Yes, your car insurance policy address can be different from the address on your vehicle's registration, but it is a significant red flag for insurers and must be handled correctly to avoid policy cancellation or a claim denial. The primary reason for a discrepancy is often that a person moves and updates their insurance mailing address but forgets to update their official registration with the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or vice versa.
The critical issue insurers focus on is garaging address—where the car is primarily parked overnight. This location directly impacts risk assessment. Insuring a car in a rural area with low traffic and theft rates but garaging it in a dense urban center is misrepresentation, often referred to as "rate evasion." However, there are legitimate exceptions. For example, a college student whose permanent address (and registration) is with their parents but who lives at school for most of the year should have the policy reflect the garaging address at the school location, even if the registration remains unchanged.
| Scenario | Insurance Address | Registration Address | Is it Legitimate? | Potential Risk |
|---|
| Recent Move (30-60 days) | New Address | Old Address | Temporary Grace Period | Policy must be updated promptly to avoid issues. |
| College Student | Parent's Home (Mailing) | Parent's Home | Yes, if insurer notes school garaging address. | Low risk if properly disclosed. |
| Military Deployment | Home of Record | Home of Record | Yes, with proper documentation. | Low risk with military status on file. |
| Rate Evasion | Low-risk ZIP code | High-risk ZIP code | No, this is fraud. | High risk of claim denial and policy cancellation. |
| Seasonal/Second Home | Primary Home | Primary Home | Yes, if both addresses are disclosed. | Low risk if usage patterns are clear. |
The safest course of action is to keep both documents synchronized. Contact your insurer immediately after a move. They will adjust your premium based on the new garaging location. Then, update your registration with the DMV within your state's required timeframe, typically 30 days. Proactive transparency is the best way to maintain continuous, valid coverage.
