Non-Owner Car Insurance in California

Non-owner car insurance is liability coverage for people who drive but don't own a vehicle. It pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident, not for damage to the car you're driving.

California requires all drivers to carry minimum liability coverage of 30/60/15: $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for total injuries per accident and $15,000 for property damage. A non-owner policy meets these requirements and keeps you legal behind the wheel without a car in your name.

Non-owner insurance acts as secondary coverage when you borrow someone's car. The vehicle owner's policy pays first. If you cause an accident and the damage exceeds their limits, your non-owner policy covers the rest. When you rent a car, your non-owner policy becomes primary coverage and pays from the first dollar of a claim.

California allows non-owner car insurance. It's a legitimate liability policy recognized by the state and satisfies financial responsibility requirements, including for drivers who need to file an SR-22 in California. Not every insurer offers it, but it's fully legal to purchase and use in California.

To get non-owner car insurance, you'll need to call an insurance company directly or work with an agent. Most insurers don't offer online quotes for non-owner policies. MoneyGeek found average rates and phone numbers for insurers who offer a policy in California.

Non-owner insurance works best for drivers who need regular access to vehicles they don't own. If you're borrowing cars often, renting frequently or trying to get your license back after a suspension, this coverage fills an important gap.

• Frequent vehicle borrowing: When you drive cars owned by family or friends, your non-owner policy protects their insurance record. Their coverage pays first if you cause an accident, but your policy covers what's left, keeping their rates from increasing.
• Regular car rentals: Rental counters charge $15 to $30 per day for liability coverage. At the high end ($30 per day), three days of rental insurance costs $90, more than a month of non-owner coverage at $54.
• Maintaining continuous coverage: A gap in your insurance history can raise future premiums by 20% to 40%. If you're between vehicles but plan to buy one later, a non-owner policy preserves your continuous coverage record.
• License reinstatement: Drivers with suspended licenses in California must show proof of insurance before reinstatement. A non-owner policy meets this requirement without requiring you to purchase a vehicle.

Non-owner insurance doesn't make sense if you:

• Own a car (standard auto insurance is what you need)
• Borrow vehicles only a few times per year (the cost outweighs the benefit)
• Live with someone who owns a car (ask to be added to their policy)
• Have a single upcoming trip (buy coverage from the rental company instead)

GEICO offers California's cheapest non-owner car insurance at $54 per month, saving drivers $67 monthly compared to the most expensive option. MoneyGeek collected rates from six insurers willing to write non-owner policies in the state. Most don't provide online quotes for this coverage, so you'll need to call them to get a price.

These rates reflect a non-owner policy meeting California's 30/60/15 minimum liability requirements, which covers injuries and property damage you cause to others. Non-owner insurance is one of the cheaper types of car insurance because it doesn't include comprehensive or collision coverage for damage to the vehicle you're driving.

The average non-owner car insurance policy in California costs $95 per month or $1,138 per year. That's $12 more than the national average.

Your personal profile, driving record and choice of insurer determine your premium:

• Driving history: A clean record keeps costs down. Drivers with a DUI on their record pay $108 per month.
• Driver age and experience: Younger drivers pay more for any type of car insurance, including non-owner policies.
• Coverage limits: The rates above reflect California's 30/60/15 minimum liability requirements. Choosing higher limits will increase your premium.
• Choice of insurer: Quotes can vary by $67 monthly between companies. In California, GEICO charges $54 per month while Travelers charges $121 for the same non-owner coverage. Always compare multiple quotes.

Common questions about non-owner car insurance costs and providers in California:

MoneyGeek compiled California auto insurance rates by collecting data from the California Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services. We examined 240 quotes from six providers to identify the state's best and most affordable options.

Coverage Levels

We compared non-owner car insurance rates from companies in California using minimum coverage policies. The state-required minimum coverage includes:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $15,000 in property damage liability per accident

Drivers and Cars in California

To find the best and most affordable companies for non-owner car insurance in California, we used a sample driver profile with these characteristics:

• 40-year-old male
• Clean driving record

Learn more about MoneyGeek's car insurance methodology.