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Last updated: December 19, 2024
How to Suspend Car Insurance
Not using your car for 30 days or more? Consider suspending your car insurance.
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If you’re not going to be driving for a while, you can suspend your car insurance by reducing or removing coverage. In general, you need to have proof of car insurance or financial responsibility for cars you drive or park on public roadways. In this article, we’ll go over how to suspend car insurance instead of canceling it.
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Can You Suspend Car Insurance?
Although auto insurance is required by law in almost all states, some insurance providers may let you suspend your car insurance.
Typically, your car must be in storage for at least 30 days, and you can suspend liability and collision coverage while retaining comprehensive coverage. If your insurer doesn’t allow you to suspend your coverage, you can save money by dropping to minimum coverage. Reach out to your agent or customer service to learn what your provider’s policies are.
Experts recommend maintaining an insurance policy—whether by suspending your existing policy or dropping your coverages and limits—rather than canceling your policy and potentially paying higher premiums after a lapse in coverage.
| Auto insurance company | Option to suspend car insurance |
|---|---|
| 21st Century | No |
| AAA | No |
| AARP/The Hartford | Yes (minimum of 30 days) |
| Amica | No |
| Allstate | Yes |
| CarShield | No |
| Clearcover | No |
| Concord Group | No |
| Dairyland | No |
| Direct | No |
| Endurance | No |
| Erie | No |
| Esurance | No |
| Farmers | No |
| Foremost | No |
| GAINSCO | No |
| GEICO | No |
| National General (formerly GMAC) | No |
| Good2Go | No |
| Infinity | No |
| Liberty Mutual | No |
| Mercury | No |
| MetLife | No |
| Metromile | No |
| Nationwide | No |
| Plymouth Rock Assurance | No |
| Progressive | No |
| Root | No |
| Safeco | No |
| State Farm | Yes |
| The General | No |
| Travelers | No |
| USAA | No |
Suspending car insurance involves removing minimum coverage, such as liability, or additional coverage, such as collision or uninsured/underinsured motorist.
You might want to suspend your car insurance to lower costs, rather than canceling your policy and potentially paying higher premiums after a lapse in coverage.1
How to Suspend Your Car Insurance
- Contact your auto insurance company to see if it will allow you to suspend your coverage.
- Contact your state’s DMV and sign an affidavit of non-use if you don’t plan to drive your car for a while. Inquire about the process for reinstatement once your car is insured again.
- After you suspend your car insurance, you can store the car in your garage or elsewhere for 30 days or more.
TIP
If you’re financing a car, you most likely won’t be able to suspend your car insurance until you pay off the loan.
Other Ways to Reduce Prices
You can reduce your auto insurance coverage to save on auto insurance premiums. Also consider lowering your policy limits and raising your deductibles, searching for discounts, and getting insurance quotes from other companies to find the best insurance rates1.
Pros and Cons of Suspending Your Car Insurance Coverage
There are many pros and cons to suspending car insurance. We’ve compiled them below.
Pros
Pros
You won’t have to fully cancel your auto insurance plan.
You won’t have to pay higher premiums later due to a gap in coverage.
You can keep minimum coverage and save money when your car is not in use.
Cons
Cons
Not all insurance providers will let you suspend your auto insurance.
You can’t suspend your car insurance if you’re financing or leasing a car.
You might need to file an affidavit of non-use in certain states through your state’s DMV. To reactivate your insurance, you might need to submit insurance information and pay a fee.
You’re not insured for all incidents if you drop certain types of additional coverage (such as comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, or liability coverage).
Your insurance provider might drop you if you suspend your car insurance too often.3
How to Cancel Auto Insurance
Follow these steps to cancel your auto insurance policy:
- Tell your provider that you want to cancel your auto insurance. Find your company’s contact information below.
- Make sure you have your policy number ready.
- Explain to the insurance agent or representative that you would like to cancel your auto insurance.
