If you don’t keep full coverage on a financed car, you could be held responsible for paying for the vehicle in its entirety in the event of theft or an auto accident. You could also lose the car to the lender you signed a contract with if you don’t keep full coverage on your financed car.
Nearly all lenders require that drivers carry full auto insurance coverage when they initially finance a vehicle. Lenders also usually stipulate in the contract that some form of full coverage is to be maintained for the life of the loan. Auto lenders impose the full coverage requirement because they want the vehicles they finance, which are technically still their assets, to be protected with the most insurance coverage possible so they can collect the vehicle’s value in case of an accident or theft of the car.
So, if you don’t keep full coverage on a financed vehicle, whether because you miss payments or you purposefully cancel the coverage, you’re likely in breach of your contract. Your insurance company or the DMV may contact the lienholder (lender) to alert them of the change, at which point your lender can legally cancel your contract, request full payment of the loan, or even repossess the vehicle.
Sometimes, if your lender finds you’re not keeping full coverage on a financed vehicle, it will contact you to give you a chance to have it reinstated. If you fail to do this, your lender could purchase an auto insurance policy for the vehicle and add it to the cost of your loan in what’s called “force-placed insurance.” These policies are typically expensive.
Ultimately, it’s best to keep full coverage on a financed car until you own it outright. Only then can you choose the level of car insurance coverage you want, as long as it meets your state’s minimum requirements.
This answer was last updated on 01/19/22 and it was first published on 12/03/20. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
