Can you use a PO Box for auto insurance?
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Jan 24, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Jan 24, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance providers please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- A PO Box is a lockable post office box that’s located that’s located at a station run by the post office
- Renting a PO Box is a good solution for people who want to receive their mail quickly in a secure place
- When you’re buying auto insurance, you can have your quotes and your policy documents sent to your PO Box
- You may only list your PO Box as a mailing address and not as your physical address where the vehicle is stored
- Insurance companies ask for physical garaging addresses because they have an effect on premiums and ratings
Renting a PO Box is a convenient and safe alternative to having your personal mail sent to your home. While it might sound like an unnecessary bill, having a lockable mailbox that’s located inside of a local post office station is cheaper than you might expect.
You might also be able to find car insurance cheaper than you expect. Enter your zip code above and begin comparing quotes.
If you live in an area where mailboxes are open and easily accessible, having your privacy compromised just once through the mail is enough to rent a box for security reasons.
There are a lot of different pieces of mail that’s best delivered to a PO Box:
- your bank statements
- your account summaries
- credit cards
- insurance documents
Here’s how insurance companies handle PO boxes:
You Can Give a PO Box When Requesting Quotes
When you start to shop for affordable car insurance, every agent that you speak with is going to ask you for your address and other contact information.
While certain addresses are necessary to rate a policy, the purpose of asking for your address is so that the agent can enter you into their system as a prospective lead.
You can provide your PO Box as your primary mailing address if that’s where you’d like your quotes to be sent. If you decide not to buy insurance with the company, this is where the agent will send marketing material in the future.
After all, if you don’t buy initially, most carriers will contact you at least three more times throughout the year to follow up.
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Know the Difference Between a Mailing Address and a Garaging Address
Your auto policy has two different sections where you can list your address. The address fields are referred to as mailing address and garaging address.
With most clients, the information found on both address fields will be the same. Some customers will have two separate addresses listed. This is especially true if you have a PO Box.
The mailing address is where you want to receive any type of written communication from the company. All of your quotes, your declarations page, your billing invoices, disclosures, and cancellation notices will all be sent to your address on file.
The garaging address is where the vehicles on the policy are primarily stored. This could be your home or it could be another address like your office.
Why is it mandatory to provide a garaging address on your auto insurance policy?
You can’t just give your PO Box when you’re getting insurance. A car can’t be parked at a PO Box and the insurer wants to know where your car is usually parked when it’s not being driven so you’ll also have to provide a physical garaging address to secure coverage.
Your garaging address will have an impact on your premiums. The insurer doesn’t necessarily want to know where your car is parked so that they can locate it.
Instead, the address is needed to determine how high the risk of filing a claim is based on geographic location. Believe it or not, a zip code can say a lot about claims trends. (For more information, read our “Someone Is Using Your Address to Buy Auto Insurance: What to Do“).
Why is a zip code used to set some coverage premiums?
There are a few reasons why zip codes can be useful when setting rates. One of the biggest factors that are reviewed is the property crime rate in the area.
If you live in an area where the motor vehicle theft rate is high, your premiums for comprehensive are going to be high. The insurers will also look at accident rates to determine if your collision rates should be high as well.
Changing your mailing address isn’t going to impact your premiums at all. It’s when you change your physical garaging address and the zip code changes that you’ll have to worry. If it’s a local move and the zip is remaining the same, your payments will stay the same.
If you have a new zip code, whether or not there will be a premium difference depends on what the crime rates and claims trends say.
Be sure to change to a new carrier licensed to sell insurance in your new state if you cross state lines. You’ll have to comply with the state’s insurance laws.
You can use a PO Box as your mailing address with all insurers as long as you give your garaging zip code as well. If you do use a PO Box, check it for invoices right when the policy is issued.
Get online insurance rate quotes and decide which carrier deserves your business. Enter your zip code here to begin.
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Case Studies: Using a PO Box for Auto Insurance
Case Study 1: Receiving Quotes and Policy Documents
When shopping for car insurance, individuals can provide their PO Box as the primary mailing address to receive quotes and policy documents. This allows policyholders to have their mail delivered quickly and securely to a designated location.
Case Study 2: Mailing Address vs. Garaging Address
Auto insurance policies typically require both a mailing address and a garaging address. While the mailing address is used for communication and document delivery, the garaging address indicates where the insured vehicle is primarily stored.
In cases where a PO Box is used, individuals may list the PO Box as the mailing address and provide a separate physical garaging address.
Case Study 3: Impact on Premiums and Ratings
Insurance companies ask for physical garaging addresses because they have an effect on premiums and ratings. The location where a vehicle is parked when not in use plays a role in determining the risk of filing a claim.
Factors such as property crime rates and accident rates in the area associated with the garaging address can influence coverage premiums.
Case Study 4: Zip Code and Coverage Premiums
ZIP codes are commonly used by insurers to set coverage premiums. High property crime rates and motor vehicle theft rates in an area can lead to higher comprehensive coverage premiums. Additionally, accident rates in a particular ZIP code may affect collision coverage rates.
Changing the physical garaging address and ZIP code can potentially impact insurance premiums, depending on the claims trends and crime rates associated with the new location.
Case Study 5: Compliance with State Laws
If an individual moves to a new state, it is important to change to a new insurance carrier licensed in that state and comply with the specific insurance laws. This applies when using a PO Box as the mailing address, as long as the garaging zip code is provided to the insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a PO Box for auto insurance?
Yes, you can use a PO Box as your mailing address when requesting quotes and receiving written communication from the insurance company. However, you will also need to provide a physical garaging address where your vehicle is usually parked when not in use.
Why do insurance companies require a garaging address?
Insurance companies need to know where your car is primarily parked to assess the risk of filing a claim based on the geographic location. Factors such as property crime rates and accident rates in the area can affect your premiums for comprehensive and collision coverage.
How does a ZIP code affect insurance premiums?
ZIP codes are used to set coverage premiums because they provide valuable information about claims trends. Higher property crime rates or accident rates in a specific zip code can lead to higher insurance premiums for comprehensive and collision coverage.
Will changing my mailing address impact my insurance premiums?
Changing your mailing address alone will not impact your insurance premiums. However, if you change your physical garaging address and the ZIP code associated with it, there may be changes in your premiums based on the crime rates and claims trends in the new location.
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Brad Larson
Licensed Insurance Agent
Brad Larson has been in the insurance industry for over 16 years. He specializes in helping clients navigate the claims process, with a particular emphasis on coverage analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Political Science. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Associate in General Insurance (AINS) designations, as well as a Utah Property and Casual...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.