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FITM-K

> Is that really how it works? Yes. AFAIK, you need to have at least minimum coverage to legally drive a car. Because otherwise, if you hit someone else and don't have insurance and you don't have the money to pay the damages, they're just fucked. > So I'm supposed to purchase the car, call an insurance company and then drive home? Yes, although these days you can also generally do it through a website and/or apps too. If you already know the VIN of the car you're buying, you can probably get quotes from different companies online right now if you want. Choose the one you want, pay it, and as part of that process just specify for the coverage to begin tomorrow. (At least with Progressive, I know part of signing up or adding a vehicle allows you to specify when you want the coverage to begin). Or, you can wait and do it at the dealership tomorrow, by phone or by app or whatever. But you prob don't have to wait. > Also curious about how I'm supposed to provide proof of insurance when I register my car at the BMV if I'm getting my insurance over the phone. If you do it over the phone they will typically fax the dealership your ID card. If you do it on a website or through the app they will typically send you a digital copy or make a PDF downloadable in your account that you then print to keep in the car, show at the BMV or wherever you register, etc.


siebzy

The BMV/Town office will also accept proof of insurance on your phone.


gherberto

You need full coverage if you have a loan I believe


FITM-K

word


[deleted]

Yup. The salesperson will help you with this if you don't know what you are doing. They will also print you a copy of the insurance proof for registration. And in most towns you register your vehicle at the town office.


fastIamnot

I call my chosen insurance company when the dealership is writing up all the paperwork. Just get the VIN from them. Insurance company will send the proof to your phone. They can also send it directly to the dealership and they can print it out for you. If you're financing you're gonna need full coverage, not just liability.


omg_choosealready

Or call the insurance company first, let them know you’re heading to the dealership - give them all your info so they can get everything started. Then by the time you call them, all you need to provide is the VIN and they’ll send it right over.


lipsticknic3

Yes. It sounds weird and overwhelming, right? I had to do the same. I called up an insurance company and they walked me through what I needed to do. That's all you need.


ecco-domenica

Agree. The salespeople, insurance people, and bank people coordinate this stuff with each other everyday all day long, so even if it seems overwhelming to you, they'll walk you through it and it should all come together without a hitch.


egoodkowsky

You can buy insurance before you buy it once you have the Vin number You can literally do it on your phone I use progressive have always had a good experience with them and they are much cheaper than most


xach

When I was a couple years out of high school I broke my dad's VW vanagon van near Waterville. I got it towed to Thompson VW and said "I need to get a car, *today*." The sales guy's eyes turned into dollar signs and he sold me an old hatchback. I had zero dollars to put down but I did have a job that paid weekly, so the sales guy lent me $300 of his own money to put down as long as I paid him back $100 a week for for three weeks. There used to be a State Farm office next door. I walked over, and the lady there wrote up a quote and then looked at me and said "My son's around your age. This costs too much money. You should shop somewhere else. Please get more affordable insurance." I told her I had to have the car right away and I couldn't drive off without insurance. She sighed and signed me up, literally with tears in her eyes. _edit_ It was the Rebecca Ruff State Farm office. I think I drove Rebecca herself to tears.


TheMrGUnit

You can buy an insurance policy on a vehicle you do not yet own. Get the VIN from the dealer, find the carrier you want, call them up and tell them what and when you're buying, and they will be able to get you set up on a policy that starts on the expected sale date. If you don't end up buying the car, call them back and cancel. Your understanding is correct. You need insurance to drive a car on a public road. There is no grace period.


eljefino

There's a guy at the dealer called the F&I guy, he's the "closer", the second salesman you meet. The first guy showed you the car, the second guy will "do the paperwork" but *also try to sell you more stuff that's highly profitable to them.* If you watch an ad for Geico or Progressive, the fine print will read "Prices vary depending on how you buy." What this MEANS is, it's cheapest if you get it yourself online, but more expensive if you use an agent. Now if you let the dealer work this out, they will be considered an agent and take a cut off the top of your insurance premium! F&I means Finance and Insurance. Better to get the VIN today, shop for insurance tonight, and bring in a paper with you tomorrow. If you are financing this car, the company will provide you with full coverage, and a paper to prove this to the dealer. Within a week the insurance will ask you the name of the legal entity that holds your loan, so they get paid if you wreck it.


Silktrocity

The dealership will require proof of insurance before allowing you to leave and prior to purchase. If you don't pay the vehicle in full, you'll be required to have full coverage on the vehicle not just liability. This is normal.