Do I need new car insurance when I move states?

Yes. Once you're a resident, your car has to be insured to the new state's requirements by an insurer licensed there. Your current company may be able to switch you if it writes policies in the new state.

When can I cancel my old state's car insurance?

Not until the car is registered in the new state, or the old plates are surrendered. Florida says this directly for anyone moving out, and an active Illinois registration still needs a policy behind it.

How long do I have after moving to Illinois?

The Illinois Secretary of State gives new residents 30 days to title and register a car that's registered elsewhere, and 90 days to drive on a valid out-of-state license.

How long do I have after moving to Florida?

FLHSMV says 10 days to title and register your car, with Florida insurance, and 30 days to get a Florida driver license.

Moving between Florida and Illinois: your insurance checklist — From Elona’s desk

When you move between Florida and Illinois, your car needs a policy written for the new state, by an insurer licensed there, within that state’s deadlines. Keep the old policy until the car is registered in the new state, so there’s never a day without coverage.

I’m licensed in both states, and this move goes both ways: snowbirds who finally make it official, grandparents moving closer to grandkids, people heading north for a job. The two states do car insurance very differently, so here’s the checklist.

The two states work differently

Florida is a no-fault state. Your own personal injury protection pays your own injury costs first, up to its limit, whoever caused the crash, and the required liability is for property damage.

Illinois is an at-fault state. The driver who causes the crash pays, through their liability coverage, and every policy has to include uninsured motorist coverage.

So you’re not just moving a policy. You’re changing what’s required, and often what makes sense to carry.

Before you move, wherever you’re going

Call your agent before the moving truck. Tell them the date and the new address. If your company writes policies in the new state, they may be able to move you over. If not, you’ll need a new company, and it’s better to know early.
Line up the start date. The new policy should start on, or before, the day the old one ends.
Don’t cancel the old policy early. Both states expect a registered car to stay insured. Cancel only after the car is registered in the new state, or the old plates are turned in.
Gather your paperwork. Title, registration, current declarations page, and any letter from your lender or leasing company. If someone else holds your title, you’ll need them for the new state’s paperwork.
Don’t forget the house. A homeowners, condo or renters policy is written for a specific address. You’ll need one for the new place, and you’ll want to keep the old one in place until you’ve sold it or handed back the keys.

Illinois

Moving to Illinois from Florida

Your license: you can drive on your valid Florida license for 90 days, according to the Illinois Secretary of State.
Your car: you have 30 days after establishing residence to apply for an Illinois title and registration, as long as the car is properly registered in Florida.
Your insurance: Illinois requires liability of at least $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people and $20,000 for property damage in one crash (625 ILCS 5/7-203), plus uninsured motorist coverage at the same injury minimums (215 ILCS 5/143a). More on the Illinois minimums.
Even before you register, Illinois requires a car registered in another state to be insured while it’s driven here, and you must carry proof in the car.
Leaving Florida behind: FLHSMV says not to cancel your Florida insurance until the car is registered in the other state, or you’ve surrendered your Florida plates at a driver license office or tax collector’s office. Canceling first can lead to a Florida suspension and reinstatement fees.

Heading north also means a new kind of weather. Here’s what your auto policy covers in an Illinois winter, and how frozen pipes are handled on a homeowners policy.

Florida

Moving to Florida from Illinois

Your car: FLHSMV says to title and register your car within 10 days of establishing residency, and you need Florida insurance to do it.
Your license: get a Florida driver license within 30 days.
Your insurance: Florida requires at least $10,000 of personal injury protection and $10,000 of property damage liability, from an insurer licensed in Florida, kept in force the whole time the car is registered.
Leaving Illinois behind: Illinois checks insurance electronically on every vehicle with a valid Illinois registration. Keep your Illinois policy until the car is registered in Florida, and handle your Illinois plates and registration the way the Secretary of State requires.

Florida homes bring their own questions too: hurricane deductibles, wind mitigation and flood, which a homeowners policy doesn’t cover. The full Florida list is in Moving to Florida: your insurance checklist.

Good to know

The minimum in one state isn’t the minimum in the other. Don’t assume the coverage you had will satisfy the new state.
Ask about each coverage, not just the price. Moving is a good moment to look at your limits again with fresh eyes.
Keep proof handy. Both states want proof of insurance to register a car. Have your new insurance card ready before you go to the counter.
Update your lender. If the car is financed or leased, they’ll want the new policy information too.

Want help with the move?

Tell me where you’re moving from, where you’re going, and when. I’ll line up coverage for the new state so it starts on the right day, and tell you exactly when it’s safe to cancel the old one.

Talk to Elona