Can You Get Pa Car Insurance With a Po Box
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UPDATED: Sep 13, 2021
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Here's what you need to know...
- You always have to provide a physical address on your auto insurance for rating purposes
- Insurers will let you provide two addresses when your mailing address doesn't match your physical one
- You can mail your insurance documents and communications to street addresses or to a post office box in your name
- Your physical street address is only needed because the insurance company calculates rates based on your zip code
- Most motor vehicle agencies would prefer that the name and address match on your registration and insurance
If you have a P.O. box, you probably appreciate the fact that you can have your confidential paperwork sent to a securely locked box that you can check at your leisure.
You don't have to worry about people fishing through your mail for sensitive information or stealing your birthday presents sent from long-distance relatives.There are also all kinds of reasons people might like to keep their real street address private.
Post office boxes give you an extra layer of security and peace of mind.
Not all mail can be sent to a PO box. Some auto insurance companies have limited systems that won't allow the post office box to be inputted into the system. Other companies will only offer attended deliveries to an address that can be verified.
When you're buying your auto insurance, the carrier is going to need the address where you reside. Enter your zip code above to compare car insurance rates. See how much you could save!
Why is car insurance so important?
You must have the right motor vehicle liability insurance to register a car. Since registering your car is mandatory, insurance is also mandatory. As long as your car has tags it has to at least have the minimum mandatory auto insurance requirements covering it.
In most states, the minimum coverage requirement consists of liability insurance only (bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage). However, a few states also require you to purchase medical payments coverage, personal injury protection, or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
You will need to check your state's laws to know for sure exactly how much coverage is required.
Not only do you need insurance, you also need to be sure you buy it from a licensed company.
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are shopping for a policy to comply with the mandatory rules is setting up a policy that doesn't satisfy the state's requests.
You may have the right limits and an approved carrier but your coverage can still be turned away if the policy isn't structured right.
Most states have a requirement that says that the name and address on your insurance must match the name and address on your tags. While this is important, it's often overlooked. They want to make sure you're using your real street address, and some computer systems cannot recognize an address format that contains a P.O. box.
If you have only one address, you don't have to worry about matching the names.If you do have separate addresses, you're better off structuring everything to match.
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What happens if the two don't match?
If your auto insurance and registration addresses don't match, it's possible that the electronic system that verifies the status of insurance policies won't recognize your coverage.
When this happens, the system thinks that the vehicle doesn't have an active policy.
If the system believes that your coverage has lapsed, the process of suspending the vehicle's plates will start. The motor vehicle agency takes action rather quickly and they will send you a notice asking you to provide proof of coverage.
If you can't provide updated proof showing that the policy matches your registration, you could be fined.
Can you put a PO box on your registration documents?
Government agencies can be very picky. You have to follow the rules whenever you're registering a car even if the rule seems pointless.
In some states, the use of a P.O. box on a registration is completely prohibited or limited to when you also list a physical address. Some states, like California, have more lenient rules that allow you to use only a PO box when registering a car.
Can I get car insurance without a permanent address?
You have to give two addresses when you buy insurance. One address is strictly for mailing. If you like to get all of your bills mailed to your P.O. box, make sure to put the P.O. box in the quoting form where you're asked for contact information. You could also use a business address for this purpose.
This is where your communications will be mailed including:
- your quotes
- your application
- your bills
The second address that you're expected to provide is your actual street address. If you provide a P.O. box and you're submitting an application, an error will pop up and ask for your physical address as well.
The physical address, or garaging address, is where your car is parked most of the time when you're at home. Most people park their cars at homes but some keep their cars parked away from their residence.
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Why is the garaging address so important?
The physical address that you give can affect your premiums. Your zip code is one of the many pieces of information that is used to rate policies and set premiums.
If you're in an area where car thefts and vandalism is common, you'll pay more than someone who lives in a safer area with less property crime. Always check rates when you're moving from one zip code to another.
You can't use only a P.O. box for your car insurance but you can use it for mailing. Some carriers will only ask for the zip code where your car is stored and others want the full address. If you're getting quotes, make sure that the addresses are accurate.
If you file an insurance claim and your insurer discovers you gave them a false address, they can opt not to pay the claim. You could potentially even be charged with insurance fraud.
If you need to change your address with your insurer, call the company and speak to a customer service agent. You may also have online access to basic policy service options like this through your insurer's website or mobile app.
Compare online quotes right now and find a value-priced auto policy in minutes. Enter your zip code below to get started.
Can You Get Pa Car Insurance With a Po Box
Source: https://www.carinsurancecomparison.com/can-i-use-a-po-box-for-auto-insurance/