Everything You Need to Know About Temporary Car Insurance
Whether you’re renting a car for a road trip, borrowing a friend’s vehicle, or have recently purchased a new car and need insurance for just a short period of time, temporary car insurance can be an extremely valuable solution.
As the name suggests, temporary car insurance (also known as short-term car insurance) provides coverage for a specific vehicle for a limited period of time, from as little as one day to up to six months. It can often be cheaper than securing a full, annual auto insurance policy while offering the financial protection and peace of mind you need.
In this comprehensive guide to temporary car insurance, we’ll cover:
- What exactly temporary auto insurance covers
- The different types of temporary car insurance policies
- Top situations where temporary coverage makes sense
- How much temporary car insurance costs
- Tips for getting the best rates on short-term policies
- Alternatives to consider beyond temporary insurance
By the end, you’ll have a thorough understanding of when and why electing for temporary car insurance coverage may be advantageous compared to longer-term options. We’ll also clarify the limitations of temporary policies so you know exactly what type of protection you’re getting.
What Does Temporary Auto Insurance Cover?
At its core, a temporary car insurance policy provides the same basic coverages as a standard, longer-term auto insurance policy. Core coverages included are:
Bodily Injury Liability: Covers medical expenses if you injure someone in an accident.
Property Damage Liability: Pays for repairs if you damage someone else’s vehicle or property.
Collision: Coverage for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object.
Comprehensive: Covers losses from events like theft, vandalism, fallen objects, animal strikes, fire, and weather events.
Most short-term auto insurance policies offer the flexibility to customize coverage levels as well, such as upping property damage liability limits or adding optional coverages like:
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
- Rental Car Coverage
- Towing & Labor Costs
- Loan/Lease Payoff
Just like traditional auto insurance, most states require carrying at least minimum levels of liability insurance when operating any vehicle, even temporarily. So a short-term policy ensures you remain legal while protecting your finances in the event of an accident.
The key distinction of temporary car insurance is that all coverages only apply for the short, defined period of time the policy was purchased for – whether that’s a single day or up to 6 months. Once that period expires, you’ll need to secure new coverage if you’ll still be driving.
Types of Temporary Auto Insurance Policies
Non-Owner Car Insurance: As the name implies, non-owner car insurance provides liability coverage if you don’t actually own the vehicle you need to insure. It covers you as the driver in case of accidents/incidents, but not the vehicle itself (hence no collision/comprehensive coverage).
Non-owner policies are commonly used for situations like:
- Renting a car and needing basic liability insurance
- Borrowing a friend or family member’s car for a period of time
- Driving for a rideshare/delivery company using your own personal vehicle
The advantage of non-owner insurance is the lower premiums since no physical automotive coverage is required. The downside is you have no coverage if the rental or borrowed car gets damaged or stolen.
Short-Term Automobile Insurance: The more robust option for full coverage on a temporary basis is short-term car insurance. As the owner of the vehicle, this policy will provide liability, collision, comprehensive, and optional coverages just like a standard auto insurance policy – but only for a short period of time you select.
Short-term auto insurance policies are commonly used when:
- You recently purchased a new vehicle and need insurance before your regular policy kicks in
- You’ll be driving a vehicle you don’t normally have insured for a few days/weeks
- You’re self-employed or a gig worker who occasionally rents or borrows vehicles
Short-term car insurance offers comprehensive protection, but it does come at a higher price point due to the added risk of having to cover a vehicle’s damages as well.
Top Situations for Temporary Car Insurance
The flexible and affordable nature of temporary car insurance makes it ideally suited for a number of specific situations, including:
Renting/Borrowing a Car: Rather than paying expensive rental agency insurance fees or acquiring full traditional coverage on a borrowed vehicle, temporary insurance can be a better option.
You only pay for coverage during the specific period you’ll be driving the rental/borrowed car. There’s no need to update your existing policy or secure an entirely new long-term one.
New Car Purchase Gaps: If you’ve just purchased a new car, your traditional auto insurance policy isn’t likely to take effect and provide coverage for 7-14 days. Temporary insurance can cover that gap period so you’re legal and protected for any incidents right after purchase.
New Driver Practice: Once your teenager obtains their permit and begins driving practice, insurers usually require them to be immediately added to existing policies, which raises rates. Temporary coverage for the permit phase can be more affordable.
Car Shipping Needs: Those transporting a vehicle long distances often need coverage just for the days-long haul itself. Short-term insurance meets that requirement without the ongoing cost of an annual policy.
Work/Business Use: Contractors, gig workers, or sole proprietors in home services like plumbers, landscapers or movers often need temporary commercial coverage when using a personal vehicle for business purposes.
