Can I get car insurance for a car that is stored for the winter or not in use?

If you don’t plan to use your vehicle for a season, you may choose to place it in storage. Since it won’t be on the road and at risk of an accident, your current insurance policy may no longer be necessary. But canceling your car insurance coverage can leave you with a costly repair if your vehicle is damaged while in storage.

Can you get car insurance for a car stored for the winter or not in use? Purchasing parked vehicle insurance is possible in most cases and with many insurance companies.

However, there are some circumstances where this may not be an option. You can compare car insurance quotes to determine which company offers the best rates for stored vehicles.

Insurance for a Stored Car During Winter

You may carry some insurance on the car to protect yourself against the cost of repairs if your vehicle is damaged while it is parked.

Just because your car isn’t at risk of an accident doesn’t mean it can’t suffer damage. For example, if the storage isn’t completely covered, your vehicle could still suffer weather damage due to hail. Or, a falling tree branch could strike your car.

If you are still paying for a loan on your vehicle, the lender may require you to carry collision and/or comprehensive insurance. If you don’t purchase sufficient insurance coverage, your lender may purchase the insurance for you and bill you for the cost.

Car Insurance for a Stored Vehicle

When you purchase a car insurance policy, you are likely paying for several types of coverage. The six most common types of car insurance coverage include:

• Liability
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Personal Injury
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist
• Medical payments

All but one of these types of coverage deal directly with auto accidents. For example, if your vehicle is in storage, you need comprehensive car insurance to cover it.

Liability insurance covers the cost of repairing the other driver’s vehicle. Collision insurance pays to cover the cost of repairing your vehicle. Personal injury insurance pays for your own direct or indirect medical expenses, while medical payment insurance covers only direct medical costs.

If you are involved in an accident, and the person who caused the accident doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough, uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance covers that.

Some states require drivers to have certain types of coverage. For instance, Utah car insurance laws state drivers must carry $25,000 per person and $65,000 per accident in Bodily Injury Liability coverage and Property Damage Liability coverage.

However, the state insurance requirements only apply to cars on the road. If a vehicle is parked in storage and won’t be moved, these laws do not apply.

Comprehensive insurance can protect a car while it is parked. The difference between collision and comprehensive coverage is that collision car insurance covers the cost to repair your vehicle in an accident.

In contrast, comprehensive car insurance protects your car from damage outside of accidents. It is sometimes called “all-peril” car insurance. For example, comprehensive car insurance covers hail damage and other weather events while in storage. It will also protect you if your vehicle is stolen or vandalized in storage.

Car Insurance for a Car Stored for the Winter

If you park your vehicle in storage for a season, you won’t need insurance to cover the cost of accidents. But before you drop your current insurance policy, talking to your insurance provider is important.

Not all insurance providers will allow you to drop other types of coverage while keeping comprehensive. For example, if you’re purchasing a new policy, an insurance provider may not allow you to only purchase comprehensive insurance if other types of insurance are required in your area.

While you can choose not to have insurance while your car is in storage, dropping your insurance can lead to a gap in coverage. If you decide to insure the vehicle again in the future, this can lead to higher premiums. One option to avoid this is canceling your vehicle’s registration while in storage.

Some insurance providers may also allow you to suspend your coverage. Your vehicle won’t be covered during this time, but you will be able to reactivate your policy when you are ready to drive your vehicle again.

Case Studies: Car Insurance for Stored or Inactive Cars

Case Study 1: Weather Damage

Sarah decided to store her convertible car for the winter. She opted to keep comprehensive insurance coverage during the storage period to protect her vehicle from potential weather damage. One day, a severe hailstorm occurred, causing significant damage to Sarah’s car.

She contacted her insurance provider, who inspected the vehicle and covered the repairs under her comprehensive policy. Sarah was relieved that she had maintained coverage to safeguard her car during storage.

Case Study 2: Theft and Vandalism Protection

Michael had to leave the country for an extended period and left his car unused. Worried about potential theft or vandalism, he decided to keep comprehensive insurance in place. Unfortunately, while he was away, his car was stolen from where it was parked.

Michael immediately reported the incident to the police and contacted his insurance company. Thanks to his comprehensive coverage, the insurance provider reimbursed him for the stolen vehicle. Michael was grateful for having insurance coverage that protected his car even in his absence.

Case Study 3: Coverage Gap

Alexandra decided to cancel her car insurance while her vehicle was in storage for several months. During this time, a heavy storm caused a tree branch to fall on her car, resulting in substantial damage. Since Alexandra had no insurance coverage, she had to bear the full cost of repairs out of pocket.

This case illustrates the importance of maintaining insurance coverage for stored or inactive cars to avoid potential financial burdens in the event of unforeseen damage.

Insuring Your Vehicle in Storage: The Bottom Line

Depending on your insurance provider and whether you have a loan for the vehicle, reducing your insurance coverage while the car is in storage can help you save on your premiums.

Talk to your insurance provider, or start searching for an insurance provider that allows comprehensive insurance to be purchased separately to ensure your car is still covered while in storage.