I'm on my way to buy a car! If i do buy it, do I have to insure it straight away?

Question

I'd hate to go home and insure the car only and then go back to pick it up. Can i just drive it home after i buy it and then insure it?

Answer 1

Call your insurance Co. FIRST and tell them you may buy a car, then you can call them from there and let them know if you did or not.  That way you will be safe!

Answer 2

No...

Answer 3

You can buy it, but without insurance you can't drive it home unless you get someone else who IS insured to do the driving.  By the way, you need Road Tax if it's on the road.  Make sure the tax disc hasn't run out.  We bought a car once and didn't notice the tax had run out.  We got stopped and fined on the way home!!

Answer 4

nope you need the insurance before you drive it an inch,

Answer 5

You must be insured to drive any car on a public road. It is possible to insure a car by telephone if you make previous arrangements with a broker or insuranxce firm.

Answer 6

Depending on state, you have a grace period, but you do have to have proof you have an insurer. I believe. Ask the dealer.

Answer 7

You only need insurance if you plan to drive it.  Call your agent, tell them you're on the way to get it.  When you get there, collect the needed information, usually year, make, model and VIN and get it to the insurance agent.  If you're buying at a dealership, they can fax over your insurance card while you sign the rest of the papers and you'll be good to go.

Answer 8

Technically it is illegal to drive your car straight out the show room/ auction house/ dealer/ without insurance... but it is tricky! If you know all the details of the car and are def going to buy it i would reconmend trying to sort it first buy it and then go back for it the next day once you have sorted the insurance.... espeically if u have far to travel back home.

Good luck and happy motoring

Answer 9

Some states give you a 30 day grace period before you add it to your policy, and you will still be covered if you have an accident as long as you have your bill of sale and can prove the day you purchased it.  Call your insurance company to find out for sure.

Answer 10

The answer is up to you. But if the Police pull you over, they can book you for driving an uninsured car on the public road with no Insurance.

Answer 11

Actually, contrary to what your other answerer's have said you do not necessarily have to insure the car (UK) If the seller still has the car insured then you can normally drive on his insurance (check first) provided you do not own the car.  If it is a private seller then it is a simple matter to date the sale of the car the day after you actually drive it away.

Answer 12

the car needs to be insured before you even buy it

Answer 13

No...you gotta have ins. before you take the car.

Answer 14

Definitely not. You must have a cover note. It's against the law to drive an uninsured car. (UK|) That footballer who killed two children on the motorway was uninsured. If he had obeyed the law, they would still be alive. Don't let it be you!

Answer 15

The term "Binder" used to be the term  applied for the first-time car buyer---your insurance agent can give you one by phone the details about the car will have to be given to the insurance company ASAP but basic (legally required) insurance is guaranteed once the "Binder" is established.

Unless your driving reocord is horrible most companies gave these binders regularly.

Do not be surpirised if the insurance costs more than the car  !!!

Answer 16

Nope. You need it to be insured to be on the road.

Answer 17

call your agent, I think you are covered for 24 to 48 hrs after the purchase, If you don't have insurance now, you will need to get some before you drive the car

Answer 18

Yes, I drove it home and since it was a Saturday the place was closed. Monday after work i went and got it insured. Just drive carefully. The sooner the better. You have to drive it to get it insured since they have to take pictures or take note of the body conditions.

Answer 19

if you have a drive other car policy you could as long as it's not registered in your name (because its not another car it's your's then) or if your partener has doc but if not then yes

Answer 20

No you cannot. You are best to take someone with you who can drive it home on their own insurance policy, i.e "drive a motor vehicle not owned by you or hired to you " If you already have Insurance, you will have that same wording on your certificate. You cannot avail yourself of that condition as you will become the owner once the deal is done.Please do not be tempted to drive until cover is arranged, the potential loss to you is far too great to risk.

Answer 21

if its from a dealer and you dont live far away ask to borrow their trade plates to take it home. problem solved.-x

Answer 22

Don't know the law, but whenever I have bought a car, I drive it home, and insure it asap, usually that day as soon as I have the insurance covernote.

Answer 23

once you buy the car you have 2 options:

1. drive the car home.

2. you put it on a truck and store it in your garage.

Now with option 1. you CANNOT drive the car without insurance. therefore you either can set up a policy prior, or transfer your insurance coverage to the new car, while you are at the dealership. Or the dealership may ask if you want to purchase temporary insurance for 30 days, then you can drive it home.

With option 2. you can bring the car home and store it in your garage, but it is NOT drivable, unless you get insurance. You cannot get the registration without getting insurance.

hope it helps.

Answer 24

No, i don't think you do.

As long as you've got an MOT, Tax and a reciept from your Purchase you should be OK.

Fortunatly, if you do get pulled, you get 1 weeks producer, so you can get your Insurance sorted out then produce your docs when you recieve your certificate of insurance.

Answer 25

It depends on where you live, but generally, if you already have a car on insurance that you are trading in, you can just call your insurance company from the dealership to add it. If you don't, sometimes they will sell something called insured express that covers you for a month.

Answer 26

if you already have insurance on another car that u drive then that should cover the car  you are buying.  when u buy the car they will ask u for your insurance card so be prepared to show them.  if you do not have an insured car already then u need to contact an insurance company.  the car dealership will probably not let u leave without proof of insurance.  if you do have an insured car then just contact ur insurance company once u get home with the new car to give them the info.  or u can drive to the insurance place and show them the car.

Answer 27

You have to  provide insurance information right away.  You could have a provider chosen and do it over the phone from the dealer (that is how I've done it).

Answer 28

No as soon as you drive that car anywhere on a road you must have insurance so you need it before you take delivery or collect.

Answer 29

you should have checked insurance first,  it is very expensive esp for young drivers and it is a good idea to buy a car knowing the cost of insurance. It is also illegal to drive a vehicle on the roads without valid insurance even if it is just across the road!

Answer 30

As soon as it is yours phone immediately and get a cover note.

Answer 31

most reputable dealerships will wish you to get the insurance before the car leaves the lot.

Last truck I bought in 2006, they would not let me leave the lot without proof of insurance....  I had to get on the internet (yes, it is that easy) and add a vehicle, print out the proof of insurance and show it to the dealer before he would let me take the keys and leave.

Because of the convenience of internet dealerships know it is not impossible, not even hard, to obtain automobile insurance so they are now beginning to insist on it.

Someone down the list said there is a 24 to 48 hour grace period, and that is true on some insurances as long as you already have something insured.  If you do not have a vehicle insured, you have no grace period.

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