Can You Get Insurance Before You Register Car

If yous want to drive a vehicle on public roads, you'll need to register your motorcar with your state's Section of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Motor Vehicle Comission (MVC) first.

The registration process tin can vary per state, but in general, yous'll probably need the post-obit:

Valid driver's license
Proof of insurance (usually an insurance card or printout detailing your coverage is sufficient)
Car title or signed lease agreement
Completed vehicle registration awarding form
Payment to register

In some states, you lot may as well need proof that your vehicle passed a safety inspection and/or smog test and an odometer disclosure.
Earlier you register your car, near states require you to buy auto insurance or exist able to demonstrate financial responsibility in another mode. However, there are some exceptions and the exact requirements can vary. Below, we'll break downwardly each land's stance on registering cars without insurance.

Do You Need Insurance to Register a Car - State guide

Does your state require insurance to register your car?

Hither are the states and territories where you need proof of insurance and then y'all can finally respond the question: "Practise y'all demand insurance to register a car?"

State or Territory	Do you need insurance to register a car?
Alabama	Yeah
Alaska	Yes
Arizona	No, you can register without just must get insurance within 30 days of registering
Arkansas	Yes
California	Yes
Colorado	Yes
Connecticut	Yep
Delaware	Yes
Florida	Yes
Georgia	Yes
Hawaii	Yes
Idaho	Yes
Illinois	Yes
Indiana	Yep
Iowa	No, you tin register without insurance simply must have minimum liability coverage to operate the vehicle
Kansas	Yes
Kentucky	Yes
Louisiana	Yes
Maine	Yep
Maryland	Yes

Massachusetts	Yes
Michigan	Yes
Minnesota	Yes
Mississippi	No, you can annals without insurance but must have minimum liability coverage to operate the vehicle
Missouri	Yes
Montana	Yes
Nebraska	Yes
Nevada	Yes
New Hampshire	No, insurance isn't required to register and isn't mandatory for nigh drivers, but it is strongly encouraged
New Jersey	Yes
New Mexico	Yes
New York	Yes
North Carolina	Aye
North Dakota	No, you lot tin can annals without insurance but must have minimum liability coverage to operate the vehicle
Ohio	Yeah
Oklahoma	Yes
Oregon	Yep
Pennsylvania	Yep
Rhode Island	Yep
Due south Carolina	Yes

South Dakota	Yes
Tennessee	No, y'all can annals without insurance but must take minimum liability coverage to operate the vehicle
Texas	Yeah
Utah	Yes
Vermont	Yes
Virginia	Yes
Washington	Yep
Washington, D.C.	Aye
West Virginia	Yes
Wisconsin	No, yous tin register without insurance just must have minimum liability coverage to operate the vehicle
Wyoming	Yes

Not all states require insurance and registration at the aforementioned time

As you can see, you must have motorcar insurance earlier registering your automobile in most states and territories in the U.Southward.

Notwithstanding, some states, such as Arizona, Iowa, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin don't require yous to take car insurance before registering a car — though most require y'all to purchase insurance if you program on driving the vehicle. In some cases, you may be required to follow up with documentation (such equally an insurance menu or printout detailing your coverage) that proves you're insured within a sure time period, such every bit 30 days, or your registration could be suspended.

Almost every state requires at least liability coverage, which covers damages to the other party'southward vehicle and/or bodily injuries if you lot cause an blow. The minimum amount of coverage you demand to purchase can vary per country, though, so information technology's of import to cheque with your state'southward DMV earlier buying motorcar insurance and registering your vehicle.
While New Hampshire doesn't crave auto insurance, drivers from the Granite State who want to avoid purchasing a automobile insurance policy need to bear witness "proof of fiscal responsibility" — or evidence they'd be able to cover the cost of an accident if they cause one.

The bottom line

If y'all want to annals and drive your car, you'll unremarkably demand to purchase car insurance starting time. But fifty-fifty if your state or region doesn't require you lot to have auto insurance to register a car, having a car insurance policy with adequate coverage is a practiced idea to protect others — along with your finances, vehicles, and wellbeing.

Plus, it'south unremarkably required if you eventually want to drive the vehicle — if you lot bulldoze without insurance, you may exist fined or sentenced to customs service, your license may exist suspended, your vehicle could be impounded, and you could fifty-fifty go to jail.

One practiced option is pay-per-mile auto insurance from Metromile. Drivers tin can save up to 47% a year on average, co-ordinate to a 2018 survey of new customers who saved, without sacrificing their coverage or experience. Run into how much you tin can salve with a free quote today.

However not convinced? You tin can see if Metromile is right for you with the Ride Along™. Download the Metromile app from your favorite app store and drive equally you usually do for about 2 weeks. (Brand certain to go on your current insurance policy to keep your coverage during the trial.) After your Ride Along, y'all'll run into how much you could save based on your actual driving, and in some states, earn an additional discount of up to xv% off your initial quote for demonstrating safe driving during your trial.

Melanie Lockert is a freelance writer, podcast host of the Mental Health and Wealth show, and writer of Beloved Debt. She's a cat mom to ii jazzy cats, Miles and Thelonious, an amateur boxer, music lover, and needs java to function.

* Average annual car insurance savings past new customers surveyed who saved with Metromile in 2018.