| Company | Phone number | Mailing address | Contact page on website | Email address or online form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21st Century | 877-401-8181 | 21st Century Insurance
P.O. Box 15510 Wilmington, DE 19886-9252 |
https://www.21st.com/ contact-21st-century -insurance.htm |
service@21st.com |
| AAA | 877-422-2100 | Headquarters: 1000 AAA Drive Heathrow, FL 32746 Office locator: https:// www.aaa.com/office/ |
https:// cluballiance.aaa.com /about/contact |
https://www. fuzeqna.com/ aaawebsupport/ consumer/ question.asp |
| AARP/The Hartford | 888-546-9099 | The Hartford
P.O. Box 14215 Lexington, KY 40512 |
https:// www.thehartford.com/ contact-the-hartford |
N/A |
| Allstate | 800-726-6033 (or find your local agent’s number at https://agents. allstate.com/locator.html) |
Headquarters: 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062Office locator: https://agents. allstate.com/ |
https://www. allstate.com/ support/overview.aspx |
https:// messaging.allstate .com/corp.aspx |
| Amica | 800-242-6422 | Sales & Client Services – Amica Scan Center
P.O. Box 6700 Providence, RI 02940-6700 |
https://www. amica.com/en/ customer-service/ contact-us/ form.html |
maip@amica.com |
| Bristol West | 888-888-0080 | General Mail
Bristol West Insurance Group P.O. Box 31029 Independence, OH 44131-0029 |
https:// www.bristolwest.com/ home/contact |
N/A |
| CarShield | 800-587-4162 | CarShield LLC 333 Mid Rivers Mall DriveSt. Peters, MO 63376 |
https:// carshield.com/ help-support/ contact-us/ |
customerservice @carshield.com |
| Clearcover | 855-444-1875 | Clearcover Insurance Agency LLC 33 W. Monroe St., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60603 |
https:// clearcover.com/contact/ |
support@ clearcover.com |
| Concord Group | 800-852-3380 | Concord Group Insurance Corporate Office4 Bouton St.Concord, NH 03301 |
https://www. concordgroup insurance.com/ about/contact-us |
https://www. concordgroup insurance.com/ about/contact-us |
| Dairyland | 800-334-0090 | Dairyland Insurance Co. 1800 N. Point Drive Stevens Point, WI 54481 |
https://www. dairyland insurance.com/ contact-dairyland -insurance |
https://www. dairyland insurance.com/ contact-dairyland- insurance |
| Direct | 877-463-4732 (877-GO-DIRECT) | N/A | https://www. directauto.com/ contact-us |
https:// www.directauto.com/ emailus |
| Erie | 800-458-0811 | Office locator: https:// www.erieinsurance.com/ contact-erie/ locations |
https:// www.erieinsurance.com/ contact-erie |
https:// www.erieinsurance.com/ contact-erie /customer-care |
| Esurance | 800-378-7262 | Esurance Customer Service
P.O. Box 5250 Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5258 |
https:// www.esurance.com/ company/contact-us |
https:// www.esurance.com/ contact-email |
| Farmers | 888-327-6335 | Farmers Insurance Group 6301 Owensmouth Ave.Woodland Hills, CA 91367 |
https:// www.farmers.com/ contact-us/ |
https:// www.farmers.com/ contact-us/ send-message/ |
| Foremost | 800-527-3905 | Overnight Mail
Foremost – Box #915 c/o Citibank Lockbox Operations 8430 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Third Floor Chicago, IL 60631 |
https:// www.foremost.com/ contact/ |
imaging@ foremost.com |
| GAINSCO | 866-424-6726 (866-GAINSCO) | GAINSCO Inc.
P.O. Box 199023 Dallas, TX 75219-9023 |
https:// portal. gainscoconnect.com/ GeneralInfo.aspx? Content=ContactUs |
gainsco. services@gainsco.com |
| GEICO | 800-207-7847 | Office locator: https://www. geico.com/ contact-us/mail/ |
https://www. geico.com/ contact-us/ |
https:// www.geico.com/ contact-us/email/ |
| Good2Go | 800-954-2442 | Good2Go Auto Insurance P.O. Box 1890Blue Bell, PA 19422-0479 |
https:// www.good2go.com/ contact-us/ |
customerservice @good2go.com |
| Infinity | 800-690-3818 | Kemper Corporation Infinity Insurance Customer Service 200 E. Randolph St., Suite 3300 Chicago, IL 60601 |
https://www. infinityauto.com/ contact-infinity |
customer. service@ipacc.com |
| Kemper | 866-860-9348 | Kemper Corporation 200 E. Randolph St., Suite 3300Chicago, IL 60601 |
https://www. kemper.com/ about-kemper/ contact-us |
customer. service@ipacc.com |
| Lemonade | 844-733-8666 | Lemonade Insurance Agency LLC 5 Crosby St., 3rd Floor New York, NY 10013 |
https://www. lemonade.com/car |
help@ lemonade.com |
| Liberty Mutual | 800-290-8711 | Liberty Mutual Insurance 175 Berkeley St. Boston, MA 02116 |
https://www. libertymutual.com/ customer-support |
N/A |
| Mercury | 800-900-6729 | Mercury Insurance Group 55 W. Imperial Highway Brea, CA 92821-4839 |
https:// www.mercury insurance.com/ contact.html |
https:// cp.mercuryinsurance.com/ guest/ contact-mercury |
| MetLife | 800-422-4272 | MetLife Building 200 Park Ave.New York, NY 10166 |
https://www. metlife.com/ support-and-manage/ contact-us/ |
N/A |
| Metromile | 888-242-5204 | Metromile Inc. 425 Market St., Suite 700San Francisco, CA 94105-5418 |
https:// www.metromile.com/ help/contact |
N/A |
| National General (formerly GMAC) | 888-293-5108 | National General Insurance P.O. Box 3199Winston-Salem, NC 27102-3199 |
https:// contactus. nationalgeneral.com/ |
service @ngic.com |
| Nationwide | 877-669-6877 | Nationwide Headquarters One Nationwide PlazaColumbus, OH 43215-2220 |
https:// www.nationwide.com/ personal/contact/ insurance/ |
https:// www.nationwide.com/ personal/contact/ online-form |
| Plymouth Rock | 800-437-5556 for policies purchased through Plymouth Rock, online, or through a Prudential financial professional
833-511-7625 (ROCK) for policies purchased through an agent |
P.O. Box locator: https://www. plymouthrock.com/ contact/ contact-addresses |
https:// www.plymouthrock.com/ contact |
rockcare@ plymouthrock.com for policies purchased through Plymouth Rock, online, or through a Prudential financial professionalpolicychanges@ plymouthrock.com for policies purchased through an agent |
| Progressive | 888-671-4405 | The Progressive Corporation
6300 Wilson Mills Road Mayfield Village, OH 44143 |
https://www. progressive.com/ contact-us/ |
https://www. progressive.com/ contact-us.aspx |
| Root | 866-980-9431 | Root Inc.
