Update on Out-of-State Student Car Insurance
In December, my son drove one of our cars from Florida to Virginia for university. Virginia has much higher insurance requirements than Florida, and adjusting our policy to meet those limits, along with garaging the car in VA, nearly tripled our Progressive premium.
Instead, our insurer recommended that we obtain a separate policy for the Virginia car, which we did through Geico.
Now, we have one policy in Virginia for my son and one car, and a separate policy in Florida for my son and another car.
However, today I received a notice from the state of Florida stating they plan to cancel my registration because, according to their records, the Cadillac (the car insured under the Geico policy in Virginia) doesn’t have insurance. Ugh!
Will Florida accept the Virginia policy? I can’t register the car in VA since I don’t have residency there, plus the car is in my name. My son and I both hold Florida licenses because he’s a student, so he still technically resides in Florida.
Is paying nearly three times the amount for insurance the only option?
It sounds like you’re in a tricky situation navigating the insurance and registration requirements for your son’s car while he’s at university in Virginia. Here are some steps you can take to clarify things and hopefully find a solution:
Contact Florida’s DMV: Reach out to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to explain your situation. Let them know that your son is a student in Virginia and that the car is covered under a policy with Geico. They should be able to clarify whether they can accept the Virginia policy for registration purposes.
Verify Insurance with Florida: Sometimes, insurance companies can provide proof of jurisdiction for their policies. If your VA policy meets the minimum coverage requirements, ask Geico if they can send confirmation that your son’s vehicle is insured in Virginia and see if that can be used to satisfy Florida’s requirements.
Consult with Your Insurer: You mentioned that Progressive suggested getting a separate policy. Check back with them as well and discuss your current predicament. They might have a solution or alternative options, especially if they operate in both states.
Consider the Residency Clause: Since your son is a student with a Florida driver’s license, he might still be considered a Florida resident. This could complicate coverage requirements. Sometimes insurance policies require that the vehicle be registered in the same state as the resident’s primary address. Clarifying his residency status with both the DMV and your insurer could help inform your next steps.
Explore Other Insurers: If the higher premiums are unsustainable, it may be worth shopping around with other insurance companies to see if they offer more competitive rates for Virginia, while still accommodating the fact that your son is a Florida resident.
Look into Grace Periods: Some states offer time to get things in order, so find out if Florida has any grace period on insurance verification or vehicle registration, which might give you the time needed to resolve the insurance issue without the threat of cancellation.
Ultimately, gathering all the necessary information and contacting the appropriate authorities can often shed light on how to navigate these dual-state requirements. Good luck!