The money is obvious. And of course having a vehicle to insure and a garage address is another. A complete application with signatures applies to all sources. Also, each company will have their own unique set of guidelines for what you’ll need. Lastly, legal requirements may change in different jurisdictions.

Payments to start a policy are made primarily by check or credit card. Many policyholders today use an electronic form of payment. For credit and debit cards you need the account number, expiration date and security code. For an electronic funds wire transfer, the bank routing and account numbers. In either case, the account holder, who is not always the policyholder, must provide the authorization.

Before a policy can start, the exact Vehicle Identification Number or VIN (17-digit alphanumeric) is needed. Providing the make and model year is insufficient. Each car has a unique VIN that identifies the features of that particular car. Air bags, anti-lock brakes, and other vehicle features are checked. CLUE (Claims Loss Underwriting Exchange) reports indicating vehicle history claims require the correct VIN.

Information not provided in the computer generated reports, such as MVR and CLUE, is required to complete the application and issue (start) a policy. Be prepared to provide the name and address of the employer (school) of all drivers. When making car payments, it is necessary to indicate the name and address of the bank or leasing company. The application will need to be signed and payment authorized.

Companies often require a variety of documentation to support the policy. Proof of prior insurance or school records for discounts is typical. Vehicle photographs or policyholder photo identification are less common. If there are different vehicles in the household covered by another insurance policy, you may be asked to provide proof. Not all jurisdictions have the same legal requirements. For example, 7 counties in Florida require mandatory vehicle inspections when starting a new policy that includes physical damage coverage.

Most, but not all, of the information needed for a policy is generated from reports of your name, address, driver’s license, and VIN numbers. It is imperative that the 17-digit VIN number you provide is correct. Complete information, payment details, specific requirements, and signatures are the things you need to set up an insurance policy.