How to Insure a Car for One Day

One-day car insurance, also called daily car insurance, refers to temporary auto coverage lasting 24 hours or a few days. One-day car insurance isn’t a legitimate product. If you need coverage for just 24 hours, it’s not available. Be cautious of providers claiming to offer such coverage. Most major insurers offer policies with a minimum term of six months.

If you're borrowing someone else’s car, you may not need a separate policy. Their insurance may cover you as long as they give permission. If you still need insurance, consider rental insurance or mileage-based coverage. Alternatively, you can buy a standard policy online and cancel early. Compare providers to find the most affordable auto insurance that fits your needs.

Common scenarios requiring daily coverage include:

• Borrowing a friend's or family member's car
• Test driving a vehicle you're considering buying
• Moving or transporting a car short distances
• Needing immediate coverage while waiting for a regular policy to begin
• Emergency situations requiring instant protection

You can't get car insurance for just one day, but you can sign up for a standard policy and cancel it early or opt for rental or usage-based insurance. Insurers can recommend options based on your needs.

If you plan to buy a standard car insurance policy and cancel it early, look for an insurer that doesn’t charge a cancellation fee to receive a full refund for unused premiums.

Gathering estimates is a smart way to find the cheapest temporary car insurance. Use the table below to compare average costs for one and three-month coverage across all states and Washington, D.C.

Car insurance companies don’t usually offer one-day insurance. If a provider claims so, be cautious — it could be a scam. This article explores temporary car insurance options if you need coverage for a short period or just one day.

Below are frequently asked questions about one-day car insurance to help you understand your options for temporary coverage:

Study Overview

Car insurance rates vary based on the insurer, age, gender, vehicle, location, credit score and driving history. MoneyGeek collected data from multiple sources to calculate average rates based on these factors.

Data Acquisition and Analysis

MoneyGeek gathered 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes using data from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments.

Driver Profile

A typical driver profile used for calculating averages includes:

• 40-year-old male
• Clean driving record
• 2012 Toyota Camry LE
• 12,000 miles driven annually
• 100/300/100 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

In some cases, we adjusted the profile for age, gender, vehicle, credit score and driving record to calculate averages for different needs.

Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained

We calculated average rates with 100/300/100 comprehensive and collision coverage and a $1,000 deductible. This policy includes:

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

A $1,000 deductible means paying that amount before your insurance covers the rest. Generally, higher deductibles lead to lower premiums.

For comparisons, MoneyGeek also analyzed rates for different coverage levels, including 50/100/50 liability-only and 50/1000/50 comprehensive and collision policies, and calculated costs for annual, six-month and monthly payment options.

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.