Weekend-Only Car Insurance

The short answer is no — insurance companies don’t offer true weekend-only car insurance. The shortest standard policy term is typically six months, and offers for one-day or one-week coverage are often misleading or not from reputable providers. That said, if you only need coverage for a short period, there are legitimate alternatives.

You can purchase a standard policy and cancel it early, or consider rental car insurance if you're driving temporarily. Non-owner insurance is a good option if you don’t own a car but still need proof of coverage. Usage-based or rideshare insurance may also be worth exploring, depending on your driving habits.

Someone might need car insurance for a weekend for several reasons. Short-term coverage may be beneficial in the following situations:

• You’re on a short vacation and want to rent a car.
• You have errands to run but need to borrow a vehicle.
• You borrowed someone else’s car for a road trip.
• You live with someone who regularly borrows your car.
• You work for a rideshare company.

Temporary car insurance provides you the necessary protection for any or all of these scenarios.

The cost of short-term car insurance varies depending on what kind of coverage you purchase. Drivers often opt for a standard policy and then cancel it after a few days, weeks or months. The table below can give you an idea of how much this might cost.

To find the best short-term coverage, start by comparing quotes from multiple providers. You’ll need basic documents like your driver’s license, Social Security number, and vehicle details to apply.

There are a few ways to get temporary coverage, and we outline the most common options below. Just make sure your policy meets your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. In some cases, you may need more than the minimum — learn more about how much car insurance you need based on your situation.

Insurance companies don’t offer true weekend-only car insurance, and offers claiming otherwise should be viewed with caution. That said, there are safe, reliable ways to get short-term coverage if you only need it for a few days.

Car insurance generally follows the car, not the driver—so if you’re borrowing a friend’s vehicle with permission, you may already be covered. For other situations, consider buying a standard policy and canceling early, or explore alternatives like rental, non-owner, or usage-based insurance.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about weekend-only car insurance to help you understand what it is and how it works:

MoneyGeek conducted an in-depth study and gathered data from the state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services to determine the average cost of car insurance. Our guide will help you determine how much short-term coverage typically costs and the steps you need to take when buying a policy.

Study Overview

We collected quotes using a sample driver profile to calculate the national and state-wide average costs of liability-only insurance. In addition, we determined the differences between liability insurance rates and full coverage rates and how liability-only rates vary for high-risk drivers (drivers with accidents and tickets).

Data Sources and Depth

We used information from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments to collect 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.

Driver Profile

We used the following sample driver profile to determine average car insurance costs:

• 40-year-old male
• Has a clean driving record
• Drives a Toyota Camry LE
• Drives 12,000 miles annually

This profile was modified by geographic location, coverage type and coverage limits to find the average car insurance costs for various categories of U.S. drivers and coverage needs.

Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained

In collecting national average rates, we used 100/300/100 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

To make this easier to understand, let’s break these points down into bite-size pieces:

Comprehensive and collision coverage is known as “full coverage insurance” and provides the best financial protection.

A deductible is the amount of money you’ll need to pay toward a covered loss before your policy kicks in and starts paying for your claim.

100/300/100 is shorthand for:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $100,000 property damage liability

Meanwhile, in gathering quotes for state averages, we used state-specific data using 50/100/50 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

50/100/50 is shorthand for:

• $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.