How quickly do changes I make to my policy go into effect?
I started Insurance Blog by Chris™ because I have a passion for insurance. Here at the blog, our job is to educate and inform people about the best insurance for them.
Since then, we have grown into national brands with a large team of researchers helping people understand all forms of insurance.
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Written by
Chris Huntley
Founder of Huntley Wealth & Insurance Services
Rachael Brennan has been working in the insurance industry since 2006 when she began working as a licensed insurance representative for 21st Century Insurance, during which time she earned her Property and Casualty license in all 50 states.
After several years she expanded her insurance expertise, earning her license in Health and AD&D insurance as well. She has worked for small health insu…
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Reviewed by
Rachael Brennan
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jan 31, 2022
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Here’s the Scoop
Your changes to your insurance policy will go into effect right away
An insurance company can cancel a policy, but it can’t make adjustments to your policy
You can change free online quotes to find the best policy for you
“After I buy car insurance, can changes I make to my policy lower the average cost of my policy per month?”
If you want to learn how quickly changes to your policy go through in the interest of lowering your rates, you’re not alone. Like you, other drivers have done an internet search for “how to change my insurance plan” so they can discover how to make their insurance coverage work with their budget.
Thankfully, the changes that you decide to make to your policy go into effect as soon as you finalize them, so you could be gaining some savings sooner than you realize. This is happy news for every driver who’s ever asked, “Can I obtain lower car insurance rates after changes I make to my policy are finalized?”
Keep reading to learn how you can make adjustments to your policy and which changes can help you procure a cheaper rate for your coverage.
If you want to know, “How can changes I make to my policy lower my rates?” enter your ZIP code to get free insurance quotes from insurance companies near your city.
How soon do changes to an insurance policy go into effect?
You can start saving on your insurance right away because the changes you make to your policy go into effect immediately. But if there are a few drivers listed on your policy, who has the authority to make changes to an insurance contract?
While you are allowed to list multiple drivers on your policy, those drivers are not allowed to make changes to your policy, just as your insurance company isn’t allowed to make changes to your policy. Bear in mind, though, that your insurance company can cancel your policy if you fail to make payments on time, so you may want to consider changing your billing method from manual to automatic withdrawal if you haven’t done so already.
If you are the owner of the policy, you can make any changes you want to it whenever you would like since most insurance companies now have a mobile app available for you to use. However, you must remember that making adjustments right after you’ve been in an accident will not be as easy.
Changing a Car Insurance Policy After an Accident
If you were to hypothetically cause an accident and were worried that your limits wouldn’t be high enough to provide you with adequate financial protection, you would not be allowed to change your limits at the scene of the accident. This is why it is so crucial to avoid gouging your coverage limits in order to gain cheap insurance rates. While the changes you make are instantaneous, the results can be devastating.
Instead of lowering your coverage limits, consider other changes you could make that could prove to be more beneficial, like changing your insurance company.
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap insurance rates.
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Can you switch insurance at any time?
Not only is changing car insurance mid-policy allowed but doing so is very easy with today’s technology. With your smartphone, you’ll be able to compare a wide variety of insurance quotes from the palm of your hand. But when comparing auto insurance quotes, can changes you make to your policy help illuminate the right policy for your coverage needs?
Shopping online is so efficient because you can adjust quotes as they come through, and without any consequences, so you can find the best policy. If you’re thinking of buying a new car, get some free quotes first so you can examine how different makes and models could change your rates.
Another great aspect of shopping online is the plethora of free resources you have at your disposal. Below is a chart that can help you find an estimate for how much you could pay for liability or full coverage in your home state:
Car Insurance Rates by State
StateMonthly Liability-Only Car Insurance RatesMonthly Full Coverage Car Insurance Rates
Arizona$41$81
California$39$82
Georgia$41$87
Illinois$36$74
Indiana$31$63
Louisiana$61$117
Maryland$50$93
Missouri$33$73
Nebraska$29$69
Ohio$31$66
Oklahoma$37$84
Pennsylvania$41$81
Texas$42$92
Utah$39$73
Wisconsin$30$61
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Now, if you do find a new insurance company that you would like to work with, you will need to share your current policy number so a cancellation letter can be sent over to your current insurance company. However, could you get more affordable car insurance after changes to your policy are processed by the new insurance company?
Depending on the changes, you could see your savings grow right away.
What changes can drivers make to their policy to lower rates?
There are some very easy changes that you can make to your policy in order to obtain cheaper rates right away. For example, take the time to add on discounts that you qualify for. You should review your policy to see if you are eligible for any of these common discounts:
Multi-policy
Multi-car
New car
Lane assist
Anti-theft device
Paperless billing
Paid-in-full
Accident forgiveness
Customer loyalty
Accident-free
Defensive driving course
Good student
Emergency deployment
In addition to adding discounts, you can also raise your deductibles to lower your rates immediately. The relationship between your insurance rates and your deductibles is like a see-saw. The lower your deductibles, the higher your rates. So if you think you can afford to pay higher deductibles, you can raise them and watch your rates go down.
Making Changes to Your Car Insurance: The Bottom Line
“When I buy insurance from a new car insurance company, will changes I make to my policy keep my rates low?”
That will depend upon the changes you make; however, if you want to lower your rates right away, you can add discounts that fit your policy or raise your deductibles. You can watch your rates decrease in real time since any change that you make to your policy will be processed as soon as you give your permission for the change to go through.
Now, remember, if you are in an accident, you can’t raise your limits to offset any financial damage, so make sure that your limits are set at adequate levels before you get out on the road.
“Do changes I make to my policy reduce the cost of my insurance coverage?” Enter your ZIP code to get free insurance quotes that fit your budget today.
