Ask an Agent
Have a question? We're here to help.
Ask an agent for free
Question

Do I buy a car first or insurance first?

I'm 18 and buying my first vehicle. I'm still not sure what truck I'm going to get and the salesman at the dealership said that I need insurance for the vehicle if I want to buy it. How am I supposed to buy insurance if I don't know what vehicle I will end up with?

Feb 23, 2016 Nashville, TN

Answer
Author profile picture

The Zebra

The nation's leading independent insurance comparison site

The Zebra is an independent insurance advisor and quote comparison site with headquarters in Austin, Texas. Utilizing its real-time quote comparison …

This can be a bit confusing your first time around so I should be able to help. Your best bet is to first determine which vehicle you will be purchasing. From there you can get a quote on that specific vehicle to know what rate you will be paying on your insurance. After that you will purchase the car and the dealership will then require that you purchase the insurance for the vehicle before you leave the lot. Shop for the vehicle, shop for the insurance, buy the vehicle, then purchase the insurance. If you follow that order then you will avoid a mountain of headache.
Ask an Agent
Have a question? We're here to help.
Ask an agent for free

Insurance is complicated, but it doesn't have to be.

The Zebra searches all of the top insurance companies, in one place, so you can compare the cost and coverage you need to protect your car, home and other property.

Step 1: Tell us a little about yourself

Choose an insurance product and enter your zip code to get started. No phone number required.

Step 2: Sip your coffee while we find the best quotes

Enter the necessary information and then sit back while we find quotes from 100 top insurance carriers.

Icon Fill Form

Step 3: Compare your quotes

Compare quotes side-by-side to find the right match for you, whether it's home, auto, or more.

Icon Agent

Step 4: Let our agents do the hard work for you

Once you pick your policy, our agents are here to get you over the finish line. Then just relax and enjoy your savings.

Compare insurance rates today!

Location pin icon
No junk mail. No spam calls. Free quotes.

Related Questions

Other people are also asking...

Husband is in prison, how do I handle the car insurance?

You can exclude your husband from the policy if he is not driving the car. This means he would not be covered to drive but his driving history and status would not impact your rates. Sometimes there is an additional fee for having an excluded driver but that will vary by company. We can quote you a…
Oct 24, 2018 Nashville, TN

If my car is determined a total loss in an accident, will my gap insurance cover the down payment used to secure my loan?

Gap insurance will only cover what is left on your loan after an insurance company pays out. Gap coverage is best purchased if you are going to have a difference between the loan amount and the value of the vehicle. If you are putting money down and the vehicle value is more than the loan, then don…
Feb 4, 2020 Manchester, TN

Is there a way to get car insurance quotes without having a car first?

You don't have to physically own or possess a vehicle to get a car insurance quote, but you will at least need a year, make, and model of a vehicle you're interested in purchasing to get a quote.The great thing about The Zebra is that it's easy to compare quotes for any vehicle you m…
Oct 24, 2016 Southfield, MI

Is there a grace period for buying car insurance in GA from private seller?

While all cars need to be registered and insured by law in Georgia, the amount of time you are allowed to drive a new vehicle before adding it to your car insurance policy depends heavily on who you are insured by: some companies give you 30 days, some don't even offer a grace period. Therefor…
Apr 5, 2018 Snellville, GA