Quoting When a Filing Is Required
This page is about the process, not the filing itself. If a court or the DMV has told you a filing is required, the mechanics of quoting change in four specific ways, and knowing them in advance turns a stressful errand into an ordinary one.
1. Not every carrier will do it
A filing is a document the insurer submits to the DMV on your behalf, so it is only available from carriers that offer it. That narrows the field before price is even discussed, which is the main reason people find this harder than an ordinary quote. An agent with several appointments is looking for the intersection of two things — carriers that will write your record, and carriers that will file.
2. The DMV record does more work
Ordinary quotes verify the record. Here the record is the reason for the conversation, so bring it: your license number, the DMV or court paperwork stating the requirement, and the dates. If you have a printed record from the DMV, that is the fastest possible start.
3. Timing is tied to a date that is not yours
Filings connect to a reinstatement date or a court deadline. That deadline drives everything, and it is the first thing to say out loud. It is also why this is not the sort of quote to leave until Friday afternoon.
4. Do not cancel anything
The single most damaging move is letting the existing policy lapse while shopping. A lapse on a policy carrying a filing can be reported and can restart a clock you have been counting down. If you already have coverage with a filing on it, keep it in force until the replacement is bound and the new filing is confirmed as accepted.
What to have ready
- Driver's license number and date of birth for everyone in the household.
- The DMV or court document that states the requirement and the dates.
- Vehicle VIN and garaging address.
- Details of your current policy, if any, including whether it already carries a filing.
The honest expectation
Expect it to take longer than an ordinary quote and expect fewer options. Expect the filing itself to be handled by the carrier rather than by you. And expect the requirement to end eventually — it runs for a set period, and the date it ends is a date worth knowing precisely.
Tell us the deadline first and we'll work the placement backwards from it.
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Get My Free QuoteMore of what callers ask
Can I get a quote before I know exactly what is required?
You can start one, but the placement depends on the specific requirement and dates. Get the DMV or court paperwork in hand — it is the document that determines which carriers can help.
Does the filing itself cost extra?
Carriers commonly charge a fee for making the filing, and the amount is set by the carrier. Ask for it as a separate line rather than as part of a total.
Will every agent handle this?
No. It depends on which carriers an agent is appointed with and whether those carriers file. Ask that question at the start of the call rather than at the end.