Do You Need Insurance for When You Put Your Car In Storage?

Last Updated on February 5, 2026

Maybe you’re traveling for an extended period of time, your kid is leaving for college (and the car is staying home), or your car is broken down and you won’t be driving it for a while. In any of these situations, putting the car in storage can be a smart move — it can help protect your vehicle from vandalism, theft, severe weather, and even animal damage.

But once the car isn’t being used, a common question comes up: Do you still need car insurance while it’s in storage? Sometimes you’re required to keep coverage — and even when you’re not, cancelling completely can backfire.

• If your car stays registered while it’s in storage, you may still be required to maintain insurance (often at least your state minimums).
• Cancelling insurance entirely can leave you unprotected from theft, fire, weather, vandalism, and animal damage while the car is parked.
• Many drivers can save money by switching to “storage” coverage — often comprehensive-only — instead of dropping the policy.
• A coverage lapse can raise future premiums, and financed/leased vehicles often must keep comprehensive and collision even when stored.

Do You Need Insurance While Your Car Is in Storage?

In many cases, yes — especially if the car stays registered and plated. Rules vary by state, but most DMVs tie registration to having active insurance. If you’re keeping the vehicle registered while it’s stored, you may be required to maintain at least your state’s minimum coverage.

Typically, you must show proof of insurance to register a vehicle — and in many states you’re expected to keep insurance active for as long as the car is registered. If you’re unsure, start here: do you need car insurance to register a car?

Even if your car is sitting in a garage, you can still be required to maintain at least your state’s minimum insurance requirements to avoid registration problems, fines, or a suspension — and you generally can’t legally drive the car again until the registration and insurance are reinstated.

When Cancelling Insurance Can Make Sense (And When It Doesn’t)

Fully cancelling your policy is most realistic when the vehicle will be off the road long-term and your state allows you to take it out of active registration while it’s stored. If you go this route, remember: you won’t be able to legally drive the vehicle until you re-register and re-insure it.

But even if you’re allowed to cancel, it’s not always a good idea. If something happens while the car is parked — fire, theft, hail, a fallen tree — you’d be paying out of pocket. For example, if a fire damages the car and your car is totaled, having the right coverage can be the difference between a manageable claim and a major financial hit.

Also, if your car is financed or leased, your lender usually requires you to keep physical damage coverage (often comprehensive and collision) until the loan is paid off — even if the car is in storage. Cancelling could put you in breach of the loan agreement and/or trigger expensive “force-placed” insurance from the lender.

Finally, cancelling can create a coverage lapse. Many insurers reward drivers for continuous coverage. A gap can sometimes push you into a higher-priced tier, and in some cases you may be treated like a high-risk driver when you go to insure the car again.

The Best Option for Most People: “Storage” Coverage (Comprehensive-Only)

If the car will be stored for 30+ days, a common money-saving approach is to ask your insurer about reducing coverage instead of cancelling. In many situations, you may be able to drop liability coverage while the car is not being driven (if your state and insurer allow it) and keep comprehensive coverage in place.

Comprehensive coverage is the part of your policy that typically protects a parked or stored vehicle against non-collision risks like theft, vandalism, fire, weather events, and animal damage. It’s often one of the more affordable coverages — but the price depends on your car, location, deductible, and insurer, so don’t assume it will be the same for everyone.

If you want to reduce coverage, don’t guess — confirm the rules first. Some insurers allow a “storage” setup, while others require minimum liability if the car stays registered. And if your vehicle is in the shop or you’re temporarily not driving it, here’s more detail on pausing car insurance temporarily.

Other Ways to Save While Your Car Is in Storage

If you want to keep solid protection but lower your bill, these tweaks often help:

• Raise your comprehensive (and collision) deductibles while the car is stored (only if you could comfortably pay that amount if something happens).
• Remove optional add-ons you don’t need during storage (like rental reimbursement), then add them back when you start driving again.
• Update mileage and usage if your insurer rates you based on annual miles (many people forget to adjust this).
• Store the car more securely (garage vs. street parking), and consider anti-theft devices if theft is a concern.

If the car is going to sit for months, it’s also worth taking basic storage steps (battery maintainer, tire pressure, rodent prevention). Insurance helps with big losses — but good storage habits reduce the odds you’ll need a claim in the first place.

FAQs on Insurance for a Car in Storage

The Bottom Line: Do You Need Insurance If Your Car Is in Storage?

Usually, yes — if the vehicle stays registered. Even if you’re allowed to cancel, keeping some protection is often the safer financial move. For many drivers, the sweet spot is reducing coverage (often to comprehensive-only) so the car is still protected against theft, weather, and other non-driving risks — while also avoiding a lapse in your insurance history.

Before you make changes, call your insurer (and your lender if the car is financed) to confirm what’s allowed and what’s required. The right choice depends on your state’s registration rules, how long the car will be stored, and how expensive it would be for you to replace the vehicle if the worst happens.