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Last updated: October 9, 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.

Editor’s note (last updated July 8, 2024): We have updated this page with the latest car insurance contact information.

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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

  1. Contact your auto insurance company to see if it will allow you to suspend your coverage.
  2. 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.
  3. 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:

  1. Tell your provider that you want to cancel your auto insurance. Find your company’s contact information below.
  2. Make sure you have your policy number ready.
  3. 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:

  1. Review your insurance provider’s grace period policy.
  2. Contact your insurance provider and ask to restore your insurance coverage.
  3. 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

Monica Luhar
Written by:Monica Luhar
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

  1. Can I Put My Car Insurance On Hold? The Hartford Extra Mile. (2021, Oct 25).
    https://extramile.thehartford.com/auto/car-insurance/suspending-coverage/

  2. Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs. Insurance Information Institute. (2022).
    https://www.iii.org/article/nine-ways-to-lower-your-auto-insurance-costs

  3. Allstate 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/

  4. Can you suspend car insurance for a certain period? Progressive. (2022).
    https://www.progressive.com/answers/temporarily-suspend-car-insurance/

  5. 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/

  6. Can you suspend car insurance for a certain period? Progressive. (2022).
    https://www.progressive.com/answers/temporarily-suspend-car-insurance/

  7. TELEMATICS/USAGE-BASED INSURANCE. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (2021, May 27).
    https://content.naic.org/cipr-topics/telematicsusage-based-insurance