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Nearly everyone needs car insurance if they drive, regardless of whether they're financing or leasing a vehicle. But, leasing companies generally have stricter insurance requirements than lenders, so you'll likely need more types of coverage and higher policy limits if you lease a vehicle. Here's what you need to know.
What Insurance Do You Need for a Leased Car?
The types and amount of coverage you need depend, in part, on where you live. Drivers must meet their state's minimum insurance requirements, plus any additional requirements the leasing company has.
State Requirements
Auto insurance requirements vary by state. Nearly every state requires drivers to maintain liability coverage, and many states have additional requirements. Here are some common coverages you may need depending on where you live.
- Liability: Covers injuries and property damage you cause to someone else or their property. State minimum liability requirements are generally low and may not provide adequate protection if you're in a serious accident. Leasing companies often require drivers to maintain higher liability limits of $100,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $300,000 of bodily injury liability per accident, and $50,000 of property damage liability per accident.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Covers injuries that you and your passengers sustain and damage to your vehicle if an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you. Uninsured motorist coverage also kicks in if you're the victim of a hit and run or someone without adequate insurance coverage hits you as a pedestrian.
- Personal injury protection (PIP)/medical payments (MedPay): Pays for your and your passengers' accident-related injuries, no matter who is at fault.
Leasing Company Requirements
Since the leasing company, not the driver, maintains ownership of a leased car, the leasing company usually requires drivers to purchase additional coverage to protect its financial interest in the vehicle, including:
- Collision: Covers accident-related damage to the leased vehicle when you're at fault in an accident.
- Comprehensive: Covers theft and non-accident-related damage to a leased car caused by fires, natural disasters, animals and more.
- Guaranteed asset protection (GAP): Reimburses the leasing company for the difference between your remaining lease balance and the market value of your vehicle if the insurance company declares it a total loss. Leasing companies often include the price of GAP coverage in your monthly lease payment.
Are Insurance Requirements Different for a Purchased Car?
It depends. You must maintain at least the state's minimum coverage requirements whether you lease or buy your car. Like leasing companies, lenders typically require drivers to carry comprehensive and collision coverage if they're financing the purchase of a new or used vehicle. But they don't typically require liability limits above the state minimum or gap coverage, even if your car is brand new.
Comprehensive and collision are optional if you pay cash for your vehicle or pay off your loan. But they may be worth having if you can't afford to pay for repairs out of pocket or drive a car that maintains its value. Without these coverages, you'll be on the hook for covering repairs from at-fault accidents and damage not related to an accident.
How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Leased Car?
Car insurance costs vary based on multiple factors, including the type of car you drive, how much you drive, your age, driving history, where you live and more. Insurance policies generally cost more for expensive vehicles, drivers who put more miles on their cars, less-experienced drivers and people with speeding tickets and other violations on their record. Rates vary by location and tend to be higher in areas with higher rates of accidents, theft, vandalism and weather-related damage.
Pricing is also affected by the types of coverage you choose, your policy limits and the deductible amounts you select. A policy typically costs more when you opt for more coverage, higher policy limits and lower deductibles and less when you choose less coverage, lower policy limits and higher deductibles.
Is It More Expensive to Insure a Leased Car?
Many factors affect the price of an auto insurance policy, but whether you lease or buy a vehicle isn't one of them. However, because leasing companies typically require drivers to buy more coverage and have higher policy limits, you'll generally pay more to insure a leased vehicle.
Good Credit Can Help Lower Insurance Costs
Credit-based insurance scores help insurers determine the likelihood that a policyholder will file a claim. Most states allow insurers to consider your credit history when determining the price of a policy. A good credit score may help you get a lower rate in states where insurers can include credit-based insurance scores in their rating criteria.
Checking your credit score for free lets you know where your credit stands before applying for coverage. Improving your credit (if necessary) before purchasing a policy may help you qualify for a lower rate.
How to Get Car Insurance for a Leased Car
Purchasing car insurance for a leased vehicle is similar to purchasing coverage for a car you're buying. But, lessors generally have a few additional conditions compared to lenders. Follow these steps to get coverage that satisfies your leasing requirements.
- Talk to the leasing company. Find out what types of coverage and policy limits they require.
- Decide on coverage. Select the types of coverage you want to buy and your policy limits. You can opt for additional coverage and higher limits than the lessor requires—but not less.
- Get multiple quotes. A car insurance comparison service like Experian's can save you time and help you find the best deal.
- Choose a policy. Select the one that best fits your needs and budget.
- Include the lessor. Add the leasing company as an additional insured and loss payee on your policy.
- Provide proof of coverage. You must show the lessor that you have adequate coverage when you sign the lease agreement.
The Bottom Line
Purchasing auto insurance for a leased vehicle isn't much different from purchasing coverage for a car you're financing. You must maintain enough coverage to meet your state's minimum insurance requirements and the conditions of the leasing company. You can choose to buy additional coverage for greater protection, but you can't have less.