Can I use a P.O. Box for my car insurance? (2025)

Can I use a P.O. Box for my car insurance? What if I need car insurance without a permanent address? Car insurers only allow you to use a P.O. box for car insurance as a mailing address, 

Learn the address requirements for buying car insurance to maintain the right coverage for your vehicle.

Can I use a P.O. Box for my car insurance?

You can list a P.O. box as a mailing address on your car insurance, but you cannot register a P.O. box as your physical address.

Car insurance rates in the U.S. depend on where you regularly keep your vehicle. Since you can’t keep your car in the P.O. box for car insurance, it doesn’t meet the physical address requirement for car insurance. Therefore, P.O. box registration for your garaging address is not allowed.

Garage Address vs. Mailing Address

A garage address, or garaging address, is where you physically garage your car most of the time. Whenever you request a car insurance quote or purchase a new policy, your insurance company will ask you where you typically park your car.

Your garaging address is usually the same as your home or permanent address, but there are a few common exceptions. These include:

• Car insurance for college students in another state from their permanent address
• Car insurance for people who split their time between two homes
• Car insurance for active-duty military members

Insurance companies allow you to list a mailing address and a garaging address on your car insurance policy. Your garaging address must be a physical location, but your mailing address for car insurance can be a P.O. box.

Why does car insurance require a physical address?

Insurers consider the physical location of your car when setting auto insurance rates, assessing your risk based on location-related factors such as:

• Collision rates
• Vehicle-related theft
• Prevalence of natural disasters
• Percentage of uninsured drivers

Even if you’re moving to a different location in the same city or state, it’s important to update your garaging address with your insurance company. This way, you get the most accurate rates and avoid losing your car insurance coverage. If you have a P.O. box in another state as your mailing address, you still need to list your garaging address where the car will most often be parked. (For more information, read our “How do I get car insurance when moving to the USA?“).

Read more: Why does my car insurance need my work address?

How to Get Car Insurance Without an Address

You can still get car insurance with no fixed address. You just have to let your insurance company know where you are staying most of the time.

For instance, if you stay with family for a few months, you can list their location as the garaging address while maintaining a different mailing address.

It’s important to update your physical address with your insurance company every time it changes. Listing the incorrect address on your policy is considered auto insurance fraud, which could lead to losing your coverage or facing charges if not updated on time. You should never list a fake address for car insurance to get cheaper rates.

Case Studies: Securing Car Insurance with P.O. Box and Address Challenges

Case Study 1: Using a P.O. Box as a Mailing Address

John recently moved to a new city and opted for a P.O. Box for his mailing address. However, he is uncertain if he can use the P.O. Box as his address for car insurance purposes.

While John can list a P.O. Box as his mailing address on his car insurance, he cannot register it as his physical garaging address. Car insurance rates in the United States are influenced by the location where the vehicle is primarily kept, and a P.O. Box does not meet the physical address requirement.

John should provide his current physical address to ensure accurate rates and compliance with insurance regulations.

Case Study 2: Securing Car Insurance Without a Permanent Address

Sarah is a digital nomad who frequently moves from place to place, which means she does not have a permanent address. She wonders if it’s possible to obtain car insurance without a fixed location.

Even without a permanent address, Sarah can still obtain car insurance by providing the address where she stays most of the time as her garaging address. For instance, if she stays with family for a few months, she can list their location as her garaging address while maintaining a different mailing address.

It is crucial for Sarah to update her physical address with her insurance company whenever it changes to avoid potential penalties and ensure accurate coverage.

Case Study 3: Relocating to a Different State With a P.O. Box

Alex recently moved to a new state and decided to maintain a P.O. Box as their mailing address. They are unsure if they can use their P.O. Box as the garaging address for car insurance purposes.

While Alex can use a P.O. Box as their mailing address, it cannot be used as the garaging address on their car insurance policy. Car insurance rates are influenced by the physical location where the vehicle is regularly parked.

To ensure accurate rates and compliance with insurance requirements, Alex should provide their new physical garaging address in the new state where their car will most frequently be parked.

Can I use a P.O. box for my car insurance? The Bottom Line

You can use a P.O. box as a car insurance mailing address, but you cannot use a P.O. box as a garaging address on your policy. 

A physical garaging address is important in determining car insurance rates. If you don’t have a permanent address, list your current physical address to avoid penalties.