What Do You Need to Get Car Insurance?

• Car insurance is mandatory in most U.S. states, requiring personal, financial, and vehicle information to get a quote.
• To purchase insurance, you’ll need to determine coverage options, gather necessary information, compare quotes, and select a policy that fits your budget and needs.
• Discounts can be accessed through defensive driving courses, paperless billing, and bundling policies.
• A FINN car subscription simplifies car ownership by providing everything in one monthly payment, including insurance.

The information you must gather to obtain car insurance rates stems from several sources, including your personal information, financial information, and the vehicle’s information. You may also need additional documents as they pertain to the process. 

Personal information

Like any other official document, car insurance applications require filling out crucial information about yourself. These details may include: 

• Your name and date of birth
• Your physical address
• Your driver’s license number and state of issue
• A copy of your driving history or record
• Your Social Security number
• Your marital status
• Your email 
• Your gender
• Your phone number

Many carriers perform a claims history, driving record, and credit score check on prospective drivers seeking insurance coverage. Be prepared to submit to either of these checks before receiving estimates on monthly and annual premiums. Note that in some states, asking for specific personal information is prohibited. 

Financial information 

Though the list of required financial information pales in comparison to your personal details, the figures are just as important. Here are the financials you should consider: 

• Your desired insurance coverage limits 
• What deductible you’re comfortable paying 
• How you’ll make your first (and subsequent, if applicable) payments

Most car insurance companies allow you to pay your premium in several ways. However, you should be wary of any additional fees you may incur, such as by paying with a credit card versus an electronic check. 

Vehicle information

The vehicle you drive determines much of your car insurance premium. Gather the following information regarding your car before proceeding:

• Year, make, and model
• Body style
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Mileage
• Physical address where the car is kept (typically a home address) 
• Name of the registered owner (and additional ownership details if financed or leased)
• Security and safety features 
• Current registration 

Your registration card or document typically includes much of this information that you can easily reference in one place. In addition, you can also look on your vehicle’s windshield or driver’s door jamb to locate the VIN. 

Other documents needed

Car leasing with insurance can get tricky if you’ve never done it before. When you own a car outright, you can choose the insurance coverage levels that fit your needs, specifically in adjusting various types of coverage to lower premiums to play nicely with your budget. However, leasing companies and even lenders tend to require higher coverage levels than state minimum requirements dictate. If you lease or finance your vehicle, you may need to provide additional information about the other party involved. 

In addition, the various discounts you can qualify for may require physical evidence. For example, if you took a defensive driving course, your insurance carrier may want a copy of your certificate of completion. Membership-based discounts may also require you to submit a copy of your identification or membership card. 

Unlike deciding whether to buy a new or used car, figuring out insurance discounts only takes some research and a chat with your auto insurance representative. Most carriers prompt their insurance agents to ask about qualities that may result in a discount. For example, your representative might ask you if you’ve completed a defensive driving course, have good grades, are a member of a particular club, or are an active or veteran military member. 

Not all car insurance discounts require demonstrating skills or paying for driving lessons. Instead, you can opt for paperless billing and get a discount or set up auto-pay and receive the same benefit. Bundling policies or even insuring multiple vehicles can reduce your car insurance costs. Most carriers also offer telematics devices that measure safe driving and charge you accordingly, or they may offer discounts for homeowners. 

Discounts come in most handy when considering higher car insurance coverage levels than what your state requires. For example, if you want roadside assistance or guaranteed asset protection (GAP insurance), knocking your rate down can help you maintain the same coverage without paying too much for it. 

Researching how car insurance works and what documents you need is a great way to begin obtaining car insurance. Below are the additional steps necessary to complete the process: 

1. Determine what coverage options you want and what you want to inquire about. Knowing your state’s minimum insurance coverage limits can also be helpful, although local representatives should know these limits already. 
2. Gathering your information comes next. By now, you know what documents you need and what information you need to track down. Keeping all these details in one place (such as on a notepad) can help maximize your efficiency. 
3. Input your information into several insurance carriers to see what auto insurance quotes they return. Compare and contrast, and determine if you want any additional coverage (such as full coverage) based on your budget and the quoted coverage rates. Consider what deductibles you’re comfortable paying and how upping that coverage reflects in your premium. 
4. If you’re unsure about two or three companies, look deeper into how they do business. Sometimes, customer service can be well worth the additional cost. 
5. Speak to your prospective insurance company and ask about discounts and benefits. Ensure you write down what information or documentation you must provide to apply these discounts or benefits to your auto insurance policy. 
6. Choose the carrier you prefer and purchase your policy. You can often pay monthly, every six months, or annually. Inquire about accepted payment methods, noting any additional fees that may apply.

Once you’ve purchased car insurance, it’s time to place a copy of it in your wallet or wherever you keep your driver’s license. Stay on top of your payment schedule and renew it as it expires. Review insurance claim procedures so you know what to do in case of an accident.