One of the most important things for a car insurance company to look at when they give you a policy is your address. The place you live at tells a lot about someone and the risks they present to an insurer.
But what happens when you don't have a permanent address? Some people live as nomads, moving from one place to another at the drop of a hat. They may be homeless and live in their car, which makes it even harder to evaluate car insurance rates. Homeless car insurance is still possible for these people if they know what to look for during negotiations.
We'll talk about some of the ways you can get the best deal possible when shopping for car insurance without a permanent address. It may seem impossible, but skipping out on insurance will be even worse financially than the increased rates.
Alternative Addresses for Insurance Policies
If you live in your car, there are ways to put an address down on your insurance policy. Many companies will accept a post office box if you ever received mail from it during your time when you had a home. Others might understand if you put down the address of a family member who lives close by.
There are certain things that need to be communicated if you go with the family address route. Lying about your address is considered fraud and can result in the loss of your policy and potential fines and other possible punishment.
Talk to the insurer about the true nature of the address on the application. Have family members co-sign the insurance contract and talk to the agent so everybody is on the same page.
If you have always been reliable and financially responsible with your insurance company, they will understand your struggle and be more willing to create some leniency with the address rules.
Many nomadic people might have a city or a specific location they return to frequently, even if they move around a lot. This address should be listed on the insurance policy for nomadic people. If they do not have a place they return to, they might just have to change the address on their policy every time they move.
This is obviously a hardship, but there really isn't any other option. Living as a nomad has built-in struggles, and even the most creative loopholes don't solve these issues sometimes.
Paying for Accidents Without Car Insurance
One of the ways you can pay for things that happen in car accidents without car insurance is to look for other types of insurance to help you. Medical insurance providers may pay for some or all of your accident-related injuries if you make a valid claim stating what happened.
Waiting to make a claim for a long time after the accident will make it hard to get the injuries covered by medical insurance. Trying to claim that other non-auto injuries were sustained in a car is a great way to get hit with accusations of fraud from your medical insurer.
It's easy to see how bending the truth with your insurance companies can lead to consequences, no matter whether it is auto insurance or medical insurance. Make sure you are truthful with your medical insurance company when asking for them to pay for something that happened in a car accident.
Other Insurance Needs for People Without an Address
People who don't have an address are going to have a hard time getting medical insurance, too. Homeless or nomadic people can try to get government-assisted medical insurance like Medicare or Medicaid, but out-of-pocket expenses may be higher for those who are still bringing in an income above a certain amount.
Finding Other Routes of Transportation
Car insurance is all about risk. If you can prove to your insurance company you are a low-risk customer while living in your car, it is possible to get a decently-priced policy. Find other routes of transportation during the day so your mileage isn't very high on your vehicle.
This will prove you only drive when it is necessary, leading to a lower possibility of accidents. Find other routes of transportation when you're not staying in your car. Take the bus or ride a bike to stay off the road as much as possible with your vehicle.
Walking to your destination is always the cheapest option, no matter whether you have a home or not. This will save money on gas, maintenance, and insurance costs because the car is not being used very often.
If you save a bunch of money and need to travel a long distance, you can call an Uber or another rideshare company for their services.
Never Skip Insurance
Let's be honest: Most homeless people aren't going to have any car insurance. They can barely afford to have food and clothing on their backs. The last thing they are going to think about is adding an enormous car insurance premium to their financial burden. Many homeless people likely wonder, "What should I do if I can't afford car insurance?"
This is a reasonable and understandable position, but you should never skip insurance coverage, even as a homeless person. The amount of money that will have to be spent if you crash your car without insurance is too much to handle.
If you're using your car as a home, getting into an accident will ruin that home for you. Having insurance will guarantee that you will get your car back and have a place to sleep at night.
Other legal consequences could affect you if you are living in your car without insurance. Police are much more likely to pull over someone who is parked on the side of the road and using their car as a home. They will want proof of insurance, and if there is none, you will get a large fine that could be impossible to pay.
It may seem insensitive to talk about adding a car insurance bill to a homeless person's responsibilities, but it will definitely make life easier if there is ever an accident that occurs.
(Photo: Shawn Laib)
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance site, CompareCarInsurance.com. He wants to help people who live alternative lifestyles to find better insurance coverage for an affordable price.
