Moving to a new state

What changes at the state line

• Required minimum liability limits
• Whether uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage is required or must be offered
• Whether the state uses a no-fault system with personal injury protection
• Which rating factors insurers may use, including credit information
• Rates generally, which vary substantially by state and area
• Registration and licence deadlines, which are set by the state

Do these in order

• Tell your current insurer before you move and ask whether they write in the new state
• If they do, have the policy rewritten for the new state effective your move date
• If they don't, get a new policy in force before the old one ends
• Register the vehicle and update your licence within the state's deadlines
• Update the garaging address, which is a rating factor
• Never let coverage lapse in between, even for a day

The trap

Your existing policy may not provide the coverages the new state requires, and driving on a policy written for your old state can leave you non-compliant even though you're insured.

Have the policy rewritten rather than assuming it travels. Ask specifically whether the new state's required coverages are on it.

If your rate jumps

State and local rates vary a lot, and a large change is often just the new location rather than an error. Shop widely — carriers that were competitive in your old state may not be in the new one, and the reverse.

It's also worth re-checking discounts, since eligibility varies by state and insurer.

Also worth doing

• Check whether your producer is licensed in the new state
• Review home or renters coverage for the new property, including flood exposure
• Update the address on every policy so notices reach you
• Check whether a no-fault system changes how you'd handle a claim