Marantz2270

Good News: C2S arrived at the dealer and was PDI'd yesterday. I'm going in today to see it for the first time and pay for the car.

Not-So-Good News: Earliest I could get in with my PPF installer is May 11th.

More Good News: My dealer is willing to hold the car indoors until May 11th, and will deliver the car to my PPF installer on that day.

Question: When is the proper time to add the car to my auto insurance policy?

Of course I am paying for it today, but I'm not taking possession of it until May and I won't be behind the wheel at all until then. Never been in this situation before so just curious what y'all think.

German1967

I would add it to insurance once you take possession. If you pay for it now, it is officially yours, regardless it it stays at the dealer for longer.

rk-d

When the car arrives, it is covered by the dealer's lot insurance. Once you have signed on the car, your existing car insurance will cover the car automatically for 4 days before you have to take out a formal policy.

May 11th is a little over 2 weeks away. If you've signed the paperwork, I think you'll need to take out a policy.

Marantz2270

Yeah...I thought this might be the case. Not sure I can get the car added to my policy over the weekend, so maybe I should wait until early next week when I can add the car to my insurance.

EDIT: Or...I guess I'd fall within the 4 day window if I signed today? This crap stresses me out. I hate it

rk-d

If you signed today, you're good til early next week.

Marantz2270

Thank you sir, I appreciate the help!

rk-d

No prob

BTW - My numbers may be on the conservative side. The grace period is probably longer. You should check with your insurance provider - you could have a few weeks of automatic coverage built in after you sign for the car.

AlexCeres

I had insurance start the day I signed the final sales contract. It didn’t change the cost for the 6 month policy by much at all. The car was at the dealers for another week with the vagaries of (my) scheduling and their doing some accessories

Marantz2270

Yeah...I'd like to add it today, but it's Saturday and my agent's office is closed. I'll have to wait until Monday to add it to my policy.

AlterZgo

Do you have your current policy? Reading the policy from my insurance company, I have 14 days from the day I take possession of the car to add it. During those 14 days, that "newly acquired car" is considered insured under my existing policy as a newly added vehicle. So if I were to buy a car, I wouldn't bother insuring it until I actually took possession of it. But, your policy and insurance company may differ, though I imagine most insurance companies offer some grace period of coverage for customers who buy cars on a whim without notifying the insurance company first (which many of us, including myself, have done).

mb1

I just can't imaging why anyone would voluntarily leave a new car at the dealership for two weeks.

tgcrun

We’re talking about a $150,000 car. I’d insure it as soon as I paid for it. What’s it going to cost for the extra two weeks? $100? $200?

Noah Fect

Go pick up your car and drive it. That'll help.

Deven

I would think you would want to have the car insured and covered under your insurance the date you signed the papers.

Even if the car is sitting on the dealers lot, I bet the in service date starts the date you formally bought the car.

​​​​​​For example, the last several cars I have bought have been from out of state. The date the dealer signs the bill of sale (maybe the day after I sign as I have to FedEx back paperwork), is the day I start insurance. It can be days if not longer before the transport company picks up the vehicle, and the dealer baby sits the car, but the car is mine and needs to be insured accordingly.

detansinn

I'd drive it home. They're going to do paint correction anyway before putting on the PPF. At least, at home, you can stare at it if you're afraid of driving it. You've already waited long enough for the car.
Getting past your fear of something happening to it and just going out to enjoy it -- that's a great place to be. One of my takeaways from the pandemic is that life is too short for to worry about some of this stuff. In two weeks, you could experience a heart attack or stroke -- and miss the experience.