Getting Auto Insurance After Letting Your Policy Lapse

Here’s what you can do to secure the coverage you need after accidentally letting your car insurance lapse.

Whether you have missed a payment or simply forgot to renew your policy, there are many times in which drivers have to deal with lapsed auto insurance. In New York State, auto insurance is required, so if you have accidentally let your policy expire, it’s important that you quickly secure the coverage that you need. But how can you do so? Here are some of the steps that you can take to get coverage after your auto policy has lapsed.

Ask to Have Your Policy Reinstated

One of the easiest ways to re-secure the coverage that you need is by contacting your insurance provider and asking if you can have your policy reinstated. If you have forgotten to make a payment but have an otherwise solid reputation with your insurer, chances are they will quickly reinstate your coverage and forget that the lapse even happened.

Not all insurers are this generous, though. Some carriers will only reinstate your policy after you’ve paid a surcharge. Keep in mind that your insurer is not required to reinstate your policy at all. Should you miss your reinstatement grace period or be considered too high-risk to insure, your insurer has every right to refuse your reinstatement request.

Get Listed on Another’s Policy

If you cannot get your lapsed policy reinstated, it’s important to secure coverage as quickly as possible. While you shop around for a new insurance policy, ask a friend or family member if you can be listed on their auto policy as a covered driver. This will ensure that you still meet the legal insurance requirements to drive. Additionally, by avoiding a gap in your coverage, you can improve your ability to secure good, affordable insurance in the future.

These are some of the things that you can do to get auto coverage even if you’ve let your existing car insurance policy lapse.  Do you have additional questions regarding your auto insurance?  Then contact the experts at Scautub Agency in Scotia, New York for assistance today.