How long can car insurance payment be delayed after expiration?
2 Answers
Payment can be delayed for up to 3 months, but it's best not to exceed 48 hours. Reasons not to exceed 48 hours: Although it's not recommended to delay purchasing car insurance after expiration, if you genuinely cannot renew it on time, the delay should not exceed 48 hours. Generally, if compulsory insurance lapses for 48 hours, the discount will be lost and the original price will be restored. For commercial auto insurance, if it lapses between 3 to 6 months, the premium will increase by 10%. Relevant regulations: During the period when compulsory insurance has expired, if the vehicle is driven on the road and caught, the following penalties will apply: a fine of twice the original compulsory insurance premium; 1 point deducted from the driver's license; and the vehicle will be impounded until compulsory insurance is purchased. Owners need not panic if their compulsory insurance has expired; they can drive again as soon as they renew the insurance.
The grace period for car insurance renewal should not be too long, depending on the type of insurance. Compulsory traffic insurance is mandatory, and driving without it is illegal. If caught, you may face fines or even penalty points. For commercial insurance, some companies offer a short grace period, such as 1-3 days, to allow for late payment, but renewal is not guaranteed. A friend of mine delayed renewal by a week and ended up with a significant premium increase, nearly facing an accident without coverage. Now, I set calendar reminders to renew a week in advance—it’s not worth risking safety to save a little time. Safety comes first, and the longer the delay, the higher the risk. It’s best to contact the insurance company on the due date to get it sorted.
