Weekend-Only Car Insurance: What to Know
Weekend-only car insurance provides coverage for vehicles used exclusively on weekends, reducing costs compared with full-time coverage.
Can you get car insurance for the weekend only?
Not exactly. Most insurers don’t allow you to start and cancel a policy after only a few days. That said, there are flexible options if you only drive occasionally.
Usage-based or pay-per-mile insurance lets you pay for how much you drive, while non-owners can explore coverage through car-sharing services.
With more people working from home and driving less, these short-term or low-mileage options can help you stay covered without overpaying.
Do insurance companies offer short-term coverage?
Most insurers only sell six or twelve-month policies. A few may offer shorter terms, but true weekend-only coverage is rare. For instance, Hallmark Insurance offers one-month policies, which could work if you need temporary car insurance (but be sure to check on this and verify any requirements or fine print).
The downside of insuring your car for the weekend only
Even if insurers offered weekend-only coverage, it would come with big risks. Canceling your policy between uses would create a gap in your insurance history, which could raise your future rates.
Another issue is state law. Almost every state requires continuous liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. If you only had insurance on weekends, you’d be breaking the law—and could even lose your vehicle registration. You’d also be unprotected if your car were damaged or caused harm while parked without coverage.
If your car is leased or financed, your lender probably requires full coverage, including comprehensive, collision, gap insurance, and uninsured motorist protection. A weekend-only plan wouldn’t meet those requirements.
Types of Car Insurance Coverage
Learn about common types of car insurance coverage and how you can use them to protect your vehicle and your liability.
Insuring a car for weekends only: what options do you have?
Despite the fact that weekend-only insurance doesn't truly exist, there are ways to save money on auto insurance if you limit your driving to weekends. Below, we'll discuss some options that could be of use.
If you’re a low-mileage, weekend-only, or infrequent driver, pay-as-you-go car insurance is worth considering. These usage-based policies, which rely on telematic devices to track mileage, can reduce your premiums significantly if you don't drive your car daily.
While the programs vary by company and depend on local availability, telematics use your mileage and driving behaviors as a way to price your premium. The more carefully and less frequently you drive, the cheaper your premium will be.
Telematic car insurance is available through these programs:
*The programs offered by Metromile, Nationwide SmartMiles, and Allstate Milewise are different in that they market themselves as true "pay-as-you-go" car insurance companies. You pay a base fee and an additional per-mile fee. Together, these fees make up your actual auto insurance policy premium.
Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber also provide solid transportation options for occasional trips.
Car-sharing companies like Zipcar and Turo usually offer optional insurance while you use their vehicles. This typically includes state-required coverages (like liability and personal injury protection), as well as damage coverage for the car itself.
If you damage a vehicle, you’ll likely owe a damage fee, though you can often buy a waiver to reduce or remove it. For instance, Zipcar lets you lower its standard $1,000 fee for an added cost.
If your personal auto insurance covers rental cars, you may not need the company’s protection plan—but check first. Declining coverage could leave you responsible for the full cost of any damage.
Car-sharing is a convenient, cost-effective option for people who don’t drive often, as long as you understand how the insurance works.
Zipcar
Zipcar provides insurance for members “who comply with the membership contract” of up to $25,000 for property damage and $300,000 for bodily damage (up to $100,000 per person). The company offers Zipcar members a few different damage protection plans that can lower the amount you have to pay if you are responsible for damage to your rental.
What happens if you crash a Zipcar vehicle?
Zipcar has a damage fee — usually around $1,000 — that applies when a user has an accident that causes damage to the vehicle. Similar to an insurance deductible, this includes damages resulting from collisions, floods, fallen trees or any other accidents. This does not, however, apply to normal wear and tear.
Turo
Unlike Zipcar, Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing service. People who don’t use their cars very often can rent them out. There are different protection plans offered through partner insurer, Liberty Mutual. The three tiers of coverage to their hosts — Minimum, Standard, or Premium. Hosts can also choose to decline coverage, which would designate them as a Commercial Host. In this case, they would then be required to provide their own commercial rental liability insurance to any guests that rent their vehicles.
What happens if you crash a Turo car?
Here’s their breakdown of what you’ll pay after an accident based on the package you choose:
- Premium Package – Nothing out of pocket (for liability or physical damages)
- Standard Package – $500
- Minimum Package – $500-$3,000
- No package – $500-$3,000 (ultimate assessed costs can be up to the full value of the car, plus related costs)
In all but the Premium Package, they’ll charge you $500 before the damage is assessed, but refund you the difference if the cost is less than that.
Weekend-only or short-term car insurance: considerations
While weekend-only car insurance isn’t an option, motorists still have access to affordable insurance or car-sharing services. If you only need a car on a very limited basis, signing up with Turo or getting a Zipcar membership might be good enough for you. Those who have their own car can cut costs by signing up for telematics insurance that may provide lower rates for infrequent drivers.
A tried and true method of finding cheaper insurance is to simply shop around. The Zebra can help by finding you a number of free insurance quotes so you can find the best policy at an affordable rate. Start by entering your ZIP below.
Find the right policy quickly and easily!
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
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