3 Must-Dos for New Auto Policy Holders
So you’ve officially become the proud owner of a car and have responsibly purchased a new auto insurance policy to go with it. Sweet! Here are three things that you’ll want to make sure to do to get the most from your policy.
It won’t take long to complete these three tasks, but you’ll be glad you did because you’ll be much better prepared if you need to prove that you’re insured or make a claim. And that’s why you bought insurance in the first place, right?
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Put your insurance card in your car—There are lots of things Hollywood always gets wrong—like sounds and explosions in the vacuum of space. Another thing that rarely goes down the right way is the police traffic stop. Your friendly neighborhood police officer doesn’t typically say, “License and registration, please.” Nope—if you get pulled over, you’ll likely hear, “License, registration and proof of insurance, please.”
It can be difficult to provide proof of insurance when your insurance card is sitting at home on your desk.
Some insurance companies send you a PDF file and expect you to print your own insurance card. Others send you a card in the mail. And some may do both.
These days, many states accept proof of insurance from your phone or insurance app during a traffic stop. While this is convenient, your phone can also get lost or left at home. It’s safer to get a paper card and put it in your glove compartment along with a copy of your registration paperwork.
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File your new auto policy documents somewhere safe—When you buy a new auto policy, your insurance company will send you documents that explain your coverage. These documents will be helpful to have on hand if you ever need to file a claim, or if your needs change and you want to see an apples-to-apples comparison of your existing policy versus another policy option you’re considering buying.
If your insurance company doesn’t provide on-demand access to your policy documents, make sure you file a paper version somewhere safe. If you have a place in your home where you keep important papers, file these there. Maybe you have a flash drive where you keep critical electronic documents. Scan them and put them there, too—it can’t hurt to have them in more than one place. Also, consider a fireproof safe for both your paper documents and your flash drive, just to be extra safe.
One quick reminder—when your insurance policy renews each year (or when you change insurance companies), you'll receive new paperwork. Your old documents contain sensitive personal information so don't just dump them in the trash. To help prevent identity theft, be sure to shred old policy docs when you no longer need them.
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Put agent and insurer contact info in your phone—When you buy insurance, there are generally two companies involved: the insurance agency and the insurance company. The agency helps you shop for and select the right insurance company for your needs. The insurance company (or carrier) actually provides the coverage.
Whether you went to a brick-and-mortar agency or worked with an agent over the phone, you probably have a specific person you worked with who would be happy to answer questions, help with billing, assist with claims and get your policy renewed when the time comes. Recording your agent’s contact information on your phone will make it that much easier to make contact again when you need help.
Your insurance company (the one that’s providing coverage) also should have sent you a phone number to call if you need to contact them directly about your new auto policy. It’s probably on your insurance card, so look there first if you’re not sure where to start. Many insurance companies have an app for customers as well. Search for your insurance company on your cell phone’s marketplace—installing and configuring the app now will save you the headache of having to do it after an accident or other covered incident.
Haven’t gotten your auto insurance yet? Need to compare rates? Get a free quote from Mountain America Insurance.
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