Can I Cancel My Auto Insurance at Any Time? (2024)

There are various reasons you might want to cancel your auto insurance policy. Maybe you switched to a new provider, moved to a different state, or sold your car. Whatever the case, you’re probably wondering what happens when you cancel your existing policy. We’ll dive into canceling and how to avoid fees, penalties, and other headaches.

Can I Cancel My Auto Insurance at Any Time?

The short answer is that yes, generally you can cancel your auto insurance at any time. However, you should look into your provider’s cancellation policy to avoid paying unnecessary fees and missing out on refunds.

What Happens if You Cancel Insurance Early?

Whether you pay monthly or in advance, most insurance companies allow you to cancel your policy regardless of where you are in the billing cycle. You will need to give proper notice, though. That means informing your provider that you’re canceling the policy rather than simply stopping payment. Some companies ask you to give 15 or 30 days’ notice when you cancel.

FYI

Some insurance companies require 30 days’ notice when you cancel your auto insurance policy. Check with your provider to ensure you follow the cancellation requirements.

If you paid any premiums in advance, your provider should refund them to you.¹ You might also receive a prorated refund on your current premium; however, cancellation fees tend to eat into this money. You’re especially likely to incur high fees if you cancel your auto insurance soon after buying the policy.

When you cancel your policy, ask if you’re incurring any penalties. In most cases, you won’t have to pay a cancellation fee. If you do, it will likely be nominal — around $50, or a small percentage of your final premium.

If you’re facing high fees and switching to a new auto insurance provider, consider whether it makes more sense to wait until the end of your policy’s term. That said, if you’re saving a lot of money in premiums with your new policy, switching might be advantageous even with the fee.

Because it’s illegal to drive without insurance in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia, your insurance provider usually notifies the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when you cancel your policy. The DMV will contact you to ask for proof that you have new insurance or have sold the car. If you don’t respond, the state may suspend your license and registration.

How to Cancel Your Car Insurance

Once you’re ready to cancel your auto insurance, here’s how to go about it.

Often, your new auto insurance provider will cancel your previous insurance for you. It’ll handle everything, including contacting your former provider and notifying the state of your new insurance so you avoid a lapse in coverage.

PRO TIP

If you are switching insurers, your new company will notify your insurer for you, often with a quick insurance cancellation phone call to customer service. The company might charge a cancellation fee or not reimburse you for unused premium, however.

If you’re switching providers, your current auto insurance company might want to convince you to stay. While insurance rates themselves are non-negotiable, your agent may identify auto insurance discounts or suggest other ways you can save on your auto insurance premiums.²
If you sold your car or need to cancel your auto insurance for another reason, you’ll have to do it yourself. Usually, a call to your insurance agent will suffice. Some companies require written notice. In any case, it’s a good idea to expect to fill out some paperwork. If you’re contacting your auto insurance provider yourself, you can use the following contact information to begin the cancellation process.

