Cheap Same-Day Car Insurance
- Buy car insurance online from GEICO, Progressive, Liberty Mutual and more. Instantly and for free.
- No sales pitch. No phone number. No junk mail.
How to get cheap auto insurance online
Most could be described as “same day," "instant" or "free." You can shop around for online and buy it when you're at the dealership — all in one day and free of charge.
What can take time is finding auto insurance within your budget right when you need it. That's where The Zebra comes in. Our online app only requires one quick form to see your options from big and little companies across the US. You can sort by price or by coverage level to find the right car insurance for you. Instantly and for free.
- The easiest way to get same-day car insurance is to purchase a policy online
- Shopping for cheap insurance online is perfectly safe and reliable
- Almost every major carrier offers online quotes
- Our data indicates Travelers, USAA and Nationwide are the cheapest online insurance providers
Average rates from top online car insurance providers
For those looking for the best auto insurance rates online, take a look at the average premiums from auto insurers offering same-day car insurance in the U.S.
| Company | Avg. Annual Premium | Avg. Monthly Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $1,342 | $112 |
| USAA | $1,365 | $114 |
| Nationwide | $1,476 | $123 |
| GEICO | $1,542 | $129 |
| American Family | $1,568 | $131 |
| State Farm | $1,569 | $131 |
| Farmers | $1,786 | $149 |
| Progressive | $1,882 | $157 |
| Allstate | $2,413 | $201 |
Dynamic auto insurance data methodology
Methodology: The auto insurance rates displayed above and throughout this page are dynamic, meaning the data will refresh when the most recent information is made available. Rates are based on a sample driver profile — a 30-year-old single male driver with a Honda Accord and full coverage. This profile was adjusted based on common pricing factors used by major car insurance companies, like age, coverage level, driving record and others.
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Is it safe to buy online?
Yes! Most insurance shoppers tend to buy their coverage over the phone or online. While you should always exercise caution with online purchases, it is generally safe and convenient to buy your car insurance online.
If you need car insurance immediately but also for the cheapest price, your best bet is to use comparison sites like The Zebra. We partner with big and little insurance companies across the US to instantly provide customers with options based on coverage, price and company.
Learn more about how insurance comparison websites like The Zebra work.
The Zebra is an insurance comparison site, not a lead generator or an insurance company. You won’t receive spam from either us or are partners when you use our tool.
You can trust us to handle your personal information securely. We never sell your information – our bottom line is to keep your insured. See our Privacy Policy for more information.
Rather than jump from site to site in order to find the best deal, we’ve streamlined the research process. With us, you fill out one quote to see multiple options at the same time.Â
Not only do we work with most of the biggest names in the insurance industry, but we also partner with regional and non-standard providers to help get you insured today.
No pressure or sales pitch here. You can save your quote and return when you're ready to buy.Â
If you need more assistance, we are always here to help! Call 1-888-244-4364 if you would like more guidance at any stage of your insurance shopping experience.
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How long does it take to get auto online?
Once you're ready to start looking at car , it can be a fairly quick process.
If you're getting a new quote from a , you should be able to get a in less than an hour. Because you are starting an entirely new policy, you are required to make a down payment in order for your policy to be considered active.
If you have an established policy, it should only take a few minutes to get an online — either online or with the help of an experienced agent. Be sure to have all the necessary information on hand to streamline this process. If you've been with the same for a while, it can still be a great idea to shop around to check for a . You can also inquire about any you might be eligible for, especially if you've moved, changed careers or added more vehicles to the household, which could help lower your .
Should I get before I buy a car?
It depends. If you buy or finance your vehicle through a dealership, a full may be required in order to drive the vehicle off the lot. It's good to check on this before you start looking for to accurately compare the .
Buying or financing a car through a dealership often requires full coverage car insurance to be bought in advance. It’s a good idea to check with the dealership to see what coverage they require before you begin to compare quotes. In fact, any time a lienholder is involved, you will likely need a policy in place before you can drive off.
Private dealers may not require you to immediately add insurance. In these situations, you may have a small time allowance to add the car to your current policy. Some policies have a grace period for extensions for newly acquired vehicles, meaning, the highest level of you have on your current vehicle(s) can be extended for a short period of time.
As you will be required to carry a certain amount of coverage in most states, it's a good idea to start the insurance-shopping process early if you know what kind of car you are going to be buying. Remember that the underwriting process isn't instant, so getting the process started early can help speed things along. As soon as the sale has gone through you will want to contact your insurer to get your policy bound.Â
What information is needed to get online car insurance quotes?
Of course, there is not a set-in-stone list of information needed to receive a car insurance quote. However, most insurers will require roughly the same types of information to get the process started. If you're at a dealership and need car insurance immediately to drive off the lot, you might be able to simplify the process by having your information ready beforehand (especially if you have multiple drivers).
To get an accurate insurance quote as quickly as possible, you need to have the following information available.
- Driver's license number, date of birth, address, living situation, marital status, and other information for any driver on the policy.
- The vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle for which you're getting a quote. Every vehicle, regardless of whether it’s from a private seller or still at a dealership, has a VIN. This number is unique to every vehicle, tracking its history. If you can’t provide a VIN, be sure you can provide the year, make, and model. Most insurance companies will not issue a policy from a quote without a VIN.
- Mileage on the car.
- Date of purchase of the vehicle.
- Name of the registered owner.
- Recent driving history of any motorist(s) listed on the policy, including accidents, citations, claims or completed driving courses.
- Details on your car insurance coverage background — some companies require at least six months of continuous coverage prior to issuing a policy.
Reasons why you may not be able to get immediately
When drivers get quotes, companies use the information submitted to generate pricing. The biggest reasons you may not be able to get same-day are if some of this crucial information is missing, or if circumstances require that to assess whether it can provide for you. Some examples that could prevent you from getting same-day include:
- Not having a permanent address: companies use your location as a factor in your quote, so may not sell you a policy if the can't verify your address.
- Having too many accidents or citations on your record: This is a sign of liability to companies, meaning you could be too risky of a client. It could be more difficult to find depending on the state of your driving history, but some companies will offer you a policy - it just might require more research. Learn more about how to find as a high-risk .
- You drive a unique, rare or classic car: If you drive a vehicle that isn't listed in a company's database, it could require more work to find a policy. Not all will sell you a policy for a rare or classic car; you may need to get quotes from insurers that specialize in classic cars, like Hagerty.
- : Your is one of many factors that are evaluated when getting quotes for . Depending on your score and the information available, this could lead to a delay if an needs more information.
If you can't get a online, we recommend calling the and getting personalized help from one of the company's representatives.
The risks of "one-day" auto insurance
Technically, all car insurance is "one-day" car insurance, as you can activate your policy and terminate it at any point. Remember that any policy will require an underwriting period, meaning it won't technically be "instant." Also worth remembering is that being covered by an insurer for only a single day can land you in trouble for several reasons.
Instant quotes: what to consider
Instant car insurance quotes are easy to obtain. However, remember that the underwriting process for putting your new policy in place will take longer. Most major should be able to provide same-day . If you're looking for in order to legally drive your new vehicle off the lot of the dealership, make sure you have all the information ready to make the process as painless as possible.
If you opt to forgo — or only purchase it temporarily before dropping — you risk being caught driving without  consequences you will face will be much more costly than an elevated . Enter your ZIP code below to see cheap from national and local providers.
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Affordable same-day auto insurance: FAQs
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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.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.