These days, with so many social distancing and isolation orders persisting throughout the United States, there are fewer people on the roads than ever before. You might be working from home, avoiding social events or just staying in and staying safe. This probably means you are driving a lot less. You might wonder if this means that you can drop your car insurance? Don’t act so quickly, however. 

Even if you are not driving for long periods, this does not mean you don’t need auto insurance. Insurance is not something that just protects you while driving. It will help always protect your vehicle if you use it correctly. 

Why do I still need insurance if I don’t drive? 

Perhaps you have gotten older and no longer drive except once in a blue moon. Maybe you have a vehicle that you keep for sentimental reasons or are in the process of restoring. Your child might leave their car at home when they go to college. A spouse who is in the military might be away for months and leave their undriven car at home.  

In these cases, you might feel you can cancel this vehicle’s insurance. After all, won’t it help you save money not to have to pay for a plan? 

The answer is no. You should always keep car insurance active, even if a car sits stationary for months. There are many reasons why: 

• Vehicles can sustain damage even while left unused. Fires, vandalism and severe weather might all damage the vehicle, but car insurance can help you pay for these losses. 

• Both your state and your auto loan financer will likely require you to carry auto insurance. Cancelling it could lead to costly penalties. 

• If you terminate your policy and wish to buy coverage later, then you might no longer qualify for the same discounts and other perks that you had on your earlier policy. Your costs coming back could be much higher.

Plus, you never know when you might have to drive a stationary car in an emergency. You shouldn’t have to worry about whether you have insurance on the vehicle if you do. 

How can I manage insurance on an unused car?  

If you want more affordable insurance on an unused car, there are alternatives to cancelling your plan. For example, some insurers allow you to temporarily reduce or suspend non-essential coverage, which might reduce your premiums. 

Additionally, call your insurer to ask them if you can update your mileage rate on your car. Many insurers will measure how much you drive to help them set your premiums. If you can prove that you are driving less, then this could lower your risk to them and cost you less as a result.