1. 

   Comment by TJ G
   February 21, 2010 @ 2:30 am

   well it usually takes a couple of days, depending on the company. As soon as you get the fax of the temporary policy paper, you can drive the next day because you’re covered.

2. 

   Comment by just me
   February 21, 2010 @ 2:37 am

   Yes you can, all you have to do is print your temp insurance card.

3. 

   Comment by John D
   February 21, 2010 @ 2:40 am

   It doesn’t take long at all and you are insured as soon as you leave the office. They’ll give you a “binder” and the insurance is immediately in effect.

4. 

   Comment by Smugga offers Perspective
   February 21, 2010 @ 3:04 am

   here is australia, it is instantaneous, as soon as you call them up and give them the details of the car.

   no idea what happens on the wrong side of the pacific.

5. 

   Comment by Fred C
   February 21, 2010 @ 3:30 am

   It is totally dependent on the binding authority of the agent or broker. In the years I spent as a broker, every single auto policy I wrote was bound the instant I entered your payment. If you purchased the basic policy from one company, it was immediately bound, but if you chose to buy extra coverage from an alternate company instead of adding it to the basic, that normally took up to 3 days, but sometimes could be bound within the hour if it was early enough in the weekday to phone, then fax the underwriter.
   It can depend on your age, vehicle, and driving record how long it takes to get bound, but the basic policies I sold where validated while you stood at the counter, unless you had something like a suspension on record, or your vehicle had an improper, or non-existent safety inspection, or the legal owner, as appearing on the records, was not the same as the person who signed the bill of sale. We don’t have title documents in Canada, but we do have ownership documents that have to signed to transfer the vehicle.

6. 

   Comment by Michael S
   February 21, 2010 @ 4:21 am

   Can be arranged in minutes over telephone or on-line. Drive away legally in a few minutes!

7. 

   Comment by Insomniac
   February 21, 2010 @ 5:11 am

   here in the UK you can have immediate cover either online, over the counter in a shop, or over the phone.

8. 

   Comment by jason c
   February 21, 2010 @ 5:52 am

   Normally if you take out insurance over the phone and ask for the start date to start from the same day, you will have no problems driving the car.
   If you are pulled over by the police you will be given a 7 day producer, you will receive the cover note within a couple of days, so no problem.
   Ja.

9. 

   Comment by Lisa
   February 21, 2010 @ 6:21 am

   Most companies will put the insurance into effect that minute when you sign the papers. Ask the agent to be sure though.

10. 

    Comment by banana
    February 21, 2010 @ 6:42 am

    I don’t know where the other guys buy insurance from but about 30 years ago I got insured immediately after making a phone call, in the year of 2009 it takes a little bit longer as I have to fill in an online form, so let’s say it takes about 15 minutes.
    The bonus however is that by buying online I cut the middle man out and so it is way cheaper. Also, online you could buy insurance at 4am or on sunday. You do need a credit card.

11. 

    Comment by krend f
    February 21, 2010 @ 6:48 am

    carinsurance.enacre.net – try this one. I have their car insurance and, as I know, they can provide such a service.

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