A Renewal-Season Quoting Timeline, Week by Week
Renewal is the one moment every year when switching costs nothing in timing terms: there is no unearned premium to recover and no mid-term change to unwind. It is also the moment most people let pass, because the renewal arrives, looks roughly fine, and gets paid. A simple calendar fixes that.
The timeline
| When | What to do | Why then |
|---|---|---|
| Six weeks out | Find the declarations page; note the exact expiration date and time; list anything that changed this year | Changes in drivers, cars, address or mileage are what move a price |
| Four to five weeks out | Request quotes at your current coverage | Close enough for a start date companies will quote, early enough to ask questions |
| By 20 days out | Your renewal offer should have arrived; set it beside the quotes | The legal deadline for the renewal offer |
| Two weeks out | Decide, and ask any remaining questions in writing | Leaves room for verification before the start date |
| One week out | Bind the replacement, or confirm you are renewing | No last-day rush, no gap |
| Renewal day | Check the new ID cards and declarations page | Catch a wrong driver, car or deductible early |
What the law says about the renewal offer
Under Insurance Code 663, your insurer must deliver either an offer to renew at least 20 days before the policy expires, or a written notice of nonrenewal at least 30 days before. If it gives neither, the existing policy stays in effect for 30 days from when the offer or notice is delivered or mailed. So a renewal offer that has not arrived three weeks out is worth a call.
What to re-check before you quote
- Mileage. The mileage factor is your estimate for the next 12 months, and the company may ask for information supporting it, such as a current odometer reading (10 CCR 2632.5). A new job, a move or remote work changes the answer.
- Drivers. Anyone newly licensed in the household, or anyone who has moved out.
- Cars. A car sold, added or now rarely used.
- Address. Where each car is kept overnight now, not last year.
- Coverage. Whether the limits and deductibles still suit you. Decide this separately from the company choice, so you can tell which change saved money.
Why not start earlier?
A quote has a shelf life that varies by insurance company, and a start date months away may be rated on a plan that changes before then. Your own details can also move in the meantime: a ticket, a new car or a new driver would make an early quote stale before you could use it. Starting much earlier than six weeks usually means quoting twice. Starting later than three weeks means comparing in a hurry.
If you switch
- Bind the new policy with an effective date and time equal to the old expiration.
- Tell the old company in writing that you are not renewing, rather than simply not paying.
- Send any lienholder the new declarations page.
- Keep the old declarations page; it is your record of continuous coverage.
If you stay
Staying is a perfectly good result when the renewal holds up against matched quotes. Put next year's six-week date in your calendar now, so the check happens on time rather than when a price surprises you. To start this year's comparison, send your declarations page through our quote form with your renewal date.
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Can I start quoting too early?
Somewhat. Quotes expire on company-set timelines, and some companies will not quote or bind far ahead of the start date. Four to six weeks before renewal avoids quoting twice.
What if my renewal offer has not arrived?
Under Insurance Code 663 the insurer must deliver the renewal offer at least 20 days before expiry; if neither an offer nor a nonrenewal notice is given, the existing policy continues for 30 days from when one is delivered or mailed. Call the company.
Do I need to tell my insurer if I am not renewing?
Yes, tell it in writing. It avoids renewal billing and leaves a clear record that the policy ended on the date you chose.
Is renewal the best time to switch?
It is the cleanest time, because there is no mid-term refund to calculate. But you can switch whenever you find a better matched offer; just avoid any gap.