Have you ever noticed how when it comes to getting around, nothing seems to be easy? No packing the boxes, no relocating the furniture, and definitely not the massive amount of paperwork that always goes along with taking up residence elsewhere. That includes moving your car insurance. The good news is that making your auto insurance changes online instead of at home can save you a week or more of time and help ease some of the sting of trying to set up shop in a new city.

If you are going to stay in the state

If you are going to stay in the state, there is not much to do to change your auto insurance policy. Since the state requirements will remain the same, you should not have to make any changes to your policy. All you have to do is pick up the phone and let your insurance agent know you’ve moved to make sure the bills go to the right place and your insurance company knows where your car will be stored (which is just another fantasy called parked and actually has absolutely nothing to do with a real garage).

The process of changing your information with the DMV is easy if you are staying in the state as well, as all you have to do is take your title and fill out a small piece of paper. However, if you’re jumping state lines, the story gets a bit more complicated.

If you’re going out of state…

Have you tried to move your license and plates across state lines recently? It’s a nightmare. Seriously. It sounds like it would be easier to start getting your fingerprints and DNA on file than to provide them with all the documentation they need to make an official change of address for your license and registration.

Part of moving your registration to a new state includes providing proof of insurance to the DMV along with your title and proof of inspection, but insurance and inspection from the state you just moved from. You have to have a shiny new inspection sticker and an insurance policy for the state you currently call home. (Some states will give you up to 2 weeks to get a new inspection sticker after you get your new plates, so it pays to call ahead before you start scheduling appointments.) It makes sense: each state has its own policies when it comes to inspection and minimum insurance requirements, but that doesn’t make the process any easier for you.

That’s where buying car insurance online comes in. If you change your insurance policy over the phone, you’ll have to wait until you receive your new policy in the mail, which can take weeks, to present proof of insurance to the DMV. When you change your insurance policy online, you can have that proof in your hands in minutes, no questions asked.

Moving your auto insurance can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be. Put today’s technology to good use and you’ll be surprised to find out exactly how easy it can be to change your auto insurance coverage.