Can I suspend car insurance for a month?

Most states legally require car insurance, so it can be difficult to pause or suspend your coverage. Suspending car insurance for a short period — like a month — can be especially tricky and cause potential problems or premium increases down the road. 

This guide will walk you through when and how you can suspend auto insurance temporarily and give you other options you may not have considered.

Can I suspend my car insurance? 

Most of the time, you can’t temporarily suspend your car insurance. Insurance company rules and state laws typically require all registered vehicles to be insured to protect all drivers on the road.

Some insurers may allow you to suspend your car insurance for a month if you’ll be traveling or otherwise not using your vehicle. You’ll have to meet their requirements to suspend your policy. In some states, you might have to submit an affidavit of non-use to the DMV. 

If you can’t suspend your entire policy, you can reduce or suspend non-required types of auto insurance coverage temporarily to keep your premiums low while you aren’t driving.  

The Risks of Suspending Auto Insurance 

You can suspend car insurance temporarily in some situations, but your vehicle won’t be covered if you or someone else needs to drive it unexpectedly. Anyone who drives it will be considered an uninsured motorist and may have to pay out of pocket for any injuries or damages they cause.

Suspending vs. Canceling Auto Insurance

Canceling your coverage altogether is a bad alternative if your state or insurance company won’t let you suspend your car insurance coverage temporarily.

You’ll have a coverage lapse when you cancel your car insurance policy. If you need to restart your insurance coverage in the future, you may face higher premiums due to this lapse. 

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Other Options for Reducing Your Car Insurance Coverage

If your state or insurance company doesn’t allow you to suspend your coverage, try these options to reduce your insurance premiums while the car isn’t in use: 

• Remove optional coverages, like comprehensive and collision insurance.
• Reduce your policy to the state minimum liability requirements.
• If you share a policy, remove yourself as a driver.
• Increase your deductible.

While canceling your car insurance is also an option, we don’t recommend it. A car insurance coverage lapse usually means higher rates when you rebuy a policy. Reducing your coverage is a better option than canceling it entirely if you need to suspend your car insurance temporarily.

Pausing Car Insurance if You’re in the Military

Active duty military members are the exception to the rule about pausing car insurance. Call your insurance company to let them know if you are on a military assignment for an extended period. 

They may require documentation about your employment, but almost every insurer in the country has a procedure to allow military members to pause their car insurance. 

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The Final Word on Pausing Your Auto Insurance

Check with your insurance company for their rules on temporarily suspending car insurance. Depending on their requirements and your state’s laws, you may be able to pause some or all of your coverage for a month or longer if you won’t be driving.

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