Do auto insurance companies check where you live?
Your car insurance company will check where you live, and providing false information could be considered fraud.
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Tracey L. Wells
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Tracey L. Wells is a licensed insurance agent and Farmers insurance agency owner with 23 years of experience. He is proud to be a local Farmers agent serving Grayson, Georgia and surrounding areas. With experience as both an underwriter and agent, he provides his customers with insight that others agents may not have. His agency offers all lines of insurance including home, life, auto, RV, busi...
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
UPDATED: Jul 12, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jul 12, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
When you shop around for car insurance coverage, you may notice that each company offers you monthly rates that are a bit different. The main reason why different companies offer different rates to policyholders is because of the factors used to determine a person’s rates.
There are a number of factors most companies use to determine clients’ car insurance rates, and a person’s address is one of these common factors. Lying on a car insurance application about where you live will make you regret it if you ever have to file a claim with your insurance company.
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- A proof of address for car insurance is required when determining premiums
- Your insurer is likely to do a car insurance address check if you file a claim
- Lying about your address on car insurance could cause your claim to be denied
Car Insurance Asking for Proof of Address
Insurance companies do ask for a proof of address, and this is completely normal. But, why do insurance companies track your location?
In the simplest of terms, your car insurance company will need your mailing address to send you pertinent information about your policy and touch base with you as a secondary form of communication. Your insurer may also want this information because your address does affect your car insurance rates.
There are a number of factors that impact your auto insurance rates, and your address is one of them. In some instances, car insurance companies will charge you more if you live in a dangerous neighborhood or in an area known for heavy traffic.
The reason your car insurance company might charge you more for these things is because of your risk factor. Living in a location with heavy crime activity or a lot of rush hour traffic ultimately means you’re at a higher risk for filing an insurance claim. So, it’s important to know that your car insurance will go up if you change your address.
While it may seem tempting to lie about where you live to save money on your auto insurance rates, you should be honest with all the information you provide to the insurance company.
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How Do Car Insurance Companies Verify Address
Address verification for insurance can be done in a number of ways, but companies begin verifying a car insurance address in this way fairly quickly if you file a auto insurance claim. When you file a claim, your auto insurance company will verify all of the information you provided.
One way companies can check to see whether the address you listed is correct is by using a company called GarageConfirm. This company helps insurance companies combat garaging fraud by using towers and cameras in different areas to spot your vehicle and compare how often it is seen in your listed ZIP code versus other areas and ZIP codes.
If the information from GarageConfirm suggests that you are often driving and parking in a different area, you will need to give your car insurance company a proof of address.
What Happens if You Lie About Your Address on Car Insurance
So, what happens if you lie on your car insurance company? It may seem like no big deal to lie about where you live, but your auto insurance claim — regardless of what it’s for — could be denied if your insurance company finds out you did not tell the truth.
Using someone else’s address for car insurance and providing false information to your insurance company is considered fraud, and this is all your insurance company needs to deny your car insurance claim. So even if someone else hits you and is uninsured, your company will not be required to cover the damages under a full insurance policy.
How to Change Address on Insurance
So, do I have to change my insurance address when I move? If you moved to a new location, or if you falsified your address and now want to change it, you should be able to change your car insurance address fairly easily.
Some companies allow policyholders to make changes to their information online, while others will require you to call and speak to an agent or representative to make specific changes to your personal information.
It can be tempting to use a false address to ensure you get cheaper car insurance rates, but it’s not worth the potential of having your claim denied in the future. If you want to use your real address but find that car insurance coverage is too expensive, there are a few things you can do to lower your rates.
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How to Lower my Car Insurance Rates
If you need to lower your car insurance rates, one of the best things you can do is shop around for coverage. Finding and comparing quotes with multiple companies will allow you to see which insurance companies offer the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
People who compare auto insurance quotes and are still struggling to find rates that will work for them can consider raising their deductibles. By raising your deductible, you will have to pay more upfront before your insurance company will help with damages or repairs if you ever have to file a claim. This can lower your monthly rates significantly.
Another way to lower your rates is by taking advantage of discounts available to you. Many car insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts on car insurance coverage.
Some of the most common car insurance discounts include:
- Multi-policy discount
- Multi-car discount
- Vehicle safety discount
- New car discount
- Anti-theft discount
- Good driver discount
- Defensive driver discount
- Good student discount
- Paid-in-full discount
- Paperless discount
- Online quote discount
- Occupation discount
Discounts offered by car insurance companies can help you save as much as 20% on your monthly rates, so asking your car insurance company about a discount may be a great option for you.
When all else fails, you can consider lowering your car insurance discounts by choosing a lower coverage option. The cheapest coverage you can purchase will be your state’s minimum liability amount. But if at all possible, it’s a good idea to carry more than this amount of coverage on your vehicle.
The Bottom Line: Car Insurance Checks Address
Ultimately, it’s a bad idea to put a wrong address on a car insurance application. If your insurance company finds out you lied, you could lose your coverage. And if you file a claim and the company starts asking questions, you could be in a lot of trouble.
