How quickly do changes I make to my policy go into effect?
There are a variety of "changes I make to my policy" questions out there, all with different answers. The changes you make to your policy go into effect immediately, so you could get cheaper rates right away depending on what changes you decide to make. If you're the policy owner, you're only one who can change your policy so you should regularly review it. You can compare new auto insurance quotes with the cost of changes to your policy to get the best price.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Apr 3, 2024
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 3, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We partner with top insurance providers. This doesn’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own.
On This Page
- The changes you make to your auto policy go into effect immediately
- You can switch to a new insurance company in the middle of your policy period
- You can adjust free quotes online to see how changes to your policy will affect your rates
When I buy auto insurance, can changes I make to my policy get processed right away? That’s a question that a lot of drivers ask themselves, and the answer is, yes, all changes you make to your policy go into effect right away. You can adjust your automobile insurance policy as you see fit, and most insurance companies these days allow you to make changes to your policy at any time of day through the use of a mobile app or by calling the company’s 24-hour customer service phone number. The next question that is most likely on your mind is: Will my insurance company offer lower auto insurance rates after changes I make to my policy are processed? While you could get cheaper rates, you could also face an increase in your rates depending upon what kind of changes were made to your policy. Keep reading to learn who can make changes to your policy, when you can make changes to your insurance policy, and how to get lower rates on your insurance. Enter your ZIP code to get free insurance quotes if you’ve caught yourself wondering, can changes I make to my policy make my insurance more affordable?
Are changes to an insurance policy effective right away?
As soon as any changes are made to a policy, they go into effect right away, but who has the authority to make changes to an insurance contract? You, the owner of the policy, must give your direct consent for any changes to be made to your insurance policy. For example, if you were to call your insurance representative and ask what your rate would be if you raise your deductibles, your insurance representative would be able to change the deductibles and tell you what the new rate is without finalizing the change. This way, you can process new information without fear of experiencing buyer’s remorse and make the best insurance decision for you. Once you know what will happen to your rates if you raise your deductibles, you can approve it or say that you’ve changed your mind and keep your policy exactly as it is. Of course, once you say that you would like your deductibles or coverage options to be adjusted, the insurance representative will do as you have requested, and all the changes you asked for will go into immediate effect. Now, changing a car insurance policy after an accident is not so simple. If you happened to cause an accident where you collided into someone’s brand new Rolls Royce, you can’t hop on the phone right away and hike up your coverage limits. Your insurance company will not look up such actions kindly, and you could face some serious repercussions for trying to pull a fast one on your insurance company.
Read more:
- Can I add or remove coverages in the middle of my policy?
- Once I buy the policy, will I ever need to change my insurance coverage?
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Can drivers switch to a new insurance company at any time?
Are there any rules that forbid drivers from changing auto insurance mid-policy? No, there are not. At any point in your policy, you can choose to switch (read our “How to Switch Auto Insurance Companies” for more information) to a new company. Now, if you’ve spent some time searching “how to change my insurance plan” on the internet, you’ll be pleased to learn that switching insurance companies is very simple. All you’ll need to do is shop online, find the best policy for your needs, and make sure that the effective date is no later than the cancellation date of your current policy so you don’t have any lapse in coverage. If you want to find a new insurance company but aren’t sure where to start, take a look at the average rates offered to different age groups by the biggest names in the insurance industry today. You can use this chart as a reference to determine which insurance company is the best fit for you:
Insurance Provider | Single 17-year-old female | Single 17-year-old male | Single 25-year-old female | Single 25-year-old male | Married 35-year-old female | Married 35-year-old male | Married 60-year-old female | Married 60-year-old male |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Allstate | $9,702.39 | $11,687.90 | $4,498.53 | $4,674.05 | $3,644.62 | $3,668.74 | $3,595.93 | $3,595.93 |
American Family | $8,606.74 | $11,338.72 | $4,508.70 | $5,172.72 | $3,076.88 | $3,440.54 | $2,918.23 | $3,357.40 |
Geico | $5,977.56 | $6,157.76 | $2,937.45 | $2,902.58 | $2,717.10 | $2,944.34 | $2,638.90 | $3,023.87 |
Nationwide | $6,664.22 | $8,542.40 | $2,762.74 | $2,985.74 | $2,350.64 | $2,387.13 | $2,080.17 | $2,198.96 |
Progressive | $10,399.12 | $11,605.52 | $2,927.41 | $2,965.04 | $2,473.67 | $2,345.40 | $2,202.78 | $2,243.60 |
State Farm | $5,378.84 | $6,859.94 | $2,421.28 | $2,488.98 | $2,223.31 | $2,223.31 | $1,985.80 | $1,985.80 |
USAA | $4,775.09 | $5,170.04 | $2,235.59 | $2,376.51 | $1,683.17 | $1,685.90 | $1,619.86 | $1,600.72 |
So, can you switch insurance at any time? Yes, you can, but if you catch yourself thinking, “Do I need to find a different auto insurance company for changes I make to my policy to be cost-effective?” you may want to pause for a moment before you do anything drastic. You must understand that you may be able to make adjustments to your current policy that could save you money.
