

This gives you time to shop for car insurance and get an actual insurance policy that covers your new ride.

Regardless of whether you buy a new car or take out a loan, your insurance company usually gives you a grace period during which your new vehicle is covered under the hold policy.Ī grace period is an amount of time after you buy a new or used car when your old policy covers the new vehicle - typically 30 days. If you purchase your car with cash, you can choose your own insurance policy - you only need to meet state minimum requirements. In nearly all cases, full coverage auto insurance is mandatory when you have a car loan. However, the lender wants to make sure that the car is protected so it maintains its value. If you fail to pay your car note, they can repossess the car to offset the lack of payment. When you purchase a new car with a loan, the lender owns the vehicle as collateral.

Does an Insurance Binder Have Anything to Do With a Grace Period? Therefore, you may find that an insurance binder is also called an ACORD binder. Quick note: Many insurers use a template from the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development ( ACORD ) to write their binders. Īlways ask about the effective date of your policy - which is when the policy takes effect - and when you can expect to receive your proof of coverage. If your binder expires and you still don’t have a policy, you could be driving uninsured. Make sure to follow up with your insurance company about the underwriting process and when you can expect to get a policy. The length of the binder’s validity is rarely an issue.Īn insurance binder doesn’t guarantee coverage. Most insurers issue a policy within a day to a week, but rarely more than 30 days. Typically, a car insurance binder is valid for 30-90 days, depending on the insurer and the state you live in. ĭuring this period - also known as the underwriting phase - the insurance company can issue an insurance binder as temporary proof of insurance coverage until you receive a certificate of insurance or auto insurance card. When you purchase a new car, take out a car loan on a new-to-you ride, or change your car insurance policy, there may be a delay between when you make any changes to your policy and when the insurance company issues the new policy documents. An insurance binder for car insurance is a temporary document and agreement between you and your insurance company that acts as proof of insurance until you’re issued a permanent policy.
