Every state requires you to have car insurance, so there is no getting out of it. While it is one of those dreaded purchases, we all accept it. However, that doesn’t mean we will enjoy buying car insurance.
If you are like most people, you want to get the buying process over with as quickly as possible. So, how long does it take to get car insurance? You have come to the right place with this helpful guide that walks you through the buying process.
How Long Does It Take to Get Car Insurance?
Buying car insurance can take less than an hour or several hours. How long it takes you will depend on how prepared you are, the method of buying, and the company you buy from. For most people, it takes about an hour.
Information Gathering
Before you attempt to buy car insurance, gather the required information. This will make everything go much faster. Have this list of information before you start reaching out to insurance companies.
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Driver’s license number
- Vehicle make and model
- Vehicle identification number
- Accident history
- Driving history
- Estimated annual mileage
Determine How Much Insurance You Need
Knowing how much insurance coverage you need before starting will streamline the quoting process. Check what your state minimum is. Then, decide if that is enough or if you should have more.
Request Care Insurance Quotes
The next step is to get car insurance quotes from different companies. You could work with an agent or broker who can give you several quotes from various companies they work with. You can call the car insurance company directly and speak with its agents.
A third option is to obtain quotes online. You can do this through the insurance companies’ websites or an aggregator that will pull quotes from a website and give them to you immediately.
Potential for Delays
A few circumstances can cause your insurance policy to be delayed in starting. The process is pretty straightforward if you buy car insurance after buying a car. This is not true when insuring a vintage, antique, collector, or race car.
These cars can vary significantly in value and condition. The insurance company may want someone to inspect the vehicle before agreeing to insure. They may also increase the car insurance cost to cover the additional liability risk.
You may also have delays in coverage if you have an extensive claim or driving infraction history. Both of these situations represent an increased risk for the insurance company.
Get Car Insurance Fast
By now, you should have a good answer to the question of how long does it take to get car insurance. While there is no exact time, you have the power to make the process go faster. Get prepared before you start by gathering your information.
Then, work with an expert who can help you quote multiple companies quickly. When you find one that is a good fit, pay your premium and get the policy started.
Check out our other buying guides for more helpful life advice and guidance.