Is it possible to get temporary car insurance?
In general, major insurance companies will not issue a temporary auto insurance policy. Most companies require a policy term of at least six months and sometimes even a year. You may come across insurance companies advertising short-term coverage, but be warned: these companies may fall short on coverage and customer service.
If you want a car insurance policy for less than six months, you would need to cancel your standard auto insurance policy mid-term. This is not recommended, as it comes with its own consequences, including an early termination fee in many cases. However, there are ways to obtain temporary insurance coverage outside of the typical six- or 12-month policy period structure.
Read on to learn whether these options might work for you.
Your best bet for short term insurance by scenario
Like with many aspects of car insurance, the best way for you to attain temporary auto insurance depends upon the nuances of your individual circumstances. Check out the below table to find what will be your best bet for short term car insurance for your particular situation.
| Scenario | Short-term insurance solution |
|---|---|
| You don't drive your car very often | Usage-based car insurance |
| Storage coverage | |
| You have a student away from home | Reduce coverage |
| Student away from home discount | |
| You occasionally borrow a car (babysitting, moving, carpooling, etc) | Ensure the owner’s insurance allows permissive use |
| You occasionally use a rental car | Take advantage of the rental company’s insurance offerings |
| You frequently use or borrow a car you don't own | Non-owners car insurance |
| Have yourself added to their policy | |
| You’re a foreign driver visiting the U.S. for a short time | Take advantage of the rental company’s insurance offerings |
| Cancel a regular policy before term end | |
| More information about insurance for foreign drivers |
Safe and legal ways to get car insurance for a short time
Though temporary car insurance is not something insurance companies offer, there are a few ways to get affordable coverage.
Usage-based car insurance
Usage-based auto insurance premiums are priced based on your driving behavior. While these car insurance policies are offered in standard six-month increments, usage-based insurance could be a great alternative to a standard auto policy, especially if you drive infrequently. Those who are safe and infrequent drivers can get a considerable discount from having such a policy.
Along with popular usage-based insurance companies such as Root, Noblr and Metromile, some top car insurance companies offer telematics insurance policies.
| Telematics program | Estimated savings |
|---|---|
| Progressive Snapshot | Average of $130 |
| Allstate Drivewise | Average of 10-25% |
| State Farm Drive Safe & Save | Up to 15% |
| Esurance DriveSense | Varies |
| Nationwide SmartRide | Up to 40% |
| Liberty Mutual RightTrack | Average of 5-30% |
| GEICO DriveEasy | Varies |
Non-owner car insurance
One way to maintain car insurance affordably is to look into a non-owner car insurance policy. Non-owner auto insurance allows you to have continuous coverage without having to own a vehicle. Because dropping coverage can lead to higher rates once you need insurance again, non-owner policies can be a better option than going without insurance. Most insurers offer non-owner car insurance quotes.
Non-owner policies are a good option for drivers with an SR-22, allowing them to meet legal requirements even without owning a car.
Take advantage of your permissive users clause
Borrowing a friend's or family member's vehicle for a short period of time is a low-risk way to drive without purchasing a long-term auto insurance policy, as long as you confirm their existing policy allows permissive drivers.
If your acquaintance's policy covers you, be careful: a collision or incident can lead to higher rates for them in the future, even if insurance covers the immediate damages. If the borrowed car belongs to an immediate family member with an existing policy, you should be covered so long you are a named driver on their policy.
What is permissive use?
Permissive use auto insurance allows infrequent use of a vehicle — fewer than 12 times per year — by a driver who does not live at the same address as the policyholder. This is a feature of many standard car insurance policies with larger companies, but always double check your policies permissive use standards.
Reduce coverage
If you want to retain insurance coverage for a young driver who spends long periods of the year away at college without breaking the bank, reducing your coverage when a driver is not using your vehicle might be worth looking in to. Your child can stay on your insurance, but you can see significant savings.
Add a driver temporarily to your policy
If you have an existing policy and want to insure a driver for just a short period of time, consider adding that person as a driver on your policy and then removing them when they are no longer operating the vehicle. This option is dependent on the cost of this driver, the amount of time needed to be covered, and the risk they pose as a driver operating your vehicle, so it's important to take these factors into consideration when choosing this method. If you're adding a driver to a policy that already exists, check out our list of documents that are important to have on hand.
Zebra tip: Use the "student away from home" discount
Students not driving while at school and their families should talk to their insurance companies about “student away from home” discounts if they are only driving on breaks. In most cases, your student will have to be attending college more than 100 miles away and only occasionally drive your vehicles to be eligible. Further eligibility factors may vary by company.
Other ways to obtain temporary car insurance
This option works best for cars that aren’t actively being driven but still require some level of protection. Car storage insurance or “parked car insurance” is oftentimes a much better solution than canceling your policy altogether. This method can significantly lower your rates while still protecting your vehicle while it’s not in use.
Find affordable insurance today — compare quotes online for free.
The downsides of short-term auto insurance policies
Drivers are legally required to carry auto insurance in almost every U.S. state, and the short-term coverage options listed above do not always offer the appropriate protection. When you run the risk of getting into an accident without proper protection, you are likely to pay for damages out of pocket. Read on to learn more about the shortfalls of short-term car insurance.
Most insurance companies do not sell temporary car insurance
Most insurance companies offer two policy term lengths: six months and 12 months. An insurance company wants to keep its clients for as long as possible. Drivers who only want to carry insurance for a short period of time aren't likely to renew, making them less-than-ideal customers. The premium an insurance company collects from an extremely short-term car insurance policy isn't worth the insurer's administrative costs.
For more information on common car insurance policy term lengths, see our article discussing annual vs. six-month car insurance policies.
You could lose your down payment with a temporary insurance policy duration
You can’t use the coverage immediately if you opt for short-term insurance coverage
Most companies have a grace period rule for car insurance coverage. Many insurance companies limit the use of collision and comprehensive coverage within 30 days of a policy's inception. If you only want an insurance policy for two weeks, you could be ineligible for certain coverage options during this window.
Insurance is a legal requirement in most states
If you’re leasing or financing a vehicle, your lender will usually require you to carry state-minimum coverage, as well as comprehensive and collision — and certainly not in a short-term capacity. If your lender discovers you’re driving without insurance, you may risk getting your vehicle repossessed.
Temporary car insurance will leave gaps in your coverage
| Months with previous insurance company | Average six-month premium |
|---|---|
| 0 | $876 |
| 6 | $813 |
| 12 | $803 |
| 36 | $781 |
| 60 | $766 |
You won't have coverage in the event of a collision
If your solution for temporary insurance has run past its deadline and you have not ensured a more permanent form of coverage, you are at risk of driving unprotected. If you're found at fault in a collision but you don't have insurance, you may be ticketed, have your driver's license suspended, and potentially be sued for the property or bodily injury damages you cause. If you’re the victim of a hit-and-run accident, you won’t have any coverage. Any property damage to your vehicle would be paid out-of-pocket.
Temporary car insurance FAQs
Protect your car with the right coverage at the best value.
Related content
- 12-Month Car Insurance: Pros and Cons
- 6-Month vs. Annual Car Insurance: Which is Better?
- Can You Share Car Insurance?
- Car Insurance with Kids
- Car Insurance with Telematics
- GEICO vs. Costco Car Insurance
- Same-Day Car Insurance
- State Farm vs. Costco Car Insurance
- The Consequences of Driving Without Insurance
- What is Pleasure Use Car Insurance?
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.