Trying Out a New Car: Want to test drive or check out a possible new vehicle purchase over a week or two? Temporary insurance provides the coverage you need to properly evaluate it before buying.
Out-of-Town Trips/Vacations: If you’re taking an extended road trip or vacation in a rental car from a different state than your permanent residence, temporary insurance can be much more cost effective than updating your regular auto policy.
As you can see, the flexibility of short-term car insurance makes it an appealing solution for many temporary vehicle situations, especially when existing auto coverage isn’t an option or would cost more to modify.
The Cost of Temporary Car Insurance
One of the biggest advantages of temporary car insurance is that it tends to cost substantially less than a standard annual or semi-annual auto insurance policy. How much less really depends on the precise details and duration of coverage you need.
Non-Owner Liability Policies: Since non-owner insurance only provides basic liability coverage and no physical car damage coverages, it’s usually extremely affordable. Costs rarely exceed $20-$30 per month or $100-$200 for a typical 6-month term.
Insurance Information Institute estimates non-owner liability averages just $259 annually for minimum coverage levels or about $21 per month. Just keep in mind this won’t pay for damage to the actual vehicle you’re driving.
Short-Term Auto Insurance Policies: Since comprehensive, collision and other physical coverages are included, short-term car insurance tends to be pricier than non-owner policies – but still more affordable than traditional auto insurance rates, especially for very short durations.
Short-term policies are commonly offered in the following increments.
- 1 to 7 days
- Monthly (max 30 days)
- 3-Month policy
- 6-Month policy
For a basic month of coverage, short-term policy costs are generally in the $100 – $300 range. For just 1-2 weeks of temporary insurance, you may pay anywhere from $50 – $150 or more.
As an example, a 6-month short-term policy for a single driver with liability coverage plus comprehensive/collision could cost around $500 -$1,000 or possibly more depending on coverage limits, deductible amounts, and the insurer.
To put those rates in context, that same 6-month auto insurance policy for more long-term coverage usually runs at least $600 – $1,000+ when bundled across 12 months or more. So short-term coverage is cheaper for the same duration.
However, the shorter the temporary insurance period needed, the more affordable those rates become compared to annual policies. That’s where biting the bullet on a conventional 6-12 month policy doesn’t make sense if you only need coverage for a few weeks.
Tips for Getting the Best Temporary Car Insurance Rates
Since most people seek out temporary car insurance to save money compared to lengthier policies, getting the lowest possible rates is a top priority. Here are some tips to keep those short-term premiums as affordable as possible:
Compare Quotes from Multiple Insurers : Just like standard auto insurance, costs for temporary policies can vary significantly between different insurance providers. Get quotes from at least 3-5 companies.
Choose Higher Deductibles: While temporary policies may have lower overall coverage limits, choosing higher deductibles for collision and comprehensive coverage (e.g. $1,000 instead of $500) can mean lower premiums.
Review Minimum Legal Coverage Requirements: Make sure to compare rates for just the minimum liability limits mandated in your state. Higher limits mean higher premiums.
Conclusion
While traditional auto insurance policies are designed to provide long-term coverage, temporary car insurance fills an important niche for those with short-term vehicle needs. Its flexibility and lower costs make it an extremely valuable solution in a variety of situations.
From renting a car for a road trip to covering a new car purchase gap, to needing temporary commercial coverage for business use of a personal vehicle – the reasons for electing short-term insurance are plenty.
Non-owner liability policies offer ultra-affordable coverage if you simply need basic insurance to drive someone else’s car or rental legally. Meanwhile, more robust short-term auto insurance bundles provide comprehensive collision and coverage if you need to fully insure a vehicle short-term.
No matter which type of temporary car insurance policy you select, the cost savings over modifying an existing annual policy or securing entirely new long-term coverage can be substantial. For coverage spanning just days or weeks, short-term insurance premiums are a bargain compared to locking into 6-12 month policy terms.
Of course, temporary auto insurance isn’t a perfect substitute for conventional auto coverage if you’ll be driving the same vehicle long-term. There are some limitations and restrictions with short-term policies that make them unsuitable for those types of situations.
But for the many temporary scenarios where cost-effective auto coverage is needed for limited periods, short-term car insurance is tough to beat from a value and flexibility standpoint.
By familiarizing yourself with the different policy types, coverage options, typical costs, and money-saving strategies for buying temporary insurance, you can make the most informed decision possible.
Whether it’s getting behind the wheel of a rental car hassle-free, testing out a possible new vehicle purchase, or filling an insurance gap – don’t let temporary driving needs create exposure. Explore short-term auto insurance solutions and enjoy the convenience and affordability they provide during life’s transitions and changes.
Sophia
