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Written byMandy Sleight
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Edited byLequita Westbrooks
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Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.
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Table of contents
Most major car insurance companies are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The good news is that you can still buy insurance coverage on the weekends. And if you have an active auto policy on another vehicle, you typically have a grace period to add coverage for a new car you buy over the weekend.
Keep reading to learn about five ways to get car insurance on the weekend and how to file a claim on a Saturday or Sunday.
Can You Buy Car Insurance on Weekends?
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Sometimes, you need to buy car insurance on weekends. Maybe you need temporary coverage on a used vehicle, found a great holiday deal on a new car, or you’re too busy during the week to go car shopping.
Whatever the reason, you can still get insurance on Saturday or Sunday — even if your auto insurer has limited hours or closes on the weekends. And you can also choose the best way to get same-day coverage for your specific needs.
Let’s go over the different ways you can get insurance on the weekend.
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5 Ways to Get Car Insurance on a Weekend
Though many insurance companies close on the weekend, you can still get a car insurance policy with immediate coverage on the same day.
To ensure you can get same-day coverage, make sure you have the necessary information ready, like your driver’s license number, address, vehicle identification number, and Social Security number.
Here are five methods to choose from.
1. Online
Many insurance companies let you purchase new car insurance policies completely online. For example, Nationwide, State Farm, and Hugo offer 100% online policies that you can purchase any day of the week.
You’ll need to get a quote before you can buy a policy online. If you like the coverage and rate, you can complete the purchase and get immediate coverage. If you want to compare multiple companies quickly and easily, consider using a car insurance comparison website.
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2. Over the phone
Some insurers have limited hours on weekends, allowing you to call them to get a quote and purchase a policy over the phone. American Family, Direct Auto, and Progressive are examples of companies that are available over the phone on the weekend.
If you aren’t sure about what coverage is the best fit or have other questions, calling may be your best option. A customer service representative or insurance agent can answer your questions and help you get the best deal.
3. In person
Some local insurance agents or offices may be open on Saturdays to provide customer support and quotes and issue new policies. This may be the best choice if you prefer to speak with someone face-to-face.
The agent will likely ask about your insurance needs to ensure you purchase the best car insurance for your situation. They can also fax or email proof of insurance to the dealership to make sure you can drive your new car home the same day.
4. Purchase coverage in advance
If you’ve already picked out a new car but don’t plan to finalize the deal until the weekend, you can buy a policy or get coverage in place beforehand. For example, you can contact your insurer on Monday or Tuesday to purchase a policy but set the effective date for Saturday or Sunday when you plan to drive the vehicle home.
Depending on the insurance company, you can buy coverage in advance online, over the phone, in person, or through a mobile app. Just ensure the effective date lines up with the date you’re signing for the vehicle to avoid a coverage gap.
5. Take advantage of grace periods
Most states and insurance companies offer grace periods for customers who already have existing insurance policies in place. If you’re buying a new car on the weekend, your current policy will extend coverage to your new vehicle until you can contact your insurer on Monday or go online to add the car.
To drive your new vehicle off the lot, you’ll just need to provide your current policy information or insurance ID card as proof of insurance.
Can You File Car Insurance Claims on Weekends?
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Yes, most insurance companies provide different ways to file car insurance claims 24/7. So, even if your local insurance agent’s office or your company’s customer service department closes on weekends, you can still file a claim immediately after an accident.
You can typically file a car accident claim in multiple ways — over the phone, online, in person, or using the insurer’s mobile app. If you file online or through the app, you can usually upload photos and videos of your vehicle damage, which speeds up the claims process.
The process may differ by insurance company. Here are a few examples:
Insurance Companies That are Open on Saturdays and Sundays
Though some insurers have limited hours on Saturdays and Sundays, the following major car insurance companies offer customer service on weekends:
Operating hours can vary depending on whether you’re buying a new insurance policy, making a policy change, or filing a claim. If you have insurance through an independent agent or insurance broker, they may also be open on the weekend, but business hours will vary.
What to Do If You Buy a Car Over the Weekend
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If you buy a car from a dealership over the weekend, you’ll need proof of insurance to drive it off the lot. If you already have a current policy, you should have a grace period extending coverage from your old car to the new one.
But you can still get temporary coverage or a same-day policy if you don’t. Here’s how:
Consider your coverage options. Determine how much coverage you need and whether state-minimum coverage is enough. If you’re financing or leasing a new vehicle, you’ll likely need full coverage instead.
Compare quotes. Get an online quote from several companies or use a comparison site to compare several car insurance rates at once. This is the quickest and easiest way to get the best deal on auto coverage that meets your specific needs.
Apply for a policy. Gather information, like your driver’s license number, Social Security number, and vehicle identification number, to apply online or through the insurer’s mobile app. Complete the application and download your proof of insurance.
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Weekend Car Insurance FAQs
We answered the most common questions people have about getting car insurance on the weekend.
Are car insurance companies open on Sundays?
Not usually. Most major auto insurance companies close on Sundays. Still, you can usually get car insurance quotes, make coverage changes, file and track claims, get proof of insurance, and add a new vehicle or driver to your insurance policy through your online account or mobile app.
How do you insure a car you buy over the weekend?
Although car insurance companies typically have limited weekend hours, you can still buy same-day insurance online, through a local agent, or using the insurer’s mobile app. If you already have coverage, your current policy should have a grace period, giving you time to add a new car to your policy during operating hours.
Are insurance companies short-staffed?
It’s possible. More than 22% of insurance company employees are 55 and older, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. The insurance industry struggles to attract younger talent due to boring work perceptions, lower salaries, and unclear skill-set expectations. Fewer qualified applicants can mean an increase in job openings and create staffing issues.
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey,” accessed September 7, 2024.
InsuranceNewsNet, “The insurance industry hits a perfect storm in finding talent,” accessed September 7, 2024.
PWC, “Millenials at Work,” accessed September 7, 2024.
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Mandy SleightInsurance Writer
Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Lequita WestbrooksSenior Editor
Lequita Westbrooks is an insurance editor at Compare.com. Her writing and editing experiences span several industries, including insurance, personal finance, higher education, and more. She excels at explaining complex topics like auto insurance in simple, easy-to-understand language and is passionate about helping readers save money. Lequita graduated from the University of South Florida, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in English.