge more for drivers who have had their insurance terminated due to missed payments. It’s even possible that your previous insurer will not offer you insurance at all, in which case you’ll need to go with another company, such as a nonstandard insurer.
It’s illegal to drive without insurance in nearly every state, so once your insurance is terminated, you won’t be able to drive. The longer you go without coverage, the bigger the price increase will be when you purchase a new policy. A 15-day lapse could result in an 8% lapse, while a 45 day lapse could result in a 24% jump.
After you have insurance again, you should contact your state’s department of motor vehicles (DMV) to update your insurance information and confirm that your registration and driver’s license are still valid. You should also make sure you don’t owe your old car insurance company money. It may eventually pass any overdue debts to a collection agency.
What happens when your car insurance is canceled because you missed a payment?
If you miss a car insurance payment, you’ll receive a legally required notice of cancellation from your insurer. This notice may come in the mail or by phone call or email.
You’ll usually have 10 to 20 days between the date of the cancellation notice and the date you are no longer covered. The exact amount of time differs by state. After that, your insurance will officially lapse and you’ll no longer be able to drive your car legally. In some states, letting your insurance lapse also voids your registration — either right away or a few weeks after your insurance lapses. But no matter where you live, the longer you wait before rectifying the problem, the greater the consequences will be. So make sure you contact your insurance company immediately.
Long-term consequences of canceled insurance due to missed payments
If your car insurance lapses or is canceled, whether it’s because of nonpayment or any other reason, you will likely face financial ramifications of some kind. The consequences can continue even after you have reinstated your insurance. Here are some possible outcomes of missing your car insurance payments.
