Yes, you can put your car insurance on hold temporarily in many cases. But there are some important considerations when suspending the entire policy. Between maintenance, gas and insurance, owning a vehicle can be expensive; the good news is that you don’t have to keep paying for something if you don’t need it. 

Is your vehicle going to be out-of-use for an extended period of time? If so, you may want to consider reducing the coverage on your vehicle, which can save you money. To help you make a decision with confidence, we’ve compiled answers to common car insurance coverage questions.

The Hartford’s customers can call our customer service center at 800-423-6789 to learn more about suspending coverage coverage.

Suspending Car Insurance Frequently Asked Questions

What Does It Mean to Suspend My Car Insurance Coverage?

Suspending your auto coverage is when you choose to remove the liability (including bodily injury and property damage), collision, medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage from your car insurance, leaving only comprehensive coverage on your policy.

Comprehensive coverage protects you in the event of:

  • Fire
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Glass breakage

Why or When Would I Put My Car Insurance On Hold?

The most common reason for suspending auto coverage is if your vehicle will not be in use for 30 or more days, eliminating the risk of an accident. Putting car insurance coverage on hold may make sense if:

  • You are a snowbird traveling without your vehicle for the winter season
  • Your child is away at college or studying abroad and won’t be using the car for a sustained period of time
  • You are taking a vacation that’s longer than a month
  • You choose to store your vehicle during the colder months to avoid winter wear and tear

Can I Suspend My Children’s Vehicle and Not My Own?

Yes. If you have a child who won’t be needing their car for more than a month, you can suspend the coverage on just their vehicle while keeping coverage for the rest of your policy in tact. But remember: if a car has suspended insurance coverage, it should not be driven at all.

Can I Suspend My Coverage If My Car Is Leased?

If your car is leased or financed, make sure to ask your lienholder or lease holder if you can remove collision coverage from your policy. Typically, they require you to carry that coverage, but may make exceptions if the vehicle won’t be in use.

Are There Coverages I Should Keep When Suspending My Car Insurance?

Ultimately, it’s a personal decision based on your lifestyle and what you’ll be doing. But, you may want to consider maintaining your medical payments coverage. The cost is minimal and it helps provide valuable financial protection if you are injured as a pedestrian or as a passenger in another vehicle. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for medical expenses, which can often be steep.

How Do I Suspend Car Insurance Coverage from The Hartford?

Car insurance customers from The Hartford can call us at 800-423-6789 to learn more about pausing coverage.

Be aware that each policy is unique and may have different requirements. For example, some states require a written request for suspension. These include: AL, CT, DE, ID, MI, MN, MO, ND, NH, NJ and WV.

Are There Any States That Don’t Allow Me To Suspend Coverage?

Suspension of coverage is not allowed in HI and KS.

What Happens If I Need a Rental Car?

When you suspend your auto insurance, you won’t have coverage for a rental car unless another vehicle on your policy still has full liability and physical damage coverage. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase rental car insurance separately through the company.

How Do I Restore My Coverage When I No Longer Want It On Hold?

If you’re a customer of The Hartford, call us at least 24 hours before you’d like your coverage restored with the limits and deductibles you had prior to suspending. Otherwise, contact your insurance carrier for more information.

Get More Tips From The Hartford

Have more questions about car insurance? We’re happy to help. The Hartford has gathered helpful, easy-to-understand answers to auto insurance FAQs (frequently asked questions) from drivers like you.