An insurance renewal notice is the notice your insurer sends before your current policy period ends, offering to renew your coverage, usually at an updated premium, or telling you it will not. Car and motorcycle policies both work this way: coverage runs for a fixed period, commonly six or twelve months, and your insurer contacts you as that period nears its end. How much advance notice you’re legally owed depends on your state: California requires at least 30 days notice of nonrenewal (and at least 20 days notice of a renewal offer), while Louisiana requires 60 days notice of nonrenewal. A reminder you set yourself, on your motorcycle’s or car’s actual renewal date, is the only way to stop depending on whichever notice period your state or insurer happens to use.
What is insurance renewal?
Insurance renewal is your policy continuing into a new term once the current one ends, usually automatically once you pay the new premium. The mechanics are the same whether it’s a car or a motorcycle policy: same fixed term, same renewal notice, same requirement to act before the old term runs out.
What is an insurance renewal notice?
It’s the notice your insurer sends ahead of your policy’s expiration date, spelling out your new premium and effective date, or telling you the policy will not be renewed. The required lead time varies by state. Under California Insurance Code Section 663, an insurer must deliver a written notice of nonrenewal at least 30 days before expiration, and an offer of renewal at least 20 days before expiration. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 22:1266, a personal auto insurer must mail or deliver notice of nonrenewal at least 60 days before expiration. If a notice arrives late in either state, the existing policy stays in force until the required lead time has passed.
Motorcycle insurance renewal works the same way
Most states require motorcycle riders to carry liability insurance, the same idea as car insurance: coverage that pays for injury or damage you cause to someone else. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcycle insurance is compulsory in every state except Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, and New Hampshire. A motorcycle policy renews on its own schedule, separate from a car policy if you carry both, so a renewal reminder needs to track each vehicle’s date on its own.
What a car insurance renewal reminder message actually needs
Not much: which policy it’s for (car or motorcycle), the exact renewal date, and enough lead time to shop around or fix a lapse before coverage actually ends. That’s the whole job of an insurance renewal reminder app: hold the date and warn you ahead of it, instead of waiting on whatever notice period your state or insurer happens to send.
Frequently asked questions
What is insurance renewal? Your policy continuing into a new term once the current one ends, typically automatically once you pay the new premium.
What is an insurance renewal notice? The notice your insurer sends before your policy expires, either offering to renew (often at a new premium) or telling you it won’t be renewed. Required advance notice varies by state, for example 20 to 30 days in California and 60 days in Louisiana for personal auto nonrenewal.
Do I need insurance to renew my motorcycle registration or ride legally? In nearly every state, yes. Motorcycle liability insurance is compulsory almost everywhere except Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, and New Hampshire, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
What should a car insurance renewal reminder message include? Which policy it’s for, the renewal date, and enough advance warning to compare rates or fix a lapse before coverage actually ends.
Never let a policy renew, or lapse, by surprise
Let LapseGuard remind you before your car or motorcycle policy renews, so you always have time to compare rates or catch a lapse before it costs you. Add your renewal date in seconds. Free, on your device, no account.
Read next: When does my subscription renew? and Illinois car registration renewal: how to renew your plate sticker