Are car insurance companies open on bank holidays?

It might be more convenient for you to make policy changes or ask your insurance company questions about your coverage on your day off work. If you’re off for a bank holiday, this seems like a good opportunity to work on your policy. An even more urgent scenario is if you have to make insurance claims on bank holidays. 

If you’re asking, “Are insurance companies open on holidays?”, or even “Are auto insurance companies open on weekends?” we have some answers. We’ll look at what services may be available on bank holidays and those that are likely unavailable. 

Read more: Can I get car insurance on the weekend?

Local Branches and Agencies May Be Closed on Bank Holidays

While not all insurance companies follow the bank holiday schedule, most local offices will be closed on these holidays. This is due primarily to the fact that most states require employees receive holiday pay if they work on a holiday. 

List of Holidays Companies Close for

Bank holidays are set by the Federal Reserve System Holiday Schedule. Again, not all insurance companies follow this schedule, but if yours does then these are the specific days that your branch will be closed:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
• President Washington’s Birthday
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

These are always subject to change at the federal level, so there could be more added or some removed. For example, Juneteenth is the most recent addition to the holiday schedule in 2022. 

Customer Service Centers Are Usually Open on Bank Holidays

While local branches are often closed, most major insurance companies will have at least some staff working in the customer service centers on bank holidays. It’s common for customer service centers for all businesses, including insurance companies, to work holidays with a smaller staff, though. 

So, you may be on hold for a while, but chances are you will be able to contact a representative with your insurance company over the phone on holidays. This is important to remember if you have a pressing matter like paying a bill that is due or if you need to make an insurance claim after getting into a car accident on a holiday. 

Even if your company closes most of its centers on the holiday, it will always have a claims center open.

If All Else Fails, Use Online Self-Service Tools

If you’re unable to reach your insurance company by phone on holidays, most large insurance companies have online tools you can use. While this may not be an option if your insurance is through a smaller local agency, every national insurance company has a website where you can log in to access your account.

When you access your account online, you’ll have plenty of tools at your disposal. You can make changes to your policy, pay a bill, and make an insurance claim 24/7. So if you’re asking, “Can I make a claim on a holiday?” The answer is yes if you are with a major company, like Geico or Progressive.

If you haven’t already, it’s worth signing up for an online account with your insurance company for pure convenience, regardless of whether or not it is a holiday. 

Case Studies: Insurance Company Availability on Bank Holidays

Case Study 1: Local Branch Cosure

John needs to visit his local insurance branch to discuss some policy changes on a bank holiday. However, when he arrives, he finds that the branch is closed for the holiday. He realizes that most local branches of insurance companies follow the bank holiday schedule and are closed on those days.

Case Study 2: Limited Customer Service Support

Sarah gets into a car accident on a bank holiday and needs to file an insurance claim. She contacts her insurance company’s customer service center and is relieved to find that they have a smaller staff working on the holiday. Sarah is able to reach a representative and file her claim, ensuring that the process is not delayed despite it being a bank holiday.

Case Study 3: Online Self-Service

Michael realizes that he needs to make changes to his car insurance policy on a bank holiday when the local branch is closed. Instead of waiting for the branch to open, he logs into his online account with the insurance company. Through the online self-service tools, he is able to make the necessary changes to his policy without needing to contact a representative or visit a physical branch.

Case Study 4: Claims Processing

Emily’s car is damaged in a hailstorm on a bank holiday. She contacts her insurance company to file a claim and is informed that the claims center is open even on holidays. Emily is able to initiate the claims process and schedule repairs for her vehicle without any delays, thanks to the availability of the claims center on the bank holiday.

The Bottom Line: Do car insurance companies open on bank holidays?

If you use a smaller local insurance company or an agent for a national insurer, these brick-and-mortar locations are typically closed on the bank holidays. However, if you need to contact your insurance company for some reason, you’ll be able to call for support in most cases. All companies will have claims centers open for accidents that occur on the holiday.

If you can’t get in contact with your insurance company over the phone, you’ll still be able to access your account online to make any necessary changes for any national insurance company. This includes the ability to file a claim online at any time of day or night.