# Need auto insurance help fast **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 3, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761 "2012-11-03T15:11:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/1 "2012-11-03T15:11:23Z")
In Phoenix AZ visiting my daughter who moved here in July… we are leaving tomorrow morning so we probably need to resolve something today. She was only going to be here for six months so for that and other reasons she kept her Michigan driver’s license, auto registration and auto insurance. Yesterday she got a notice on her car that says she needs to register her car in Arizona and that seems cut and dry. It’s from AZDOT and they say as soon as you take a job other than seasonal farm work you need to register in Az. We are ok with that. The issue is whether to get AZ insurance and whether she needs to do it before she registers the vehicle?? A related issue is whether it looks bad to get a policy quickly and then shop around and change it a few weeks or a month later??? FWIW… it is still likely that she will move out of AZ in January. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/2 "2012-11-03T19:25:10Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > In Phoenix AZ visiting my daughter who moved here in July… we are leaving tomorrow morning so we probably need to resolve something today. > > She was only going to be here for six months so for that and other reasons she kept her Michigan driver’s license, auto registration and auto insurance. > > Yesterday she got a notice on her car that says she needs to register her car in Arizona and that seems cut and dry. It’s from AZDOT and they say as soon as you take a job other than seasonal farm work you need to register in Az. We are ok with that. > > The issue is whether to get AZ insurance and whether she needs to do it before she registers the vehicle?? > > A related issue is whether it looks bad to get a policy quickly and then shop around and change it a few weeks or a month later??? > > FWIW… it is still likely that she will move out of AZ in January. IANAL, I am not your lawyer, YMMV, etc. Does she have a physical place that she calls home in Michigan? If so, I think that AZDOT should pound sand. A person is a resident of a state in which she is physically present and intends to remain indefinitely. If she’s moving in two months, that doesn’t seem to qualify. I would at a minimum call and explain that she’s moving in two months, sign a lease in Michigan, or call an AZ lawyer.. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/3 "2012-11-03T22:55:53Z")
I’ve never known a place where you can register a car without proof of insurance valid in that state. [Arizona is no exception](http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/azwelcome.asp#ItemsNeeded) I understand that she has insurance, but she needs insurance that meets the state’s requirements for registration. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/4 "2012-11-04T02:57:32Z")
Legal advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/5 "2012-11-04T03:06:55Z")
Assuming she is insured with a company that does business in Az, a phone call to change the address should handle the problem. As far as the reg goes, how does Az handle the influx of snowbirds every year? I’m betting those people don’t re-register their motor homes twice a year. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/6 "2012-11-04T04:25:47Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Assuming she is insured with a company that does business in Az, a phone call to change the address should handle the problem. > As far as the reg goes, how does Az handle the influx of snowbirds every year? I’m betting those people don’t re-register their motor homes twice a year. They don’t have to unless they spend more than 7 months in Arizona, or get a job, or register to vote… > [@](#): > > State law requires that you obtain an Arizona vehicle registration and driver license, immediately if any of the following applies. If you: > > Work in Arizona (other than for seasonal agricultural work) –or– > Are registered to vote in Arizona –or– > Place children in school without paying the tuition rate of a nonresident –or– > Have a business that has an office in Arizona, and that bases and operates vehicles in this state –or– > Obtain a state license or pay school tuition fees at the same rate as an Arizona resident –or– > Have a business that operates vehicles to transport goods or passengers within Arizona –or– > Remain in Arizona for a total of 7 months or more during any calendar year, regardless of your permanent residence. ---
**Author:** ![nion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/7 "2012-11-04T07:15:54Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I’ve never known a place where you can register a car without proof of insurance valid in that state. [Arizona is no exception](http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/azwelcome.asp#ItemsNeeded) > > I understand that she has insurance, but she needs insurance that meets the state’s requirements for registration. I don’t recall having to have insurance when I registered vehicles here in Iowa. I certainly didn’t need it in Vermont. Being young and stupid I spent some time without it. I am forever grateful that I didn’t have to learn of its usefulness the hard way. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/8 "2012-11-04T11:12:19Z")
Thanks for the advice all. Doreen’s 7 point quote in post #6 is the exact language on the notice that she received. I am going to call AZDOT on Monday. I am also on the title and registration so I am going to see if that matters at all. But it probably won’t. I’t’s probably not that big a deal since she would have to renew her registration in MI in two weeks anyway. She’ll probably be moving to CA or OR in January btw. She was told by a co-worker that part of her registration fee would be refunded if she moves… anybody know if that is accurate? Finally, Auto-Owners doesn’t do business in AZ so she would need a new insurance company. Does anyone have any input on potential negative ramifications of changing insurance companies frequently? That would allow her to get something on-line quickly and then shop more later. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/9 "2012-11-04T15:42:24Z")
> [@nion](#): > > I don’t recall having to have insurance when I registered vehicles here in Iowa. I certainly didn’t need it in Vermont. Being young and stupid I spent some time without it. I am forever grateful that I didn’t have to learn of its usefulness the hard way. In Vermont, the requirement for insurance is [tied to the drivers license](http://dmv.vermont.gov/Moving_To_Vermont) instead. Iowa does not have a compulsory car insurance law. That’s pretty unusual. I think there are only 4 states where that’s the case. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/10 "2012-11-04T16:45:22Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > They don’t have to unless they spend more than 7 months in Arizona, or get a job, or register to vote… So, if I live in New Mexico, but work across the border in Arizona, then I have to have my car licensed in Arizona? What address would I put on the registration? Wouldn’t New Mexico want their tax money from me as well? ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-auto-insurance-help-fast/639761/11 "2012-11-04T17:52:49Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > So, if I live in New Mexico, but work across the border in Arizona, then I have to have my car licensed in Arizona? What address would I put on the registration? Wouldn’t New Mexico want their tax money from me as well? I don’t know. I suspect it doesn’t apply to commuters but only to people who actually live in Arizona while maintaining residency in another state (people temporarily living with relative, snowbirds etc ) who ordinarily wouldn’t have to change their registration and license unless they remain for more than seven months ,register to vote, obtain employment, enroll children in school without paying the non-resident fee, etc