Drivers may want to terminate their car insurance for various different reasons. Relocating or moving to a new state might be one reason. Getting rid of a car might be another. Sometimes it’s just a case of finding better coverage or lower premiums. Regardless of the reasons, it’s important to follow some basic guidelines and do it properly.
For most insurance companies, the standard practice is to allow you to cancel your policy at any time during by sending written notice with the date you want cancellation to be. Insurance policies don’t necessarily end at the end of the policy term, so you don’t want to assume that you are cancelling by simply failing to pay your next bill.
Make sure to read your policy carefully, since the cancellation terms might not be obvious. While they’re pretty quick to tell you that if you don’t pay your premiums your coverage will stop, they may not be quite so quick to inform you of the negative repercussions, such as penalty charges that can accrue for not providing formal notice of your policy termination.
You should also recognize canceling your policy, particularly if done improperly, can impact your chances of getting good auto coverage in the future. Canceling your policy through default may get you labeled as a high-risk applicant. The best way to avoid this trap is to make sure you are terminating your policy properly and in a timely manner.
Switching your coverage to a different insurance company carries additional considerations. Most people who switch plan to drive their car throughout the process. If this is you, be careful not to allow a lapse in your car insurance coverage. Coordinate your new policy’s effective start date on or before the your old policy becomes terminated.
If you go to the trouble and make the effort to notify your old insurance company when you want to cancel your auto policy, and follow their stated termination process, you won’t have to worry about any potential negative repercussions.
The author is currently researching Night Vision Scopes and other spy gear, as well as the field of Family Genealogy Searches for upcoming articles.
Tags: auto insurance, automobiles, car insurance, cars, cars and trucks, insurance, personal finance