80 E. Rich St., Suite 500 Columbus, OH 43215 |
https://www. joinroot.com/ contact/ |
help@ joinroot.com |
| Safeco | 800-332-3226 | Safeco Insurance P.O. Box 91016 Chicago, IL 60680-1016 |
https:// www.safeco.com/ customer-resources/ customer-support |
N/A |
| State Farm | 800-782-8332 (800-STATE-FARM) | State Farm Insurance Companies
Insurance Support Center – East P.O. Box 588002 North Metro, GA 30029 |
https:// www.statefarm.com/ customer-care/ contact-us |
N/A |
| The General | 888-333-2331 or
844-328-0306 |
The General P.O. Box 305054 Nashville, TN 37230-5054 |
https://www. thegeneral.com/ about/contact/ |
customer support@thegeneral .com |
| Travelers | 800-842-5075 | Travelers Personal Insurance
P.O. Box 660307 Dallas, TX 75266-0307 |
https:// www.travelers.com/ contact-us |
https:// www.travelers.com/ contact-us/email |
| USAA | 210-531-8722 | USAA 9800 Fredericksburg RoadSan Antonio, TX 78288 |
https:// www.usaa.com/help/ contact/ |
N/A |
Reasons for Suspending Car Insurance
Here are the top reasons why you might want to suspend your car insurance:
- You’re taking a long vacation somewhere and won’t be driving for a while.
- You have an injury that prevents you from driving.
- Your car needs extensive repairs and is undrivable.
- You’re away at college or relying on public transportation for the time being.
- You need to save on your car insurance premiums.
- You’re a member of the military and have been deployed.
- You want to put your car in storage because you’ll be traveling for more than 30 days.6
FYI
While canceling your car insurance seems cheaper in the short term, suspending your car insurance helps you save money and avoid paying higher premiums in the long term.
Do I Need to Insure a Car I Don’t Drive?
As a rule of thumb, you need car insurance on cars you drive or park on public roadways. However, we always recommend having minimum coverage on your unused car to cover you in the case of an incident other than an accident, such as theft and vandalism.7
How to Reactivate Car Insurance After a Suspension
To reactivate your car insurance after a suspension:
- Review your insurance provider’s grace period policy.
- Contact your insurance provider and ask to restore your insurance coverage.
- You may need to apply for a new policy or switch to a new insurance provider if you can’t reactivate your car insurance.8
If you need to suspend your car insurance, read our FAQs on car insurance.
Recap
If you are going on an extended vacation or won’t be using your car for more than 30 days, consider suspending your car insurance. We also recommend alternatives such as reducing your coverage, bundling policies, and taking advantage of car insurance discounts.
If you’re not a frequent driver, get quotes from other car insurance companies before suspending your car insurance. Another option is usage-based insurance, which may save you money if you’re not driving frequently. 8
Staff Writer
Monica Luhar is a Staff Writer at AutoInsurance.com. Outlets such as VICE, NBC News, Yahoo! News, AOL, and LA Weekly have published her work. Monica has also written about life and travel insurance for older adults on The Senior List. She graduated from the University of California Irvine with a degree in Literary Journalism.
Citations
Can I Put My Car Insurance On Hold? The Hartford Extra Mile. (2021, Oct 25).
https://extramile.thehartford.com/auto/car-insurance/suspending-coverage/Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs. Insurance Information Institute. (2022).
https://www.iii.org/article/nine-ways-to-lower-your-auto-insurance-costsAllstate is providing more than $600 million to auto insurance customers amid pandemic. Allstate. (2020, Apr 6).
https://www.allstatenewsroom.com/news/allstate-is-providing-more-than-600-million-to-auto-insurance-customers-amid-pandemic/Can you suspend car insurance for a certain period? Progressive. (2022).
https://www.progressive.com/answers/temporarily-suspend-car-insurance/Do You Have to Pay Auto Insurance When You’re Not Driving? Experian. (2020, May 17).
https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/do-you-need-auto-insurance-if-youre-not-driving/Can you suspend car insurance for a certain period? Progressive. (2022).
https://www.progressive.com/answers/temporarily-suspend-car-insurance/TELEMATICS/USAGE-BASED INSURANCE. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2021, May 27).
https://content.naic.org/cipr-topics/telematicsusage-based-insurance
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