Most states require that all registered vehicles carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage, so suspending your coverage may also mean dealing with the hassles of suspending or canceling your registration (and reinstating it when you return).

Whatever you do, don't stop paying your premiums. You may choose to cancel your policy, and then purchase a new policy when you return but know that a canceled insurance policy can show up on your credit report, and can make it extremely difficult (and expensive) for you to get auto insurance coverage in the future.

Typically, you have to weigh the costs of cancelling your coverage and starting it again versus cancelling your insurance and vehicle registration and then starting your insurance and vehicle registration again.