If you put a different address on your car insurance and your insurance company discovers that you lied, your auto insurance claim could be denied. This would mean that you would have to pay for any repairs to your vehicle, and any other vehicle you’re responsible for damaging, out of your own pocket.
There are plenty of ways for you to find reasonable car insurance coverage at a price you can afford. You can ask about discount options, lower your deductible, choose a lower level of auto insurance coverage, and shop around online to compare quotes and find cheaper coverage.
When you shop online for the right coverage, take your time in order to discover which company will work best for your needs. If you have questions about coverage, or if you believe you may qualify for additional discounts on your car insurance, be sure to call the company and speak to an agent.
A better way of finding reasonable and less costly premiums entails comparison shopping for competitive policies. Compare today by entering your zip code into our free rate tool below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do auto insurance companies check where you live?
Yes, car insurance companies can find out where you live because they typically verify the location as part of their underwriting process. The address plays a crucial role in determining your insurance rates and coverage.
Why do auto insurance companies need to check where I live?
The location where you reside can significantly impact your auto insurance rates. Insurance companies use various factors associated with your address, such as the crime rate, population density, accident statistics, and proximity to emergency services, to assess the risk level associated with insuring your vehicle.
How do auto insurance companies verify my residential address?
Insurance companies use different methods to verify your residential address. Common methods include checking your driver’s license, vehicle registration, utility bills, lease or mortgage documents, and conducting database searches or third-party address verification services.
What happens if you insure your car at a different address?
Providing an incorrect residential address to your auto insurance company can have serious consequences. If the insurance company discovers the discrepancy, it may affect your policy’s validity, and they could deny a claim or cancel your coverage. It’s essential to provide accurate and up-to-date information to avoid any issues.
Can my car insurance be at a different address to get lower insurance rates?
It is illegal and considered insurance fraud to have your car insurance at a different address in order to obtain lower insurance rates. Insurance companies have measures in place to detect fraudulent activity, and if discovered, it can lead to severe penalties, policy cancellation, and legal consequences.
Can I change my address on an insurance policy?
Yes, you should promptly notify your auto insurance company if you change your residential address. Failure to change your auto insurance address can lead to complications in the event of a claim. Contact your insurance provider and provide the updated address information to ensure accurate coverage and billing.
Why does car insurance need to know who you live with?
Insurance companies assess the risk of insuring you based on various factors, including the driving records and habits of people you live with. Knowing who else might drive your car helps the insurer calculate the likelihood of an accident or claim.
What information do car insurance companies check?
Car insurance companies consider several factors, such as your driving history, credit score, age and driving experience, location, to determine risk and set premiums.
Does a wrong address invalidate car insurance?
A wrong address on your insurance policy can potentially invalidate it in certain situations. For example, if your auto insurance company finds that you’re using a different address for car insurance, then they may disqualify you from receiving coverage.
Can I register my car insurance at another address?
You cannot insure a car at a different address unless you have a valid reason that aligns with the insurer’s policy.
Can I insure my car at a different address?
You cannot put a different address on your car insurance policy other than the one where you currently reside. In fact, car insurance is invalid if the address is wrong.
Does changing my address affect car insurance?
Your insurance will go up if you change your address because rates are influenced by location due to factors such as crime rates, risk of accidents, traffic density, and even weather patterns.
Can I lie to my car insurance company?
Lying to your car insurance company about any detail, whether it’s your address, the primary driver, your driving history, or any other relevant information, is considered insurance fraud.
I forgot to change the address on my car insurance, will the company deny coverage?
Your insurance company is unlikely to deny coverage if you forgot to notify them of the car insurance address change. However, if you change the address on car insurance, you may have to pay higher premiums.
Does it cost to change address on car insurance?
So, how much is it to change address on car insurance?
Changing the address on your car insurance policy typically does not come with a specific fee for the address change itself.
How can I find out if someone is using my address for car insurance?
If you receive insurance statements, cards, or notices addressed to someone else using your address, this could be a sign that your address is being misused.
Can I have a different address on my license and insurance?
Most states require that your driver’s license address be current and reflect your primary residence. This address is typically expected to match the address on your car insurance policy.
Do I have to live at the address on my driving licence?
So, what address should be on my driving licence? The address on your driving license should be your current primary residence.
How to change the address on car insurance?
The quickest way is to contact your insurance provider through:
- Phone: Customer service can make the change immediately over the phone.
- Online: Many insurance companies offer an online portal where you can update your personal information.
- Email or Mail: Some companies allow you to email them the new details or send them by postal mail.
Does insurance address need to match registration?
Yes, generally, the address on your car insurance should match the address on your vehicle registration.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Tracey L. Wells
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Tracey L. Wells is a licensed insurance agent and Farmers insurance agency owner with 23 years of experience. He is proud to be a local Farmers agent serving Grayson, Georgia and surrounding areas. With experience as both an underwriter and agent, he provides his customers with insight that others agents may not have. His agency offers all lines of insurance including home, life, auto, RV, busi...
Licensed Insurance Agent & Agency Owner
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.