Leased Car Insurance

Many drivers know that some car insurance is mandatory in nearly all states, but insurance for leased cars has even more stringent requirements. Understanding these rules is key to avoiding problems with the lessor and to scoring a great deal on rates. Here's what drivers need to know about insuring a leased vehicle.

Drivers of all cars -- whether leased, financed, or owned -- must have at least the minimum liability coverage for their state. But leased vehicles often carry additional requirements. The lessor won't permit the driver to take the vehicle off the lot until they provide proof that they have adequate car insurance.

It's usually more expensive to insure a leased vehicle because lessors have more stringent insurance requirements. They own the vehicle, so they want to make sure their investment is adequately protected. Most require additional insurance for the vehicle itself, and some make drivers purchase more than the state minimum liability coverage.

Many financial institutions require additional protections of drivers with auto loans too, but their requirements usually aren't quite as steep.

The steps for how to get car insurance for a leased vehicle are similar to those for getting coverage for any other vehicle. First, the driver must choose their car and learn about the mandatory insurance requirements from their lessor.

Then, they compare car insurance rates from several companies to see which offers them the best deal. They can also choose to purchase additional coverage beyond the minimum if they desire.

Once they've settled on a policy they like, they pay their first premium and add the lessor as an additional insured. This ensures that the lessor can collect their money if the leased car is wrecked. Then, once the driver provides their proof of insurance to the lessor, they're free to take the vehicle home.

Leased car insurance coverage requirements

Drivers of leased vehicles usually must have the following insurance coverage:

• Bodily injury liability coverage: This coverage is required by state law. If the policyholder hits another person and injures them, it pays for the victim's medical costs. There's usually a per-person and a per-incident limit. $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident is a common state requirement, but some lessors may require significantly more.
• Property damage liability coverage: This is another coverage mandated by most states. It pays for any damages to property if the policyholder causes an accident. However, it doesn't pay for damages to the leased vehicle.
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: If state law requires this coverage, lessors will require it also. It pays for the policyholder's medical costs if they're hit by a driver without insurance or one without adequate insurance to cover the full cost of the damages.
• Medical payments coverage: Some no-fault auto insurance states require this coverage, and lessors in these states require it as well. This helps the driver pay for their medical bills if they're involved in a crash.
• Collision coverage: Collision coverage pays for repairs to the leased vehicle if the policyholder causes a multi-car accident or is involved in a single-car accident.
• Comprehensive coverage: Comprehensive coverage pays for damages due to severe weather, theft, vandalism, animal-vehicle collisions, and more.

Gap insurance for leased cars

In addition, some lessors require gap coverage. If a vehicle is totaled, this pays the difference between the actual value of the vehicle and the amount remaining on the lease. Some lessors may include this coverage in the driver's lease payments while others may require the driver to add it to their regular car insurance policy.

Drivers should inquire about whether their lease payments already include this so they don't pay for it twice.

There are a few ways a driver can get insurance for a leased car:

Buy car insurance online

The simplest way to get coverage is to buy car insurance online. In order to do this, drivers visit the insurer's website and get a quote. They'll need some personal information and the details of any accidents or traffic violations that have happened in the last three to five years. They'll also need to know the make and model of the vehicle as well as the lessor's insurance requirements.

It's pretty easy to compare quotes from several insurers to find cheap car insurance. Once a driver has a policy quote they like, most insurers will enable them to purchase that policy directly from the website. Coverage can often begin the same day.

Buy car insurance from an independent agent

Not all insurers allow online quotes. In that case, the driver must speak to an agent, usually by phone, to get a quote. Independent agents work with several insurance providers and can help drivers compare quotes from multiple companies to find the best deal.

The process is similar to getting a quote online. The driver provides their insurer with all the necessary details to get a quote and then the agent gives them the price. If the driver wants to proceed with the purchase, they give the agent their payment information and the agent completes the transaction for them.

Buy car insurance from an insurance company's agent

Some companies only sell insurance through captive agents. That means they only work for a single company, unlike independent insurance agents. Getting a quote from one of these companies is the same as working with an independent agent. However, drivers will have to contact other companies on their own if they wish to compare quotes.