Navigating Non-Owner Insurance in New York: A Challenging Experience

Hello everyone,

Recently, I encountered a perplexing situation that I believe many can relate to, especially when it comes to car insurance. Let me walk you through it.

My siblings kindly decided to upgrade my vehicle to a better-used model, so I passed my old car along to a family friend. I thought I was making a straightforward decision by surrendering my license plates and terminating my insurance coverage. What I didn’t anticipate was the confusion this action would lead to down the line.

As I was in transition between cars, I had been under the impression that I had another vehicle lined up. Unfortunately, the seller backed out just when I thought everything was settled. During this period, I reached out to Progressive, as well as several insurance agents, only to be informed that I now faced an insurance lapse.

In my search for clarity, I learned about non-owner insurance policies. These policies are designed for individuals who do not own a vehicle but still require liability coverage. However, upon contacting Progressive again, I discovered that they do not offer non-owner policies over the phone in New York. They provided me with the contact information for two local agents.

I proceeded to reach out to four agents in my area—a midsized city in upstate New York. To my surprise, one agent had no idea what a non-owner policy even was, while three others insisted that they couldn’t facilitate such a policy without a vehicle to insure. This left me utterly confused, especially since various sources online stated that non-owner insurance should be available in New York.

The conflicting information has made my situation even more frustrating. While Progressive has me in a sort of “pre-binding” status for the vehicle that fell through, I am left without insurance and unsure whom to trust for accurate guidance.

For anyone who has navigated a similar experience, I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice on how to handle this dilemma. What steps can I take when local agents seem unfamiliar with the concept of non-owner insurance, and the insurer tells me they cannot assist over the phone? Your help would be invaluable as I seek to resolve this issue and secure the necessary coverage.

Thank you for your support, and I look forward to your thoughts!