Six-Month Car Insurance: Costs & Cheapest Providers (2026)

Key Takeaways

Six-month car insurance policies renew twice yearly with rates adjusting based on your current driving record and credit score.

Six-month terms let improving drivers see lower rates faster, while annual policies protect you from rate hikes for a full year.

Comparing quotes from multiple insurers helps you find rates well below the $747 full coverage and $363 minimum coverage national averages for a six-month policy.

What Is Six-Month Car Insurance?

Six-month car insurance is a standard auto policy that renews automatically twice yearly. Most major insurers, including GEICO, State Farm, Progressive and Allstate, use six-month terms as their default. Your insurer recalculates your premium at each renewal based on your current driving record, credit score and other rating factors. Coverage continues without interruption, and you don't need to reapply.

Annual policies lock in your rate for 12 months, while six-month terms let you capture rate decreases sooner when your profile improves. The policy term doesn't affect your rate calculation — the difference is how often rates adjust and how frequently you can shop for better rates.

Six-Month vs. 12-Month Car Insurance

The main difference between six-month and 12-month car insurance is how often your rates can be adjusted and when you need to renew. Here's how they compare:


Rate adjustments	Every 6 months	Once per year
When improvements lower rates	Next renewal (up to 6 months)	Next renewal (up to 12 months)
Protection after violations	Rate increases hit within 6 months	Rate locked for full year
Shopping frequency	Two opportunities per year to shop for better rates	Only one opportunity per year
Best for	Improving drivers, frequent shoppers, those expecting life changes	Drivers wanting rate stability, those with recent violations

Six-Month Car Insurance Rates

Full coverage six-month policies cost $747 on average, while minimum coverage averages $363. We analyzed rates from major insurers to find the cheapest options for both coverage levels.

Full Coverage Six-Month Insurance Costs

Travelers offers the cheapest six-month full coverage policy at $582, beating the national average of $747 by 22%. GEICO ranks second at $590, followed by National General at $670. Rates from the seven cheapest insurers all stay below $800.


Travelers	$582	-22%
Geico	$590	-21%
National General	$670	-10%
Amica	$691	-8%
State Farm	$724	-3%
Progressive	$752	1%
Nationwide	$763	2%

Minimum Coverage Six-Month Insurance Costs

GEICO charges an average of $261 for six-month minimum coverage, making it the cheapest option at $102 below the $363 national average. Travelers follows at $301, while rates from the seven cheapest insurers all stay below $375.


Geico	$261	-28%
Travelers	$301	-17%
National General	$303	-17%
State Farm	$308	-15%
Amica	$335	-8%
Chubb	$364	0%
Kemper	$372	3%

When Six-Month Car Insurance Makes Sense

Six-month policies work best when you expect your rates to drop soon. If you're improving your driving record, building credit or approaching an age threshold that typically lowers premiums, six-month terms let you capture those savings faster.

You Expect Rate Decreases Soon

Choose six-month coverage if a violation drops off your record within 6 to 12 months, you're turning 25 soon, or you're actively improving your credit score. Your rate improvements show up at renewal rather than waiting a full year. For example, if a speeding ticket falls off your record in eight months, you'll see lower rates at your next six-month renewal instead of waiting four more months with annual coverage.

You Prefer Shopping Frequently

Six-month terms give you two opportunities per year to compare quotes and switch insurers. You can take advantage of competitive rates and new customer discounts more often. This matters most in competitive insurance markets where companies regularly adjust their pricing.

Your Driving Record Is Improving

Drivers completing defensive driving courses, maintaining clean records after violations or building safe driving histories benefit from six-month renewals. Your improvements affect your premium within six months rather than waiting a full year. Teen drivers moving past their first year of experience also see rate decreases faster with six-month terms.

WHEN ANNUAL COVERAGE MAKES MORE SENSE

Annual policies work better if you recently had an at-fault accident or DUI or you simply prefer less frequent renewals and paperwork. The 12-month rate lock protects you from premium increases while your violation remains on your record.

Six-Month vs. 12-Month Car Insurance: Bottom Line

Six-month car insurance lets you capture rate decreases sooner when your profile improves, though annual policies protect you from premium increases for a full year. Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best rate for your coverage needs.

Six-Month Auto Insurance Policies: FAQ

Can you buy six months of car insurance?

Yes. Six-month policies are the standard term length offered by most major insurers including GEICO, State Farm, Progressive and Allstate. Your policy renews automatically every six months unless you cancel, and you don't need to specifically request a six-month term since it's typically the default option.

Can I switch from six-month to 12-month insurance?

Yes. You can switch policy terms at renewal or by canceling your current policy and buying a new one. Many insurers offer both six-month and 12-month options, though most default to six-month terms. Contact your insurer or shop with companies offering annual terms like Liberty Mutual or USAA. The policy term doesn't affect your rate. Insurers charge the same annual amount regardless of term length.

Do all insurance companies offer six-month policies?

Most major insurers use six-month terms as their standard policy length. GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, Farmers and Travelers all offer six-month policies. Some insurers also provide 12-month options, though availability varies by state and company. Check with individual insurers about available policy terms in your area.

Will my rate change at the six-month renewal?

Possibly. Your insurer recalculates your premium at each renewal based on your current driving record, credit score (where allowed), claims history and other rating factors. Your rate could increase, decrease or stay the same depending on changes to your profile. Improvements like tickets dropping off your record lower your premium, while new violations increase it.

What happens if I don't pay my six-month renewal?

Your insurer sends a renewal notice 30 to 45 days before your term ends and provides a grace period (usually 10 to 30 days depending on your state) after the renewal date. If you don't pay within the grace period, your policy lapses and you lose coverage. This creates a coverage gap that increases your future rates, as insurers view lapses as high-risk behavior.

Can I get a six-month policy for a new car?

Yes. Six-month policies work for any vehicle including new cars. If you're financing or leasing your new car, your lender requires full coverage (liability plus comprehensive and collision) regardless of policy term. The six-month term doesn't affect your coverage requirements or eligibility.

Our Review Methodology

We analyzed policy structures and pricing from major insurers, including GEICO, State Farm, Progressive, Allstate, and Farmers, to compare 6-month and 12-month car insurance terms.

Data Sources: Our research used data from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments, analyzing 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.

Driver Profile: We used a 40-year-old male driver with a clean driving record, excellent credit score, driving a Toyota Camry LE with 12,000 miles driven annually. To calculate average costs across different regions and coverage requirements, we adjusted this profile by location, coverage type, and amount.

Coverage Levels: This study compared premiums between six- and 12-month policies. For full coverage (comprehensive and collision), we used 100/300/100 limits with a $1,000 deductible when calculating national averages.

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.

Six-Month vs. 12-Month Car Insurance Policies: Related Articles

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.

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