Company	URL	Phone number	Mailing address	Email
21st Century	N/A	800-241-1188 for new policies only	21st Century Insurance P.O. Box 15510 Wilmington, DE 9886-9252	service@21st.com
AAA	https://auth.westerncentralnyaaa.com/membership/member-login	800-836-2582	N/A	N/A
AARP / The Hartford	N/A	800-423-6789	AARP Insurance Program The Hartford P.O. Box 14219 Lexington, KY 40512 Fax: 877-293-2072	N/A
Allstate	N/A	Your local agent’s phone number	N/A	N/A
Amica	N/A	800-242-6422	N/A	N/A
Bristol West	N/A	888-888-0080	N/A	N/A
CarShield	https://carshield.com/help-support/contact-us/	800-587-4162	N/A	N/A
Clearcover	https://support.clearcover.com/hc/en-us/requests/new	855-444-1875	N/A	N/A
Concord	https://www.concordgroupinsurance.com/about/contact-us	800-852-3380	Concord Insurance 4 Bouton St. Concord, NH 03301	N/A
Dairyland	https://www.dairylandinsurance.com/contact-dairyland-insurance	800-334-0090	N/A	N/A
Direct	https://www.directauto.com/emailus	877-GO-DIRECT	N/A	N/A
Erie	https://www.erieinsurance.com/contact-erie/customer-care	Your local agent’s phone number	Erie Insurance Group 100 Erie Insurance Place Erie, PA 16530-1104	N/A
Esurance	N/A	800-378-7262	N/A	N/A
Farmers	https://www.farmers.com/css/login?redirect=sendmessage	888-327-6335	Farmers Insurance 6301 Owensmouth Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367	N/A
Foremost	N/A	800-532-4221	N/A	N/A
GAINSCO	N/A	866-GAINSCO	N/A	N/A
GEICO	https://www.geico.com/information/faq/cancel-insurance/	800-841-1587	N/A	N/A
Good2Go	N/A	800-777-6664	Good2Go Auto Insurance P.O. Box 1890 Blue Bell, PA 19422-0479	customerservice@good2go.com
Infinity	https://www.infinityauto.com/make-changes-your-policy-anytime-anywhere	800-782-1020	N/A	customer.service@ipacc.com
Kemper	https://www.kemper.com/about-kemper/contact-us	800-456-0448	Kemper Auto P.O. Box 660420 Dallas, TX 75266-0420	N/A
Lemonade	https://www.lemonade.com/download	N/A	N/A	N/A
Liberty Mutual	N/A	800-290-8711	N/A	N/A
Mercury	N/A	Your local agent’s phone number	N/A	N/A
MetLife	N/A	800-422-4272	N/A	N/A
Metromile	https://www.metromile.com/help/contact	N/A	N/A	N/A
National General Insurance (formerly GMAC)	https://cschat.nationalgeneral.com/enterpriseChat	888-293-5108	N/A	Service@NGIC.com
Nationwide	N/A	Your local agent’s phone number or 877-669-6877	N/A	N/A
Plymouth Rock	N/A	800-437-5556 if you purchased your policy through Plymouth Rock, online, or through a Prudential Financial professional 833-511-ROCK (7625) if you purchased your policy through an independent agent	Connecticut, if you purchased through an independent agent: Plymouth Rock Assurance Payment Processing Center P.O. Box 55933 Boston, MA 02205-5933 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, if you purchased your policy online or through a Prudential Financial professional: Plymouth Rock HP-PA P.O. Box 55877 Boston, MA 02205-5877 Massachusetts: Plymouth Rock Assurance Payment Processing Center P.O. Box 55933 Boston, MA 02205-5933 New Hampshire: Mt. Washington Assurance Corporation P.O. Box 55937 Boston, MA 02205-5937 New Jersey: Use the prepaid envelope or address your envelope according to your invoice. New York, if you purchased through an independent agent: Plymouth Rock NY P.O. Box 55940 Boston, MA 02205-5940 New York or Pennsylvania, if you purchased your policy online or through a Prudential Financial Professional: Plymouth Rock HP-NY P.O. Box 55560 Boston, MA 02205-5560 Pennsylvania: Plymouth Rock HP-PA P.O. Box 55877 Boston, MA 02205-5877	rockcare@plymouthrock.com if you purchased your policy through Plymouth Rock, online, or through a Prudential Financial professional policychanges@plymouthrock.com if you purchased your policy through an independent agent
Progressive	N/A	800-776-4737	The Progressive Corporation 6300 Wilson Mills Road Mayfield Village, Ohio 44143	N/A
Root	N/A	866-980-9431	Root Inc. 80 E. Rich St., Suite 500 Columbus, OH 43215	help@joinroot.com
Safeco	N/A	Your local agent’s phone number	N/A	N/A
State Farm	https://www.statefarm.com/customer-care/manage-your-accounts/cancel-my-policy	800-STATEFARM or 800-782-8332	Corporate Headquarters State Farm Insurance One State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61710	N/A
The General	N/A	888-333-2331	N/A	N/A
Travelers	N/A	Your local agent’s phone number	Travelers Personal Insurance P.O. Box 660307 Dallas, TX 75266-0307	N/A
USAA	https://www.usaa.com/my/logon	210-531-8722	USAA 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288	N/A

Send your former insurer proof of your new auto insurance policy. Your new insurance agent can provide you with proof — an ID card should be adequate. That way, you won’t risk a lapse in coverage.
Keep in mind that if your account is set up for automatic payments, your insurance company will continue to withdraw money until you cancel your policy. If you purchase a new policy and forget to cancel your old one, you’ll end up with duplicate coverage. You may be able to receive a refund if you provide a policy declarations page proving you had duplicate coverage.
You will receive notice of your policy cancellation from your former insurance provider.

Does Canceling My Auto Insurance Affect My Credit Score?

If you give your insurance provider proper notice and follow the necessary cancellation steps, canceling your auto insurance will not affect your credit score.

However, if you don’t officially cancel and instead stop paying your premiums, it will harm your credit. It may also make your next auto insurance provider see you as a high risk and charge you more for insurance. That being said, if you have poor credit, you can still buy a car and get auto insurance. Check out our roundup of the best auto loans for bad credit and get an auto insurance quote with no credit check now.

There are some exceptions to your credit score affecting your auto insurance costs. In Massachusetts, Michigan, Hawaii, or California, insurance providers can’t take credit scores into account when determining premiums. Learn more about Massachusetts auto insurance laws, the cost of auto insurance in Michigan, or the cost of auto insurance in California.

TIP

If you stop paying your auto insurance premiums, your provider will cancel your policy, but you’ll hurt your credit. Instead, follow the proper steps for canceling your policy.

Remember that you still need auto insurance in these circ*mstances:

Your car is in storage.
Your car doesn’t run.
You’re driving less.

Recap

As long as you give proper notice and maintain auto insurance coverage when you need it, you can cancel your auto insurance at any time. Learn more about cancellations and nonrenewals, and for your other questions, check out our auto insurance FAQs.