How can changes to a policy lower insurance rates?
How can I get affordable auto insurance when changes I make to my policy go through? The answer is simple. You can all the discounts you qualify for to your policy, and by making that change, you could earn yourself some immediate savings. Many insurance companies offer a wide range of discounts that benefit new and more experienced drivers. Take a took at this extensive breakdown of different types of discounts offered by major insurance companies and see how you could save on your insurance coverage: Auto Insurance Discounts Available by Company and Discount Amount
Discount Name | Allstate | American Family | Farmers | Geico | Liberty Mutual | Nationwide | Progressive | State Farm | Travelers | USAA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adaptive Cruise Control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Adaptive Headlights | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-lock Brakes | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | 5% | 5% | ✓ | 5% | ||
Anti-Theft | 10% | ✓ | 23% | 20% | 25% | ✓ | 15% | |||
Claim Free | 35% | ✓ | ✓ | 26% | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | 15% | 23% | 12% |
Continuous Coverage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | ||
Daytime Running Lights | 2% | ✓ | 3% | 5% | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Defensive Driver | 10% | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 5% | 10% | 5% | 10% | 3% |
Distant Student | 35% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | 7% | ||
Driver's Ed | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | 10% | 15% | 8% | 3% |
Driving Device/App | 20% | 40% | ✓ | ✓ | 30% | 40% | 20% | 50% | 30% | 5% |
Early Signing | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8% | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 12% |
Electronic Stability Control | 2% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Emergency Deployment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 25% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Engaged Couple | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Family Legacy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% |
Family Plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 25% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Farm Vehicle | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Fast 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Federal Employee | ✓ | ✓ | 12% | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Forward Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Full Payment | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | $50 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 8% | ✓ | |
Further Education | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Garaging/Storing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 90% | ||
Good Credit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Good Student | 20% | ✓ | 15% | 23% | 10% | ✓ | 25% | 8% | 3% | |
Green Vehicle | 10% | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ |
Homeowner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | 3% | 5% | ✓ | |
Lane Departure Warning | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Life Insurance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Low Mileage | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 30% | ||||||
Loyalty | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Married | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Membership/Group | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 7% | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Military | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | 4% | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
Military Garaging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% |
Multiple Drivers | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Multiple Policies | 10% | 29% | ✓ | 10% | 20% | 10% | 12% | 17% | 13% | |
Multiple Vehicles | ✓ | ✓ | 25% | 10% | 20% | 10% | 20% | 8% | ||
New Address | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
New Customer/New Plan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
New Graduate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
New Vehicle | 30% | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | 40% | 10% | 12% | ||
Newly Licensed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Newlyweds | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Occasional Operator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Occupation | ✓ | 10% | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
On-Time Payments | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | |
Online Shopper | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 7% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Paperless Documents | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | $50 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Paperless/Auto Billing | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $30 | ✓ | $20 | 3% | 3% | |
Passive Restraint | 30% | 30% | 40% | 20% | ✓ | 40% | ||||
Recent Retirees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Renter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Safe Driver | 45% | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | 35% | 31% | 15% | 23% | 12% | |
Seat Belt Use | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Senior Driver | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Stable Residence | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Students & Alumni | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | 7% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Switching Provider | ✓ | ✓ | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Utility Vehicle | 15% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Vehicle Recovery | 10% | ✓ | ✓ | 15% | 35% | 25% | ✓ | 5% | ||
VIN Etching | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5% | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Volunteer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Young Driver | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $75 |
As you can tell, making a small change to your policy, like adding a discount, could earn you some pretty big rewards. What’s even more exciting is that when a discount is added to your policy, it goes into effect immediately so you will see the effect of your efforts right away.
Making Changes to an Insurance Policy: The Bottom Line
After learning all this new information, you may find yourself wondering if you should make changes to your policy, or compare rates online before you do so. When you shop online, you can have all the information you need to make the best decision for your insurance needs right in front of you within minutes. You can adjust coverage levels, and your deductible amounts to find the insurance company that has the right policy for you. And remember, any changes that you want to make to your current policy will become effective as soon you give the word. While you consider how changes you make to your policy might make your insurance cheaper, consider what other companies have to offer. Enter your ZIP to get free quotes right away.
Read more: Add or remove coverages.
Enter your ZIP code below to compare auto insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.