How to Buy Car Insurance Online With a Checking Account (2024)

Car insurance is mandatory in most states, though required minimums vary. But if you don’t have access to a credit card or even a checking account, it can be challenging to pay your premiums. Fortunately, you can still purchase auto insurance if you don’t have a credit card or checking account. 

“You can pay for car insurance with cash, money orders, or prepaid debit cards,” says Jesse Cunningham, licensed agent and owner of Bauple, an independent insurance brokerage in Maryland. “None of these payment methods require a bank account.”

Some companies even accept payments through PayPal or Apple Pay. It’s important to learn what your options are so you can ensure your coverage doesn’t lapse from non-payment.

How to pay for car insurance without a credit card

Most insurance companies accept multiple forms of payment, and you don’t need a credit card to pay for auto insurance. If you have access to a checking account, you can pay your insurance premiums in various ways.

“Most insurance companies will accept alternative forms of payment,” Cunningham says. He recommends speaking with an independent agent if you’re concerned about paying for car insurance without a credit card.

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Check (paper, electronic, or cashier’s)

Writing a check isn’t as common as it used to be, but it’s a safe and convenient way of paying for your car insurance. A check is a document promising someone they’ll receive payment from you.

You can mail a paper check, send an electronic check through your online banking software, or have your bank issue you a cashier’s check. Just make sure to mail your check early to avoid any late payments.

Editor’s Experience

Evelyn Pimplaskar

Editor-in-Chief, Director of Content, Insurify

I use my bank’s online banking system to pay all my bills, including my car insurance premiums. It’s safer and faster than mailing a check, and it’s easy. I can even get reminder texts from my bank when a bill’s coming due, so I never miss paying my premium and risking a lapse in coverage.

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Debit card

When you open a checking account at a bank or credit union, you’ll typically receive a free debit card. A debit card looks like a credit card, but when you swipe it or enter its information for payment, the funds are directly deducted from your checking account.^[1] On the other hand, credit cards offer a revolving line of credit that users pay back after they spend with the card.

If you choose to pay with a debit card, your insurance company can keep your card number on file and automatically charge you each month. That way, you don’t have to worry about missing a payment or lapses in coverage.

Electronic funds transfers

An electronic funds transfer (EFT) lets your insurance company receive the money electronically instead of you writing a paper check.^[2] When you sign up for car insurance, you’ll give your insurance company your checking account and routing numbers. Then, the insurance company deducts the funds from your account each month when your payment is due.

EFT is one of the safest forms of payment, and by setting up auto pay you’ll never have to worry about your policy lapsing or canceling due to non-payment. Some insurance companies even offer discounts for setting up auto pay.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay allows you to store your card information in a mobile wallet on your phone.^[3]

Currently, a few car insurance companies accept Apple Pay for premium payments — only State Farm, GEICO, and USAA accept Apple Pay through their mobile apps. Many companies give drivers the option to add their insurance cards to their Apple Wallet so you always have them on hand.

PayPal or other mobile payment services

PayPal is a payment platform you can access via a website or mobile app. It allows you to send and receive payments through online money transfers. Most car insurance companies don’t accept PayPal, but some do — for example, Progressive accepts this form of payment.

Prepaid cards

A prepaid card isn’t linked to a bank account. Instead, you load money onto a card and can only spend up to that amount until you reload it. Many prepaid debit cards come with reload or monthly maintenance fees, so it’s an expensive way to store your money. Furthermore, if the prepaid card is lost or stolen, there’s usually no avenue to recover the funds. But if you can’t get a traditional bank account, a prepaid card can provide a stopgap for paying for car insurance.

You can also purchase prepaid Mastercard or Visa cards and use them in place of a debit or credit card. Most insurance companies will let you pay for your car insurance with a prepaid card.

Money orders

Progressive, State Farm, and Travelers are a few companies that accept money orders as a form of payment. People can buy money orders to pay a business or another person as an alternative to a check.

You can purchase a money order at a bank, credit union, or most U.S. Post Office locations. Money orders are also typically available at places like Walmart, most major grocery stores, and even gas stations.

Money orders are a good option for people without access to a standard checking account since they’re safer than cash. But you may pay a fee each time you purchase one.

In-person cash payments

Some insurance companies still accept cash payments at their local offices. You’ll have to check with your insurance company to see if it accepts cash as a payment option. If your insurance company doesn’t take cash, you could purchase a money order or use a prepaid card instead.

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Do all car insurance companies accept checks?

Most major car insurance companies accept various payment methods, including checks. For instance, popular insurers like Progressive, State Farm, GEICO, and Allstate accept check payments.

Companies that do accept checks usually accept paper, electronic, and cashier’s checks. Most will let you mail in a paper check or cashier’s check with the payment stub.

You also may be able to log into the insurance company’s website or mobile app and enter your checking and routing numbers to send an electronic check. The advantage of setting up auto pay with an electronic check is that you don’t have to worry about potential late payments.

How your credit score affects car insurance rates

Insurance companies consider your credit information to determine how much your car insurance policy will cost, depending on the state. Your insurance-based credit score is a rating that uses elements of your credit score to determine how likely you are to file an insurance claim.^[4]

“Car insurance companies do a soft pull on credit as a part of their process to determine risk,” explains Cunningham. “Car insurance companies use data from credit scores to determine how likely a potential customer is to file a claim. There’s a correlation between lower credit scores and filing more car insurance claims.”

California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah prohibit or limit insurance companies’ use of credit information in determining your insurance rates.^[6] But unless you live in one of those states, your credit history will influence your insurance premiums.

You still can find cheap car insurance, even with bad credit. Raising your deductible and eliminating any unnecessary coverage will lower the cost. It’s also a good idea to receive quotes from multiple insurance companies.

The following table outlines what you might pay on average based on your credit rating. The better your credit rating, the lower your insurance premiums will be.

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Buying car insurance without a credit card FAQs