Can a car be insured with license plates from another state?

In nearly every state in the US, at least one third party liability insurance is required to cover damages to third parties. But, Can a car be insured with registration plates from another state? No, it is not legal to do so. However, there are some exceptions which we will explain later. We will also tell you how long it takes to change your car registration if you move to another state and clarify any other questions you may have on this topic in our FAQ section.

📰 Contents
  1. Can a car be insured with registration plates from another state?
  2. Reasons to insure a car with another state license plate
  3. Deadline to register your vehicle in a new state
  4. Exceptions to the insurance obligation in the state of residence
    1. Military personnel
    2. Temporary transfers for work
    3. University students
  5. Can a car be insured with license plates from another state? Frequent questions
    1. Does my car insurance cover me when I travel out of state?
    2. Does car insurance cover me if I have more than one home?
    3. What car insurance do i need if i'm in the military?
    4. Can I drive a car registered in another state?
    5. Does my driving license have to match the license plate of my vehicle?
    6. What to do with car insurance if you live in two states?

Can a car be insured with registration plates from another state?

No, you cannot insure a car with registration plates from another state. Insurers generally don't allow you to purchase a car insurance policy in a state where you don't live. For example, if you live in Florida, your car must be registered in this state and you must obtain auto insurance in Florida. However, if you permanently move to another state, such as Georgia, the vehicle you bring must be registered and insured in Georgia.

Having a car registered in one state and insured in another may be against the law. Additionally, your insurer may deny your claims or cancel your policy.. Remember that it is very important to know how car insurance works in the United States, so you can avoid this kind of inconvenience.

How to change the address of the driving license in the USA

Reasons to insure a car with another state license plate

Many people want to know if it is possible to insure a car that has been registered in another state. But why would they want to do it this way? They may spend several months a year in another state, their children may be away from home to attend college, or they may even be tempted to insure their cars in a state where rates are lower.

Well, the first thing you should be clear about is this registering and insuring your car in a state or city where you don't live to save money is a fraud. The best thing you can do is to discuss your case with an insurance agent to determine the best way to manage your coverage. If they are seasoned professionals, they can guide you and help you save as much as possible.

Deadline to register your vehicle in a new state

As we have already explained, You cannot insure a car with registration plates from another state. Simply put, your car cannot be registered in one state and insured in another. This would be considered a fraud and you may face heavy penalties.

Driver's license or permit, registration and car insurance must match. In many states, you can't even register your car until you've provided proof of insurance.

Even states that allow you to register a car without proof of insurance will require it within a certain period of time.

If you move to another state, you must register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of that State. The length of time you need to do this varies depending on state regulations.

If you are temporarily visiting a state, you will not need to change your vehicle's license plate. You will be able to circulate your car freely outside the state in which it is registered for a certain number of consecutive days (usually about a month).

The table below indicates the time each state allows drivers to obtain new license plates after the move.

Condition Deadline to register your vehicle
Alabama 30 days
Alaska 10 days
Arizona 30 days
Arkansas 30 days
California 20 days
North Carolina 30 days
South Carolina 45 days
Colorado 90 days
Connecticut 60 days
Delaware 60 days
A.D 60 days
North Dakota 90 days
Florida 10 days
Georgia 30 days
Hawaii 30 days
Idaho 90 days
Illinois 30 days
Indiana 60 days
Iowa 30 days
Kansas 90 days
Kentucky 10 days
Louisiana 30 days
Maine 30 days
Maryland 60 days
Massachusetts As soon as you become a resident of MA
Michigan As soon as you become a resident of MI
Minnesota 60 days
Mississippi 30 days
Missouri 30 days
Mountain 60 days
Nebraska 30 days
Nevada 30 days
New Hampshire 60 days
New Jersey 60 days
New Mexico 60 days
New York 30 days
Ohio 30 days
Oklahoma 30 days
Oregon 30 days
Pennsylvania 20 days
Rhode Island 30 days
Tennessee 30 days
Texas 30 days
Utah 60 days
Vermont 60 days
Virginia 30 days
Washington 30 days
Wisconsin 60 days
Wyoming 30 days

Cheap auto insurance in the United States

Exceptions to the insurance obligation in the state of residence

In general, your car cannot be registered in one state and insured in another, but there are some exceptions to this rule:

Military personnel

If you are a member of the military, the rules are a little different. Service members declare their residence in the state they intend to return to after deployment. Laws differ from state to state, but nearly all states make exceptions to registration for active-duty military personnel.

