Do I Need to Be Present in Person to Insure a New Car?
2 Answers
Purchasing car insurance does not necessarily require the car owner to be present in person. While it is preferable for the car owner to be present when buying car insurance, if they are unable to attend due to special circumstances, they can authorize someone else to handle the car insurance purchase on their behalf. Compulsory Traffic Accident Liability Insurance: Compulsory insurance, also known as mandatory insurance, is a type of insurance that must be purchased as required by law. It covers bodily injury, death, and property damage caused to victims (excluding passengers in the insured vehicle and the insured person) in the event of a road traffic accident involving the insured vehicle. Driving a car without compulsory insurance is illegal and carries certain legal liabilities. Third-Party Liability Insurance: Third-party liability insurance covers direct losses to a third party's bodily injury, death, or property damage caused by the insured or an authorized qualified driver while using the insured vehicle. This insurance serves as a supplement to compulsory insurance and can compensate for amounts exceeding the coverage of compulsory insurance. Vehicle Damage Insurance: Vehicle damage insurance covers damage to the insured vehicle's body and its components caused by accidental incidents while the insured or an authorized driver is operating the insured vehicle. No-Deductible Coverage: No-deductible coverage is an additional coverage for commercial insurance and cannot be purchased separately. It can only be obtained as an add-on to a primary insurance policy (such as vehicle damage insurance or third-party liability insurance).
You don’t necessarily have to handle new car insurance in person—I’ve done it this way before. Last year when I changed cars, I entrusted the 4S store salesperson to handle the insurance matters for me. I provided a copy of my ID card and photos of the vehicle invoice, confirmed the details via WeChat, and completed the entire process without leaving home. Nowadays, most insurance companies support online applications—just download their app or visit their official website for a quicker process. Uploading documents takes just ten minutes. If you want to delegate the task to someone else, like a friend or a professional agent, remember to write a simple authorization letter to avoid future hassles. The benefits are saving time and effort—no need to take time off, run errands, or wait in long queues. A potential risk is that incorrect information could invalidate the policy, so I personally recommend handling it online yourself for verification—it’s both secure and efficient, and you can track the progress in real time. It’s best to finalize new car insurance before the temporary license plate expires to avoid delays.
