Is it mandatory to purchase the first year of insurance for a new car at a 4S shop?
3 Answers
The first year of insurance for a new car does not have to be purchased at a 4S shop. Car owners have the right to choose where to purchase auto insurance and can compare multiple insurance companies to select a policy that better suits their needs. Motor vehicle insurance, also known as auto insurance (referred to as car insurance), is a type of commercial insurance that covers liability for personal injury or property damage caused by natural disasters or accidents involving motor vehicles. The auto insurance policy bears the words 'Supervised by the China Insurance Regulatory Commission,' with the policy being brown in color. The main text uses internationally advanced red fluorescent anti-counterfeiting ink, and the underlines consist of micro-text, providing good anti-counterfeiting features. Apart from the reserved area for printing the company logo of different insurers, the policy specifications and formats are standardized nationwide.
Buying the first-year insurance for a new car isn’t necessarily required at the 4S dealership. When I purchased my new car, the salesperson at the dealership kept pushing their in-house insurance, claiming it offered one-stop convenience for claims and even threw in some small gifts. After checking around, I found that comparing quotes online from different insurers could save me thousands. New car insurance isn’t legally tied to the dealership—you have the right to choose freely. It all depends on your needs: if you value convenience and don’t have much time, the dealership’s all-in-one service might be hassle-free; but if saving money is the priority, platforms like Alipay or calling insurance agents directly can offer better deals. Don’t forget to compare third-party liability coverage—don’t just focus on price, as insurers with better service respond faster to accidents. Don’t let the dealership trick you—a little extra effort can save you a good chunk of money.
As an experienced driver who has owned several cars, I recommend that new car insurance doesn't necessarily have to be purchased at a 4S shop. 4S shop employees always like to push bundled services, making it sound safer to handle accidents in one stop, but the prices are often higher. You can contact insurance companies directly to get quotes, and the process is simple—just fill in your license plate and car model information. There's no legal requirement for first-year insurance on a new car; it depends on your preference. For example, the last time I bought insurance at a 4S shop, they proactively handled the claims, saving me a lot of legwork. But later, when I switched to an outside insurance company, I saved 1,500 yuan annually on premiums. Remember to check the coverage of the insurance policies. Since new cars have high value, it's best to have sufficient third-party liability and car damage insurance—don't cut corners to save small amounts and risk bigger problems. Make your choice based on your free time; being flexible is better.
