How to Avoid a Lapse in Car Insurance Coverage
Tips and tricks to stay protected on the road.

Tips and tricks to stay protected on the road.
As a driver, you’re required by law (in nearly every state) to maintain continuous coverage, and for good reason. Any period of time when you don’t have an active insurance policy is called a lapse in coverage—which can have both legal and financial repercussions.
Why does the law require you to stay covered? Because car insurance doesn’t just help protect you and your car if you have an accident, it also protects other drivers and damages you cause them if you’re the one who’s found responsible for the accident.
Read on for tips on how to steer clear of a car insurance lapse.
If you own or lease a car, a coverage lapse is any period of time that you aren’t insured. There are several situations that could lead to a lapse in coverage, including:
Being in lapse can have some serious repercussions on your driving record (and wallet), including:
It’s crucial to avoid policy lapses. Fortunately, there are several ways to maintain continuous coverage.
If you decide to switch car insurance—whether that’s mid-term or at renewals—buy your new policy first, and make sure the date that your new policy goes effective is the same day that your old policy’s coverage ends.
Missing a payment is one of the most common causes of a car insurance lapse. Make calendar reminders for when you need to make payments, or set up automatic payments, to avoid missed payments. At Lemonade Car, you can easily set up automatic payments when you buy a policy.
As life circumstances change—like moving addresses, or buying a new car—make sure to update the details on your policy to reflect that. When you drive with Lemonade Car, for example, you can easily manage your account details, and so much more, all on the Lemonade app.
Take the time to read through your policy carefully, familiarize yourself with what is and isn’t covered, and what your responsibilities are.
Check the expiration date of your policy and make sure to renew your car insurance before it expires. At Lemonade Car, most policies are eligible for automatic renewal every six months, and we’ll send you a renewal notice via email well in advance of your policy’s end date, usually about 30 days before.
Keep in mind: Maintaining continuous coverage is important only if you own or lease a car. So if you decide to sell your car to pursue your dream of being a full-time cyclist, for example, there’s no need to have car insurance when you don’t have a car. But if you decide to ditch your two wheels and buy a new car a year later, you’ll need car insurance again. Also, if during your driving hiatus you’re occasionally borrowing your roommate’s car to stock up on toilet paper and protein bars at Costco, you should probably be a listed driver on their policy.
Depending on your insurance company and policy type, you’ll have a bit of time—typically 7 to 30 days—after your monthly premium is due to pay off your outstanding balance before your policy goes into a lapse. This extra time is called a grace period.
During this window, your coverage will still be active, and you’ll still be protected in case of an accident or other covered incident.
Keep in mind that you might be charged a late fee, or a higher premium, if you make a late payment, even if it’s during a grace period.
And if you don’t make the payment by the end of the grace period, your policy may be canceled, and you could be left without car insurance coverage.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage may not be available in all states.
Please note: Lemonade articles and other editorial content are meant for educational purposes only, and should not be relied upon instead of professional legal, insurance or financial advice. The content of these educational articles does not alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. While we regularly review previously published content to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, there may be instances in which legal conditions or policy details have changed since publication. Any hypothetical examples used in Lemonade editorial content are purely expositional. Hypothetical examples do not alter or bind Lemonade to any application of your insurance policy to the particular facts and circumstances of any actual claim.