Therefore, if you are a military man, you will not need to register your vehicle in the state you are stationed in, as long as your car registration is up to date in the declared state of residence.

Temporary transfers for work

Most states see employment as a means of establishing residency and will likely require you to change your insurance and car registration. However, depending on the weather, in some states, temporary transfers do not count as a change of residence, therefore, they will not require a plate change. In this case, the best thing you can do is contact the appropriate DMV office and check your situation.

University students

Most states allow college students living in another state to stay on family policy if they list their parents' address as their primary residence. However, Parents who decide to insure a child attending an out-of-state college should notify their insurance company as soon as possible.

However, it is important to know that a college student who lives off campus has a different primary residence than his or her parents and must have their own auto insurance.

How To Get Car Insurance For The First Time In The United States

Can a car be insured with license plates from another state? Frequent questions

Does my car insurance cover me when I travel out of state?

Short-term travel to the United States or Canada is covered by your insurance, regardless of which state you are in. Your auto insurance follows your vehicle in the United States and Canada. If you take a road trip from Missouri to Maine, you'll be covered in whichever state you visit.

Your out-of-state coverage also applies if you live in one state and work in another. For example, if you live in Indiana and work in Illinois, you need an Indiana automobile policy.

However, If you drive to Mexico for business or pleasure, your US policy will generally not cover you. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase a separate Mexican insurance policy before crossing the border.

Does car insurance cover me if I have more than one home?

If you own or rent multiple residences in different states, you may have a vehicle in each location. For example, if you spend time in Maine and Florida and have a car registered in each location, you should have separate insurance policies in both Maine and Florida.

However, if you drive from Maine to Florida for one month a year, your auto insurance will cover you. Note that some states require you to register your car if you spend more than a certain amount of time there, such as 30 days.

It is a good idea to contact the DMV and with an insurance representative to see if you comply with state law. Ask the local authorities if you can get auto insurance from another state based on the time you regularly spend there.

What car insurance do i need if i'm in the military?

If you are in the military, you can usually register and insure a car in your home state, even if you are stationed in another state. For example, if you legally reside in Iowa and reside in Texas, your car may be registered and insured in Iowa.

However, if you change your primary residence to Texas after being a legal resident of Iowa, you should register and insure your car in Texas.

Can I drive a car registered in another state?

Your car must be registered in the state in which you reside, however, if you visit other states you will be able to drive your car without any problems. Most states have clear rules on how long you can legally drive a vehicle registered in another state, so find out before you travel.

Does my driving license have to match the license plate of my vehicle?

Yes, in fact your driving license must match the license plate of your vehicle. In most states it is not possible to register a vehicle without a license from that state.

What to do with car insurance if you live in two states?

If you live in two states, you have several options when it comes to auto insurance. In this case, many people simply get their insurance in the state where their vehicle is registered.

If you live in Florida and Georgia for work and your car license plate is in Florida, you need to keep insurance in Florida. In fact, many states have auto insurance laws that don't allow you to register a vehicle until you have insurance from that state.

If you are planning to move and are not sure where to register your car, the first thing to consider is where you will be spending most of your time. For example, if you plan to spend three months in Florida and nine months in Georgia, you might want to consider purchasing insurance in Georgia.

Long last, If you are splitting your time between two states and local laws allow it, you may want to consider the state with the lowest rates. If so, you could register your car in that state and purchase your policy there.

If you want to discover other articles similar to Can a car be insured with license plates from another state?, you can visit the Insurance category.

Nathan Hamilton

Nathan Hamilton

Nathan is a car enthusiast and industry professional with decades of combined experience in the automotive sector. Along with his team of writers and researchers, all passionate about automobiles, he is committed to delivering reliable and relevant content that ranges from detailed insurance guides to maintenance tips and much more.

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