Should You Increase Your Auto Insurance if You Are Planning on Driving Through a State With Higher Minimum Coverage Requirements Than You Carry?

If money is tight in your household, you may have the minimum amount of auto insurance that the state requires. This helps to keep your auto insurance premiums low. However, the minimum amount of auto insurance that you are required to carry varies from state to state. As such, if you are traveling out of state for work or for pleasure, you may find yourself wondering if you need to increase your coverage if one or more of the states you will be traveling in has higher minimum coverage requirements.

What most people do not realize is that even thought your policy limits say they are good in the state you reside, they are actually good nationwide. And if your current minimums do not meet the minimums in other states, your auto insurance automatically boosts the limits up to the minimum when you are in these states. And no, you don’t have to notify the insurance company you are traveling in these states or on vacation. It is something that is automatically done if you are in an accident in the state.

The only time this is not the case is if your auto insurance specifically states that the policy amounts do not automatically adjust in another state. This may occur if you are involved in multiple accidents out of state. Unless your policy specifically precludes it, your insurance will self adjust when you are in other states with higher minimums than you carry, ensuring you don’t have to change your policy amounts as you travel.

If you are looking to increase the coverage amount of your auto insurance policy, or are simply shopping around for a new one, E.S.T.I.R. Inc. can help. We provide a full range of insurance products, including auto insurance, to the greater Newark, NJ area. Call us today or stop by our office to learn more about our products, get answers to your questions or obtain a quote for an auto insurance policy.