Moving to a new state comes with a long list of things to do: find a new home, coordinate movers, change your address, transfer utilities and perhaps register your vehicle. Insurance deserves a place on that list, too.
A move can affect several parts of your insurance program, particularly your auto, homeowners or renters coverage. Insurance requirements and policies can vary from state to state, while details such as your new address, where your vehicle is garaged and the type of home you are moving into can all influence your coverage.
That makes it important to talk with your insurance advisor before moving rather than waiting until you have unpacked. For example, Massachusetts requires new residents to obtain Massachusetts insurance when transferring an out-of-state vehicle registration and title, while Vermont gives new residents up to 60 days to register their vehicles and requires liability insurance.
Whether you are moving within New England or heading farther away, use this moving-to-a-new-state insurance checklist to help make your transition easier.
The Dowd Snapshot: Key Takeaways
- Contact your insurance advisor before your move. Coverage, requirements and available policy options can differ from one state to another.
- Review your auto insurance early. Your new state may have different required coverages and vehicle registration procedures.
- Update your homeowners or renters coverage for your new residence. The property, location and exposures at your new home may be different from those at your current address.
- Coordinate effective and cancellation dates carefully. Avoid canceling existing coverage before the appropriate replacement coverage is in effect.
- Use the move as an opportunity for a broader insurance review. Changes to your home, commute, vehicles, belongings and household can all affect your insurance needs.
What Should I Do About My Insurance Before Moving to a New State?
Start by telling your insurance advisor where you are moving and when you expect the move to occur.
That conversation can help determine which existing policies need to be updated, which may need to be replaced and what state-specific requirements apply at your new address. Your advisor can also help coordinate timing so that your coverage reflects the transition from your current residence to your new one.
This is especially important because insurance is generally regulated at the state level. A policy written for one state should not simply be assumed to meet the requirements or appropriately address the exposures associated with another.
Ideally, insurance should become part of your planning process well before moving day rather than another item to handle once you arrive.
Review Auto Insurance Before You Register Your Vehicle
Auto insurance should be one of the first policies you discuss when preparing for an interstate move.
States establish their own insurance and vehicle registration requirements. Massachusetts, for example, requires an active Massachusetts auto insurance policy as part of the process for transferring an out-of-state vehicle registration and title. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles states that a new resident must register the vehicle after becoming a resident and that the law does not provide a grace period.
Vermont has a different process. A resident moving to Vermont generally must obtain Vermont vehicle registration within 60 days of moving, or before the existing out-of-state registration expires if that occurs sooner. Vermont also requires vehicles to carry at least the state’s statutory minimum liability insurance.
Those differences illustrate why simply changing the address on an existing policy may not be enough.
Your insurance advisor may need information such as:
- Your new residential address
- The date you expect to establish residency
- Where each vehicle will normally be garaged
- Who will be driving the vehicles
- Your anticipated commute or vehicle usage
- Any changes to the vehicles themselves
Your new location can also affect the cost of coverage, so a move may be a good time to review deductibles, limits and optional protections instead of focusing only on meeting the minimum requirements.
Do Not Cancel Your Current Auto Policy Too Soon
When you are moving from one state to another, timing matters.
Do not assume that you should cancel your existing policy as soon as the moving truck leaves your driveway. Your old coverage and new coverage need to be coordinated with your residence, registration and vehicle requirements so you do not unintentionally create a lapse.
A coverage lapse can create both financial and administrative complications. Work with your insurance advisor to establish the appropriate effective date for your new policy and determine when the former policy should end.
This is one area where a little planning before the move can prevent a much larger headache afterward.
Update Homeowners Insurance for Your New Home
If you are buying a home in your new state, your homeowners insurance needs will change along with your address.
Your new house is a different property with its own characteristics and exposures. Construction type, age, replacement cost, property features, and geographic risks can all affect how you should insure the home.
The move is also an opportunity to discuss whether the coverage you carried at your former home still reflects your needs. For example, you may be purchasing a larger home, downsizing, adding a detached structure or moving to a property with different weather-related exposures.
