The link between garaging address and car insurance

When you shop for car insurance and are deep into quotes, you’ll likely be answering a number of questions—what you drive, how many miles you put behind the wheel, how many drivers are in your household…

The list goes on. One key question that you’ll likely answer, no matter which insurer you choose, is, “What is your address?” The use of your address is an essential part of car insurance because it can show your insurance company where you live and where you’ll park your car. 

Now the big question—why does your insurance need to know where you live and park your car? You may be thinking that sounds unnecessary, but we’re here to share how your garaging address is a critical aspect of a car insurance policy and why keeping an accurate address is just as critical.

Plus, we’ll give you some tips to keep your car safe no matter where it’s parked. Win-win-win!

What does garaging address mean in insurance?

A garaging address isn’t usually something you hear in conversations with your friends or coworkers, right? Unless you’re like us and work in insurance. A garaging address is often referred to the address where a policyholder lives and parks their vehicle. This term is interchangeably used and may also be known as your residence address.

This information is one factor that insurers consider in

your overall insurance cost, and may be based on the loss experienced in that particular area where your vehicle is primarily garaged. For example, if a car is kept in an area where the insurance company has a lower loss experience, it may result in a lower insurance premium. On the other hand, if a vehicle is garaged in a higher-risk area (more accidents, theft, etc.), it may lead to higher insurance costs. 

Accurate address, accurate policy

Now that you’re set with a car insurance policy, there’s something to remember. Whether you have a college student moving out of the house or you’re moving, you will always want to update your address. 

You’re required to provide your residence location/garaging address in order to receive an accurate policy premium. Not only that, but having the wrong address on your policy can impact continued eligibility, rating of policy and potentially coverage. 

With a lot of insurance companies offering customers online or digital experiences to update their policies, review coverages or file claims, updating your garaging address is fairly easy. Or, if talking on the phone is more your thing, it’s never a bad idea to give your insurer a call with your new address.

Tips for keeping your car safe

Try as we might, weather, break-ins and theft can happen anywhere. But there are a few things you can do to help keep yourself and your car safe and secure. Such as:

• Lock your car

• Roll up the windows

• Hide valuables or take them with you

• Consider a portable, temporary car shelter

These tips and likely others, can be great practices to put into place that may help keep your ride safe when it’s located at your garaging address.

Your address can be a big component to your car insurance policy and premium, even when it doesn’t seem like it. As such, it’s always a good idea to make sure your policy has an up-to-date and accurate garaging address for your vehicle.

At HiRoad, you can update this info from the app or by connecting with us on a quick phone call. Talk soon!

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.