What Is Weekend Car Insurance and How Can You Get It?
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You might find insurers that offer car insurance for one or two days. MoneyGeek cautions you against them. Usually, the shortest car insurance policy you can purchase lasts six months, so those offering brief coverage may be insurance scams.
Car insurance follows the car, not the driver. If you’re using your friend’s car, their policy may cover you as long as you have your friend’s permission to use the vehicle.
For other situations, you may need to purchase coverage. Although insurers don’t offer weekend car insurance, you have several options for temporary coverage. One is buying a policy and canceling it early. Another is purchasing rental car insurance instead of a standard policy.
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Can You Insure a Car For Weekends Only?
The short answer is no — the briefest policies available through most insurers last six months to a year. Be wary of carriers that offer car insurance for a day or a week. Likely, these aren’t legitimate offers. There are other ways to secure temporary car insurance coverage.
If you only need car insurance for 30 days (or fewer), there are several creative ways to obtain it. One popular option is purchasing a traditional policy and canceling it early, but you can also consider buying rental car insurance instead. Non-owner car insurance is a good alternative if your main objective is to have proof of insurance. Other options include pay-per-mile or rideshare coverages.
How Much Is Short-Term Car Insurance?
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.
Average Cost of Short-Term Insurance
State | Average Driver: 3 Months | Average Driver: 1 Month |
|---|---|---|
$246 | $82 | |
$305 | $102 | |
$297 | $99 | |
$321 | $107 | |
$357 | $119 | |
$362 | $121 | |
$360 | $120 | |
$301 | $100 | |
$371 | $124 | |
$552 | $184 | |
$410 | $137 | |
$267 | $89 | |
$195 | $65 | |
$186 | $62 | |
$284 | $95 | |
$181 | $60 | |
$233 | $78 | |
$351 | $117 | |
$760 | $253 | |
$278 | $93 | |
$532 | $177 | |
$152 | $51 | |
$1,083 | $361 | |
$300 | $100 | |
$326 | $109 | |
$278 | $93 | |
$304 | $101 | |
$210 | $70 | |
$186 | $62 | |
$231 | $77 | |
$195 | $65 | |
$418 | $139 | |
$283 | $94 | |
$475 | $158 | |
$858 | $286 | |
$201 | $67 | |
$325 | $108 | |
$295 | $98 | |
$454 | $151 | |
$455 | $152 | |
$285 | $95 | |
$204 | $68 | |
$255 | $85 | |
$329 | $110 | |
$289 | $96 | |
$198 | $66 | |
$203 | $68 | |
$316 | $105 | |
$233 | $78 | |
$254 | $85 | |
$213 | $71 |
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How to Buy Temporary Car Insurance
Comparing estimates from multiple providers is an effective way to find which insurer offers the cheapest temporary car insurance. You’ll need several documents to complete your application. These may include your driver's license, social security number, bank account details and information about the car you want to insure.
Once you've gathered this information, there are several routes you can take to purchase temporary car insurance; MoneyGeek outlined some of the most common of these below.
Even when buying temporary car insurance, make sure you meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. Most states require drivers to carry coverage or proof of financial responsibility. And in some cases, how much car insurance you need might be more than minimum state requirements. If you think you’ll be driving more often in the future, rethink getting weekend car insurance.
Buy and Cancel
Buy and cancel is a popular option among drivers. This method involves purchasing a typical car insurance policy and terminating it early. Remember that you’ll have to pay at least a month’s premium to do this.
When you don’t need coverage anymore, you can terminate your policy by calling your insurer, mailing your cancellation request or visiting your insurer. The downside to this approach is your provider may apply penalty fees.
You can cancel your car insurance at any time, but the downside to this approach is your provider may apply penalty fees. If you want to avoid extra costs, look for a carrier that doesn’t charge a cancellation fee.
Add a Driver to Your Insurance
You can add a driver to your insurance policy by calling your car insurance company. You must provide the other driver’s information so they can process your request. The necessary information includes:
- The driver’s complete name, gender and date of birth
- Social Security Number
- Occupation
- Driving history (how long they’ve had a license and whether there are recent violations on their record)
Non-Owner Insurance
Purchasing a car insurance policy when you don’t own a car may seem illogical, but you still need coverage to drive. Non-owner car insurance is a way to obtain coverage if you regularly borrow or rent a vehicle. If you want to inquire about this option, contact your insurer directly. Most car insurance companies don’t offer quotes for this type of coverage.
Usage-Based Car Insurance
As the term implies, how often you drive determines your rates. Metromile is one of the most popular usage-based car insurance companies, but other carriers offer similar options. It’s wise to ask your insurer about this coverage type. You’ll also want to determine if this option is available in your state before deciding on it.
Rental Car Insurance
Rental insurance is an option that fits drivers who don’t own a car. Rental insurance is appropriate if you need coverage for shorter periods, such as during a vacation or business trip. You can purchase it from the car rental agent, but find out if your insurer offers this option to see if you can save on your next trip. If you have a credit card, check with your credit provider as well. Many credit card companies offer rental car insurance, but you may need to pay for your rental through the card to qualify for it.
Rideshare Car Insurance
Uber and Lyft maintain car insurance coverage for their drivers. If you work for a different rideshare company, you may have to arrange this type of coverage yourself. One way to do this is to call your insurer and ask if they offer rideshare car insurance. If they don't, don't hesitate to explore other car insurance companies.
Why Buy Weekend Car Insurance?
There are several reasons why someone would need car insurance for a weekend. 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.
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