New England homeowners in particular can face risks associated with winter storms, freezing temperatures, wind and water. Other regions may introduce different concerns.
Rather than assuming that the coverage appropriate for your previous home will translate directly to the new one, review the property with your insurance advisor and customize coverage around the home you will actually be occupying.
Renters Should Update Their Coverage, Too
Moving from one rental to another does not mean your insurance needs stay exactly the same.
Tell your insurance advisor about the new residence and your expected move date. Your new address, household arrangement and belongings can all be relevant to the policy.
This is also a good time to revisit your personal property limit. Moving has a way of reminding you just how much you own. Furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen equipment, sporting goods and other possessions can represent a significant replacement cost when considered together.
As our September renters insurance blog notes, renters coverage generally addresses personal property, personal liability and additional living expenses or loss of use for certain covered losses.
If you are moving in with a spouse, partner, roommate or other household member, tell your advisor about that change as well. Do not assume everyone living at the new address is automatically insured under the same policy.
Consider What Is Changing Beyond Your Address
A move can change much more than where you receive your mail.
Think about what your new lifestyle will look like. Will your commute be significantly longer or shorter? Are you adding a teenage driver to the household? Will you now work from home? Are you moving valuable belongings, purchasing new furnishings or adding features such as a pool?
You may also be moving from a rental property into your first home, from a single-family home into a condominium or from one type of community to another.
Each of those changes can create reasons to review your insurance.
If you have multiple policies, such as home, auto and umbrella coverage, reviewing them together can also help ensure the information and liability limits across your insurance program remain coordinated.
Create an Inventory Before Everything Goes into Boxes
Before packing, take some time to document your belongings.
A home inventory can help you estimate how much personal property you own and create a useful record if you later experience a covered loss. Photos, videos, receipts and descriptions of higher-value possessions can all be helpful.
Pay particular attention to jewelry, artwork, collectibles, electronics and other valuable items. Standard policy limits or special limitations may apply to certain categories of property, so discuss valuable possessions with your insurance advisor before assuming they are fully covered.
Moving is one of the few times when nearly everything you own is already being handled and organized. Take advantage of the opportunity.
Add Insurance to Your Pre-Move Checklist
Insurance may not be as visible as packing boxes or a moving truck, but it is an important part of preparing for a move.
The earlier you review your coverage, the more time you have to understand the requirements in your new state, coordinate policy dates and address any changes in your home, vehicles or household.
For New England moves, the details can differ even between neighboring states. Massachusetts and Vermont, for instance, have different timelines and processes for registering an out-of-state vehicle after a move.
Your insurance coverage should be part of your pre-move checklist. Count on Dowd to help guide you.
Schedule an appointment to review your coverage before your move.
Moving and Insurance FAQs
What should I do about my insurance before moving to a new state?
Contact your insurance advisor before your move. Review your auto, homeowners or renters coverage, provide your new address and expected move date and determine whether new policies or coverage changes will be required in your destination state.
Can I keep my current auto insurance when I move to another state?
That depends on your insurer, policy and destination. Auto insurance requirements vary by state, so your existing policy may need to be changed or replaced. Coordinate with your insurance advisor before changing your vehicle registration or canceling existing coverage.
When should I change my homeowners or renters insurance when I move?
Discuss the move with your insurance advisor before moving day so coverage can be coordinated with the dates you leave your current residence and take possession of your new one. Do not assume your existing policy will automatically provide all the coverage you need at the new address.
Does moving to another state affect my auto insurance rate?
It can. Where a vehicle is primarily garaged is one factor insurers may use when determining coverage and premium. State insurance requirements can also differ. Your actual premium will depend on the insurer, your coverage selections and other rating factors.
What insurance information should I have ready before moving?
Be prepared to provide your new address, anticipated move date, vehicle and driver information, details about your new home or rental and information about any significant changes to your household or belongings.