Using a Different Address for Car Insurance
6 minute read Published on Nov 4, 2022 by BrokerLink Communications
Are you wondering whether the address on your car insurance policy must match your home address? You’ve come to the right place. The auto insurance experts at BrokerLink break down the importance of having the correct address listed on your car insurance below.
Can my car insurance address be different from my home address?
Yes, your car insurance address can be different from your home address. There is no law or regulation that requires the two to match. In fact, there are multiple scenarios where it’s perfectly acceptable for the address on your car insurance policy to differ from your home address. For example, if you are the owner of the vehicle but not the primary driver (e.g. your child who started university is living away from home and is the primary driver of the vehicle), the addresses may not match.
Can I use another person’s address for auto insurance?
No, in most situations, you cannot use another person’s address for auto insurance. Doing so would mean lying about where you live and lying about any circumstances, including location, can be grounds for a cancelled or non-renewed policy.
While not technically a crime, insurance companies apply heavy penalties against policyholders that break the rules. For example, if you lie about your home address on your auto insurance policy and your insurer finds out, they can legally refuse to pay a claim. They can also cancel your policy and add misrepresentation to your driver’s record. If this happens, it can make it very difficult to find a new car insurance policy. And if you do find one, it will likely be considerably more expensive than your original policy.
The only situation in which you can use another person’s address for auto insurance is if that person is the owner of the vehicle and you are the primary driver. However, even in this instance, the owner usually needs to give their express permission to the insurance company for you to use their address.
Does giving a different auto insurance address invalidate my policy?
Lying about your home address will only invalidate your car insurance policy if your provider finds out. And while you might think the odds of this are slim, you would be wrong. Insurance companies have all kinds of ways of finding out information, such as your real home address.
For example, insurance providers commonly ask for a policyholder’s credit information when reviewing their application. This gives an insurer access to whatever information a consumer reporting agency gathers. Therefore, it won’t take much for them to find out that you lied about your home address.
Do I need to notify my insurance company of my new address if I move?
Yes, you must notify your insurance provider of your new home address following a move. Moving to a new home means changing your vehicle registration address, drivers licence address, and car insurance address. Informing your insurance company about the move is especially important since your location is used to calculate your premium. Therefore, moving to a new home might mean a change to your premium.
Depending on where your new home is located, your premium could go up or down. To ensure your policy is valid after you have moved into your new home, make sure to notify your insurance company as soon as possible.
Does my driver’s licence address have to match my vehicle registration address?
No, a driver’s licence address does not have to match their vehicle registration address. This is due to the fact that many people have more than one house. For example, a policyholder might leave one car at their summer cottage and another car at their primary home. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable for your driver’s licence and vehicle registration addresses not to match.
What should I do if I find out someone is using my address for their car insurance?
If you suspect that someone is using your address for their car insurance policy, the best course of action is to contact the insurance company. While it might be totally innocent or even a mistake, the smartest choice is to inform the insurance provider immediately in case it is an instance of fraud.
Does it matter if someone else is using my address for their auto insurance?
Yes, it matters. Beyond the fact that someone is committing fraud, it can have negative consequences for you down the road. When insurance companies run claims reports to find out a driver’s claims history, they often check to see who in your household has reported claims. If the driver using your address had reported several claims, it could lead to higher insurance rates for you.
What are the consequences of using a fake car insurance address?
One of the main consequences of using a fake address on your car insurance policy is that it can lead to claims being denied. If you are involved in an accident and your insurance company discovers that you lied, they could deny your claim. Depending on the severity of the accident, this could leave you on the hook for repair costs, medical expenses, or even legal fees totalling thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. You would have to pay for these costs entirely out of pocket if the insurance company has denied your claim due to fraudulent activity.
Even worse, the insurance company might have your driver’s licence suspended until the claim has been paid off. If you are unable to pay the claim, this could have a negative impact on your credit history. You could even face a lawsuit if the accident was serious. Beyond the insurance company refusing to pay your claim, fraudulent activity such as lying about your home address will likely lead to a cancelled policy.
A car insurance policy cancellation can make it much more difficult to purchase car insurance in the future. You may be deemed a high-risk driver and required to purchase facility insurance, which is expensive. Therefore, it is best to be honest and truthful to avoid the severe consequences of lying about your car insurance address.
Why did my insurance company deny my auto insurance claim?
There are several reasons an insurance company might deny a claim. As discussed above, committing insurance fraud is one incident in which your insurer has the right to deny your claim. However, there are other scenarios in which an insurance company can refuse to pay your claim. They are as follows:
- You committed insurance fraud
- Your auto insurance provider is not liable for the damage
- You do not have enough coverage to pay for the damages
- You violated policy guidelines
- Your loss is not covered in your insurance policy
As you can see, there are many situations beyond insurance fraud that might warrant the denial of an auto insurance claim. Before purchasing a car insurance policy, make sure you understand the terms and coverage limits.
How can I save money on car insurance?
If you want to save money on car insurance without breaking any rules, such as committing fraud by lying about your home address, follow the tips below. BrokerLink’s insurance advisors have put together a list of tips for saving money on auto insurance in Canada:
- Purchase car insurance for multiple vehicles together (savings of up to 20%)
- Buy multiple insurance policies (business insurance + car insurance, leisure vehicle insurance + car insurance, etc.) from the same company (savings of up to 15%)
- Increase your deductible
- Enrol in driving school (for young drivers)
- Pay auto insurance annually rather than monthly
- Install winter tires on your vehicle (savings of up to 5%, depending on the province)
- Buy an eco-friendly vehicle, such as a hybrid or electric vehicle
- Maintain a clean driving record (no tickets, accidents, claims, etc.)
Contact BrokerLink to learn more about using a different address for car insurance
Any one of our insurance advisors will be pleased to answer any questions you may have, including questions about car insurance addresses. We can explain the process of notifying your car insurance company about a move. Even better, we can help you find a quality auto insurance policy at a great rate. If you want to save money on car insurance, BrokerLink can help. With our resources and expertise at your disposal, our insurance advisors will shop around, compare rates, and unlock discounts on your behalf.
Get started now by giving us a call, sending us an email, or visiting us in person at one of BrokerLink’s many locations throughout Canada. You can also request a free auto insurance quote using our online quote tool. Answer a few basic questions about yourself and you can receive an accurate, no-obligation quote in as little as five minutes.