Does it have to have an insurance card before they let you take it?

Only reason I ask is because, when I get my car it will be after 5pm and thus, I can't get insurance till the next day. However, my insurance covers me for like 48 hours if I'm taking delivery of a new car... so do I just tell the dealer that?

Thanks all.

Yes you should be covered, with or without a card. Contact your insurance company for details.

In my area, at least, it's customary for the dealer to call your insurance agent and give them info about the car you're buying. If it's after the insurance agent's business hours, they'll usually call the next business day. Either way, almost all policies cover you for 48 hours or so (enough time to get the coverage transferred or added to your new vehicle).

I guess it depends on where you live. In Ontario, you must have plates in order to drive the car on the road. You can't get plates without insurance.

Usually once you have your vin and an expected delivery date you can call your agent and advise them ahead of time that you will be getting the car. They will add it to your policy before you pick up the car. Mine even faxed a copy of the policy number to the dealer to get the paperwork done. If you have to wait a day or so, you can call and change the delivery date so you don't pay for those days.

My agent at Nationwide said I would be automatically covered for 30 days. I want to go in and make some changes to my policies, so that gives me plenty of time.