Is it legal to use someone else's address for car insurance?

Asked by: Lesley Hilpert I  |  Last update: February 16, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (48 votes)

Lying about your address on your car insurance is illegal, even if you're related to or know the people who live at the false address you list.

Can I use someone else's address for my car insurance?

Legally the only address you can use is where your car is your primary address and often that's your home address. Using someone else's address is considered insurance fraud. Insurers can deny your claims and cancel your insurance if you make a claim and they find out that you weren't truthful about your address.

Can I stay on my parents' car insurance if I live at a different address?

Nope. Your car needs to be registered and insured where you live. Besides that it's fraud, if you used your parents' address when you lived in another state, it would be easy for an adjuster to find out and the claim most likely would not be covered.

Does your car insurance have to match your address?

First of all, your insurance policy and your driver's license (as well as your vehicle registration) should use the same address. Depending on which insurance company you have, that will determine how quickly you should get this taken care of, but generally it's around 30-60 days.

Is it against the law to use someone else's address?

Yes, using someone else's address or someone using your address is illegal. This type of fraud is known as address fraud and manifests in various guises such as brushing scams and rental scams.

Is it ok to use someone else's vehicle without your own insurance?

19 related questions found

Is it illegal for someone to use your address if they don t live there?

A resident temporarily living in a different state for school or work may want to forward mail to a domicile address. But someone who isn't the owner of a home or apartment must ask for permission. If permission is not requested and granted, that person is committing address fraud and maybe even mail fraud [*].

Can you report someone for using your address?

A stolen address can result in financial or legal trouble, mail fraud, identity theft, and worse credit scores. If you believe someone is using your address to commit fraud, you should: Report it: Report the ID theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and consider contacting your local police department.

Can I get insurance with a different address?

Car insurance rates vary by zip code so the correct address must be used to avoid issues with the policy not being enforced if the wrong address is used just to get a cheaper rate. Having proper coverage and meeting the state's legally required limits is incredibly important.

Is it important to change address on car insurance?

In this case, it is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to inform your auto insurance company of your move. Not only will this effect your premium, but different states have different laws when it comes to the types and amounts of auto insurance coverages drivers have to maintain.

Does address on car title matter?

The title address is simply where you lived when you purchased the car. In most states you dont have to update it when you move but is a good idea to keep it updated with the registration so the addresses match.

Does my car insurance have to be where I live?

In general, your car must be registered and insured in the same state, since both vehicle registration and auto insurance are based on your permanent residence. In fact, using an address for insurance that's different from the primary residence where you keep your vehicle is a form of insurance fraud.

How long can I use my parents' address as my permanent address?

Your parents' home where you can return to at any time still remains your permanent home address. This is even if you've lived away from this address for the past four or five years.

Can you be on your parents car insurance and not live with them?

Depending on your insurer, you can remain listed as a driver on your parents' policy as long as their home is your permanent address or you're a full-time student. Once you've permanently moved out, you'll likely need to obtain your own car insurance policy.

What happens if I don't update my address on insurance?

What Happens If I Don't Change My Address on My Car Insurance? Not changing your address when you move, especially if you move states, can cause problems with your insurance company. In the worst-case scenario, you may be criminally liable.

Why does my insurance go up when I change address?

Address Change or Adding a Driver

If you move, your new location may have a higher risk of accidents or theft. Adding drivers can also increase your risk, which could raise your premium.

Is it legal to use someone elses address for car insurance?

It can be anything from lying about a garaging address (the location where your vehicle is parked for most of the year) to exaggerating an accident to outright staging one. Fraud is illegal in all 50 states, and insurance companies work hard to investigate and expose fraudulent insurance claims.

Can I have a different address on my license and insurance?

The short answer: yes, your insurance policy, your driver's license as well as your vehicle registration should all have the same (current) address.

Can someone be on your car insurance if they don't live with you?

Yes, it is possible to add someone to your car insurance policy who doesn't live with you, depending on your insurance company's policies. Typically, insurance companies allow you to add immediate family members or someone who regularly drives your vehicle.

What is the illegal use of someone else's address?

In essence, address fraud is the act of using someone else's genuine postal address for illegal or deceptive purposes. This could be to get their hands on goods purchased fraudulently or to intercept someone else's mail, hoping to glean sensitive information.

Is it illegal to lie about your address?

Address fraud is a type of fraud in which the perpetrator uses an inaccurate or fictitious address to steal money or other benefit, or to hide from authorities. The crime may involve stating one's address as a place where s/he never lived, or continuing to use a previous address where one no longer lives as one's own.

What can happen if someone uses your address?

Someone who knows your address may be able to access your mail or even change your mailing address. This can yield a wide variety of personal information about you, including medical data and financial records.

Is it a crime to not change your address?

Answer: You can get in trouble for failing to update the address on your driver's license—and exactly how much trouble depends on various factors, including luck. If you never get pulled over, then the odds are that nothing will happen, but you would still likely violate a state regulation.

Can I let a homeless person use my address?

In many states the person becomes a legal resident if they can show they have received mail at an address for 30 days. He could move in to your apartment and you would not be able to remove him. If you tried to keep him out, police would be obligated to arrest or ticket you.

Is sharing someone's address illegal?

In the United States, the act of publishing someone's personal information is not, in and of itself, illegal.

Can I be on my parents car insurance with a different address?

Only if you live with them. Insurers typically require all licensed drivers who live at the same address to be listed on a policy, especially if they frequently borrow each other's cars.