Can I get auto insurance using a PO box or other address I don't reside at?

July 11, 2006 4:55 AM

I need to buy a car in a state that I am not currently resident in.

Here's the rub. I live in Massachusetts and want to buy the car in Florida. I don't have a Florida address. I can't insure the car in Florida without one, and I can't insure it in MA without registering it both there and in Florida.

This situation has arisen because of a couple of awesome coincidences related to my housing situation taking longer to resolve than I had expected. Is it an option to use someone else's address for a week or two? Does anyone else have any other ideas?

posted by feloniousmonk to Travel & Transportation (6 answers total)

Have you talked to your insurance agent about this? Auto sales across state lines are fairly common and I have never heard of requiring registration in 2 states at the same time. This page from the Mass. DMV has instructions for registering a car purchased from a non-dealer that seem pretty sraightforward and don't appear to differentiate between in-state and out-of-state non-dealer purchases. If you are buying from a dealer that situation is covered as well.
posted by TedW at 5:08 AM on July 11, 2006

Response by poster: I'm actually moving from MA to FL, so I don't really want to insure the car locally. I'll never drive it here in MA. I basically need the insurance so that I can meet the qualifications to drive off the lot in FL.

I apologize for my incoherence. It's way too early for me.
posted by feloniousmonk at 5:14 AM on July 11, 2006

OK, now I understand. Is it possible to buy the car, then not take delivery until you arrive in FL? Are you buying from an individual or a dealer? How much time are we talking about before you move? Sorry to bombard you with questions so early in the morning, but I think the answers may have some bearing on the best course of action. I am not a car dealer or anything, but have a couple of friends who used to have a used car lot and dealt with this sort of thing from time to time.
posted by TedW at 5:21 AM on July 11, 2006

Response by poster: I'm buying from a dealer, and the move got pushed back by a week, tops. My concern is that I have one of those expiring blank check style auto loans, and the expiration date is precariously close to the move date. The bank didn't seem thrilled with the prospect of pushing that date back, but I didn't push them too hard on the topic. I guess my real answer here is to just call the bank.

I figured it would be something the dealer - especially since I dealt with the internet dealer - would've been at least somewhat familiar with since it's not especially uncommon for people to make the MA->FL migration, but he didn't really seem to have much to say about it.
posted by feloniousmonk at 5:32 AM on July 11, 2006

I guess my real answer here is to just call the bank.

It looks like you've answered your own question. The bank will be making money on your loan, and they've already done the legwork to get you approved. I'd find it hard to believe that they wouldn't give you a few extra days, even a couple of weeks. I suspect the person you're dealing with at the bank is just being difficult. If they balk, ask to speak with the manager.
posted by SteveInMaine at 6:28 AM on July 11, 2006

By all means, press the bank.

You don't lose anything if you decline the loan entirely, right?
posted by baylink at 9:40 AM on July 11, 2006