Car Insurance When You Move House: What to Tell Your Insurer and When

Tell your car insurer about a move before it happens, with the date. The address where the car is kept overnight is part of how the policy is priced, and cover can be affected if the insurer has the wrong one. The change is made to the existing policy; you do not need a new one.

What to tell the insurer

• The new address and postcode, and the date you move.
• Where the car will be kept overnight: garage, drive or street.
• Any change to how the car is used, such as a new commute.
• Any change to annual mileage.
• Any change to who drives the car.

What happens to the price

The insurer recalculates the premium for the rest of the policy year. It can go up or down, because postcode, parking and mileage all affect it. Most insurers charge an administration fee for a change made mid-term. Ask for the new price and the fee before you confirm.

The other updates to make

• Your driving licence. The address on it must be kept up to date, and changing it is free. You can be fined if you do not.
• The vehicle logbook, the V5C. It is updated separately from the licence, also free.
• Vehicle tax by Direct Debit, which follows the logbook.
• Breakdown cover, if it is a separate policy.

While you are between homes

If the car will be kept somewhere temporary, tell the insurer the address and the dates. If belongings travel in the car during the move, check whether the policy covers personal belongings in the vehicle and up to what limit; home contents policies handle a move separately.

Add your car insurance to Wisemium and it keeps the insurer, the premium and the renewal date on record and shows the date as needing attention as the renewal comes close. When you want quotes, it hands you to an FCA authorised comparison partner. Wisemium does not compare, recommend or arrange insurance itself.