Moving? Better Plan Your Car and Home Insurance in Advance

One of the things that a lot of people forget to do when they’re planning a move is to hunt down affordable homeowners and car insurance quotes. It’s easy to forget, especially with all of the planning that goes into orchestrating a move – even one that only takes you to the other side of town is tough, forget trying to handle the logistics of a cross-country move. But running a cursory homeowners insurance comparison and comparing auto insurance quotes before you move are both critical.

Of the two, failing to compare auto insurance quotes before you take up residence in a new city is the one that can get you into the most trouble. First, you have to remember that car insurance isn’t like a cell phone plan. In a lot of cases, you can’t take it with you when you move. It's likely you’re going to end up seeing a change in deductible – even if you move just a few towns over. Here’s a breakdown of why that happens.

Comparing Auto Insurance from State to State
States have different rules about how much car insurance coverage you’re required to have in order to drive around without being in flagrant violation of the law. In Arizona, for example, the minimum bodily injury insurance is $15,000 per person and $30,000 total coverage per accident. But if you move to Georgia, that jumps to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Some states also require that drivers carry uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This could have an impact on how much money you end up paying for your premiums. Also, a lot of insurance companies don’t offer coverage throughout all 50 states. If you’re already with a national carrier, the odds are that you won’t have to switch auto insurance companies. But if you’re covered through a local insurer that doesn’t offer coverage where you’re moving, you’re definitely going to have to compare auto insurance quotes to find a new provider.

Comparing Auto Insurance from City to City
Both your home and auto insurance will be impacted by a move, even if you’re not going that far. Premiums for both are determined by certain demographic factors, like crime rates, which means that if you’re relocating from the suburbs to the city you’ll likely end up paying a higher rate for coverage. The good news is that it also works the other way – if you’ve decided you’ve had enough city living and want to buy a house in the country, your home and auto insurance premiums will probably drop. Regardless, it’s important to contact your current insurer to let them know that you’re moving. If you fail to do so and you’re involved in an accident, your insurance provider might not cover the damages.

Before You Move
It’s important to get homeowners and car insurance quotes before you move for two big reasons:

- You’ll want to know how much money to budget for if your premiums experience a sharp increase.
- If the insurer you’re going through doesn’t offer coverage where you’re moving, letting your existing auto insurance coverage lapse before securing a new policy will end up costing you more. This is because people who are “between insurance policies” are considered higher risk. Don’t let this happen. Plan accordingly so that you can arrange for a transfer of coverage.

Before you move, visit www.agentinsure.com to get homeowners and car insurance quotes so you'll know exactly what changes you're looking at for coverage requirements and premiums.