How to insure your vehicle without registration number?
If you need to insure your vehicle but can’t find your car title you aren’t alone. It can be a stressful situation to be in, but fortunately it’s possible to find your title number even if you can’t find your your registration.
Though it is not common, it is possible to get insurance coverage for a vehicle that is not registered to you. The way around this is that the car insurance policy must include the name of the owner that the car is registered in or the name of the person who holds the title. If you don’t want to go this route, you can opt for non-owners insurance. You can also co-title the car and add yourself as a co-owner.
What Is My Car Title?
Your car title is the legal document which proves you own the vehicle. Not only does this document contain ownership information, it holds other valuable details that are required to sell, insure or register a car.
The title document contains details regarding the vehicle’s year, make and model as well as its odometer reading. There’ll also be some basic details about the owner of the vehicle including their address and name as well as the title number itself. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) will also be found on the car title document.
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This 17-character unique sequences will be given to each car by the manufacturing and the VIN allows anyone to determine the model and type of the vehicle together with its original country.
What Are Title Numbers?
Title numbers are multi-digit unique character sequences which can be found in the car title’s information section. Alone, it reveals nothing about the car’s model, make or owner, but if you need to find a missing title or obtain a new one, it’s very helpful.
Title numbers are also required if you apply for a lien or need to insure your vehicle. Unlike VINs, title numbers aren’t fixed, so each new owner of a vehicle will be given a different character sequence.
If you have your registration document to hand, your title number won’t be especially important, but if you need some help to find your car title, it’s invaluable.
Where Can A Title Number Be Found?
If you’ve lost your registration, you may be wondering where you can find your title number. The answer is to check your car title. Luckily, there’s no need for you to physically have a copy of your document since most DMVs will keep the information accessible online. Just contact your local DMV or check their website. You may be able to access your details there or request the title number to be sent to you in the mail.
Alternatively, if you’ve purchased your vehicle via a lienholder you aren’t actually its rightful owner until you’ve paid the whole amount off. Therefore, you can contact your lienholder and obtain the title number from them.
Looking Title Numbers Up
Once you have an electronic or physical version of your car title, you’ll be able to check the title number. Usually, you’ll find it located by the VIN in the top left-hand corner, but sometimes it may be at the foot of the document.
How Do I Get A New Car Title?
If you need a new car title the simplest solution is to visit your local DMV to complete the paperwork. You’ll need a form of identification along with your insurance and registration forms. After submitting your application you should receive the title from the DMV within 15 – 30 days. If you prefer, you can apply online, by email or by telephone.
Can you insure a car if you are not the owner?
Generally, you can insure a vehicle that is registered to you or that has a title in your name. But, what most people don’t know is that you can also insure a car you do not own, provided you meet the requirements of the insurance company and your state of residence. Also, you must inform the insurer that you are neither the owner nor the registered keeper of the vehicle.
What is insurable interest?
Insurable interest is a valid concern for someone to obtain insurance for a car and keep it in good condition. Being a car owner qualifies as insurable intense since the car is an investment for the owner. Before a vehicle insurance is issued, insurance companies want to have confidence that the primary policyholder is also the vehicle owner. This shows insurance companies that you have a vested interest in the car, and you would be very careful to ensure it is not damaged.
It might be difficult, but not impossible to prove an insurable interest if you are not the owner of the car. As a result, it might be difficult to insure a car that is not registered in your name.
How to insure a car that’s not in your name?
Insuring a car that is not registered in your name could be challenging, but it is very much possible. There are several ways you can do this.
- Co-title the car - This allows you to become a co-owner of the car. It is a joint ownership of the car with the original owner. To do this, both owners need to append their signatures on the original application for title registration. Also, when getting the insurance policy, the name of both owners must be on it. This is referred to as joint-owners insurance. The only exception to this is if the car’s registered owners do not live together and they both do not drive the vehicle.
- Get a Non-owners insurance - A non-owner insurance serves as a secondary insurance policy that will come in handy when the insurance policy of the primary owner is exhausted. This option is best suited for businesses that own a truck or car driven by their employees. As an individual, you can also consider getting non-owner insurance if you only drive the car occasionally or if it is a car that you rented for a period of time.
- You can be added to the vehicle’s owner policy - Most times, the vehicle owner can decide to add another person to their insurance policy. But, this would be heavily dependent on how close you are with the vehicle owner. If you are a family member or a very close friend, then there are high chances that they might want to add you to their insurance policy.
When can’t you insure a car that’s not in your name?
While it is possible to insure a car that is not in your name, there are some obvious and legitimate reasons why you might not be able to do this. These are:
- You do not have the permission of the primary policyholder or the vehicle owner.
- You have bad driving or DUI records.
- You are not legally permitted to drive, probably because you are underage.
- You have no insurable interest in the car.
