First Month Free Car Insurance – Do Any Companies Offer 1 Month Free?

Last Updated on October 23, 2020

Everyone likes free stuff. But can you really get your first month of car insurance for free? Do any insurance companies offer free car insurance for the first 30 days?

It’s rare for any car insurance company in the United States to offer a ‘first month free’ car insurance promotion. In fact, we cannot find any insurance company in the United States that lets you get legitimate car insurance for the first month with no type of down payment or premium payment required.

In other words, first month free car insurance is a myth.

However, other bonuses are available to drivers looking for cheap insurance. Some companies offer discounted car insurance as part of a promotion. Other companies reduce down payment requirements. Some provide other bonuses.

Getting Car Insurance Without a Down Payment

first month free auto insuranceMost car insurance companies require you to pay a down payment to get car insurance. Once you pay your down payment, you officially have car insurance.

You can find some low-quality insurance companies that promise to provide car insurance without a down payment. Unfortunately, finding legitimate car insurance without a down payment is unlikely. Most insurers do not offer car insurance without a down payment, and most insurers do not offer any type of ‘first month free’ promotion.

In fact, most insurance companies don’t activate car insurance until you pay your down payment or first month’s premium. You might have completed the application process and verified your quote – but until you pay the insurer something, your insurance is not active and you do not technically have car insurance.

If you find a company willing to offer car insurance without requiring any type of payment upfront, then be extra wary.

First Month Free Car Insurance

Theoretically, first month free car insurance sounds great. You buy car insurance, get protected for 30 days, and never pay your insurer anything.

At the end of the 30 days, you can continue with your car insurance plan, paying premiums every month and maintaining coverage. Or, you can cancel and never pay the company anything.

Again, first month free car insurance is not a thing among major insurance companies in the United States – and it’s not even a valid option among cheaper or lower-quality providers.

Low Down Payment or Zero Down Payment Car Insurance

If you’re looking for first month free car insurance online, then you’re probably interested in car insurance with low down payments or zero down payments.

Again, it’s rare to find a reputable car insurance provider offering low down payment or zero down payment car insurance. In most cases, you need to pay a normal down payment upfront to activate your car insurance.

Until you pay your down payment, your car insurance is not active. That’s why zero down payment car insurance isn’t common among any insurance companies in the United States.

Some insurance companies promise a different approach. They might claim to offer zero down payments but higher fees per month. You might get a quote for $1,000 for an annual car insurance premium, paid in full with a down payment upfront. However, the company offers you an alternative car insurance payment plan of $200 per month with no down payment required. Basic math tells you that the $1,000 per month option is much cheaper – and few reputable companies pull schemes like this.

Be Wary of High Down Payments and Other Fees

Some insurers lure in customers with promises of ‘first month free car insurance’, only to surprise drivers with high down payments or other fees.

Some insurers even disguise these charges under different names. The insurer may technically provide you with free car insurance for the first month – when in reality, you’re still paying $500 for the first month of car insurance, although these fees are labeled under a different name.

Why Insurers Don’t Offer Free Upfront Car Insurance

There’s a simple reason why car insurance companies want a down payment before providing car insurance: drivers who want to avoid paying money for insurance upfront have a huge incentive to cancel their policy after a set period of time. That means you’re a higher-risk driver. It’s not in the insurance company’s best interest to insure you, because the insurer will not make money off of you.

Let’s say a dumb car insurance company offers you free car insurance for the first 30 days. You drive safely for the first few weeks, then cause a severe accident on your 29th day. You have not paid the car insurance company any money, but the car insurance company is now required to pay thousands of dollars. The car insurance company has absorbed significant risk with no profit.

Or, some drivers might take advantage of first month free car insurance by hopping between providers. You might get first month free car insurance from one company, then switch to another company for the same promotion.

Ultimately, insurance companies cannot make money with first month free car insurance. It’s too much risk, and there’s too much incentive for drivers to cancel their insurance policy without paying the insurer any money.

Be Wary of Companies Offering First Month Free Car Insurance

Getting car insurance for free for the first month sounds great. You get free car insurance and the insurance company accepts all the risks.

Unfortunately, it’s virtually impossible to find first month free car insurance available online today – and if you find a company offering first month free car insurance online, it may even be a scam.

Thousands of people search for ‘first month free car insurance’ online every month. These people are looking for a great deal on car insurance. They may not be wary of scams and warnings. They stumble upon a website that claims to offer free car insurance with no down payment required, then they apply.

Typically, this is just a sales funnel for cheap car insurance. You still have to pay something upfront, but you pay a smaller down payment (for worse insurance) than you would with other providers.

In other cases, this is a complete scam designed to steal your money or information. You might send money to an address online, for example, only to have it disappear with no car insurance provided whatsoever. Or, a website might steal your Social Security Number (SSN) or other personal information.

Ultimately, be wary of any website that claims to provide first month free car insurance, zero down payment car insurance, or any type of low down payment car insurance online today. It’s extremely rare among legitimate car insurance providers.

Final Word on 1 Month Free Car Insurance

It’s rare to find any type of first month free car insurance in the United States. Some insurance companies reduce down payment requirements as part of a promotion. However, you almost always need to pay something for car insurance upfront – whether it’s a down payment or your first month’s premium.

It’s virtually impossible to find a reputable car insurance company that sells legitimate car insurance with no down payment or upfront costs required.

Even if you find a company offering zero down payment car insurance, it’s likely there are other fees attached. An insurer might not technically charge a down payment, for example, although the insurer still requires your first month’s premium upfront, which is identical to a down payment.

Ultimately, reputable car insurance companies do not offer zero down payment car insurance or first month free car insurance. Stick with reputable providers to avoid being scammed.

James Shaffer
James Shaffer James Shaffer is a writer for InsurancePanda.com and a well-seasoned auto insurance industry veteran. He has a deep knowledge of insurance rules and regulations and is passionate about helping drivers save money on auto insurance. He is responsible for researching and writing about anything auto insurance-related. He holds a bachelor's degree from Bentley University and his work has been quoted by NBC News, CNN, and The Washington Post.
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