How to Get One-Week Car Insurance

Major insurance companies typically only sell six-month or 12-month term policies, but there are clever ways to get around this. Canceling early, getting coverage from a rental car company or driving someone else’s car under permissive use can get you the coverage you need.

Short-term car insurance, also called temporary car insurance, is not a standard insurance product. Generally, insurers offer insurance policies with six- or 12-month-long terms.

You may find ads for car insurance policies as short as one day, one week or a month. Do your research when buying insurance, even if you will only be using it temporarily. You may get stuck with iffy coverage and poor customer service.

However, there are unconventional ways you can get temporary car insurance.

State Farm charges $9 per week for liability-only coverage, while it offers a full coverage policy for $18 per week. It doesn’t charge a cancellation fee and offers many discounts to help you save.

Take note that if you buy car insurance, you’re usually required to pay for your first month before your policy is activated. If you only need insurance for a week, you’re free to cancel your policy as soon as you’re done driving.

Below, compare the cost of one-week car insurance by state against monthly rates. Use the dropdown to filter by age range and desired coverage level.

Whether you're borrowing someone else's car, renting a car for a week, traveling to a different state or temporarily relocating, you'll want to ensure you're adequately covered for that duration.

You'll find a comparison of one-week car insurance costs by state, alongside monthly and semi-annual rates below, where you'll find the cheapest company available for each state. Utilize the dropdown menu to narrow down results by age group and preferred coverage level.

Insurers favor long-term customers since short-term ones might not cover administrative costs with their premiums.

While you might be free to cancel, whether you get a refund for the unused portion of your premium can vary based on the insurer's policies and potentially any state-specific regulations.

Most car insurance policies have a waiting period of at least 30 days before you can make a claim. This means that you will not be able to file a claim for damage to your car that occurs within the first 30 days of your policy being in effect.

Read your policy carefully before you decide if short-term car insurance is right for you.

Canceling your policy and going without coverage can lead to a lapse in coverage. You also won’t be able to drive legally unless you drive with permissive use or get car insurance from a rental car company.

You can get one-week car insurance by purchasing a policy and canceling it early or getting car insurance from your rental car company.

In some cases, you may get automatic coverage by driving under permissive use.

More temporary car insurance hacks include:

• Buying non-owner car insurance
• Adding yourself to an existing policy
• Driving with permissive use
• Getting rental car insurance
• Buying a traditional policy but canceling it early

Non-owner car insurance is designed for people who don’t own cars but are licensed drivers.

Non-owner car insurance caters to those who drive occasionally, perhaps borrowing or renting cars. It's often a more budget-friendly option than conventional car insurance. The main focus of this insurance is liability. This means it covers expenses if you're at fault in an accident and cause bodily harm or property damage. In contrast, regular car insurance extends its coverage umbrella to include both comprehensive and collision options. The duration for both types of policies tends to be either six or 12 months.

MoneyGeek found that the average yearly cost for non-owner car insurance stands at $448. In comparison, a traditional policy with equivalent coverage is slightly more expensive at $490 annually.

Thinking of using your roommate's car for a week? You can join their insurance for a short time. Just make sure you use the car for personal tasks. If it's for business, it's more complicated and will require business car insurance to cover extra drivers who don't live with the policy owner.

Permissive use is a special provision that lets someone not named on your policy drive your car and still be safeguarded by your insurance. Think of it as an "unlisted driver" benefit.

Here's how it works:

• Getting Permission: You should obtain the car owner's consent to use their vehicle. This consent can be verbal or written.
• Usage Limits: Permissive use generally means occasional driving. For instance, if a friend borrows your car once a month, they're typically covered. But if, say, a family member uses your car daily after moving out, that might not qualify.
• Accidents and Coverage: If an accident happens while a permissive user is behind the wheel, your insurance usually steps in, but always consult your policy specifics to confirm.

If you're thinking of renting a car for the weekend, many rental agencies offer weekend car insurance as an add-on. While this is a convenient option, MoneyGeek's research suggests it's often pricier than policies from independent insurers.

The term of these weekend car insurance offerings from rental companies typically aligns with your rental duration. Whether you opt for a basic or extended plan, ensure that it suits your needs and offers value for your money.

Purchase the shortest term — typically six months — and choose to pay monthly. After a month or once you’re done driving, call your insurance provider to cancel your policy. You've only paid for one month, so there's no refund wait. However, be careful to choose an insurance company that does not charge a cancellation fee.

People who only drive occasionally, drivers in between cars or policies or people renting cars are great candidates for short term car insurance.

Remember, driving without insurance is illegal. Even if you plan to hit the road later rather than sooner, it's good to note that any gap in your insurance can lead to heftier premiums in the future.

Evaluate how much coverage aligns with your needs, even for short-term requirements like a week. Factors to consider include:

• Will you be driving in areas known for higher crime rates?
• Might you encounter challenging weather conditions?
• Are you driving a luxury or high-value vehicle?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, MoneyGeek advises considering both collision and comprehensive insurance. While collision insurance covers costs stemming from damages due to collisions with other cars or objects, comprehensive insurance offers financial protection for situations like theft, vandalism or nature-induced damages.

Many drivers who need short-term coverage may wonder if purchasing one-week car insurance is possible. MoneyGeek answered common questions to help you find temporary coverage solutions for your unique driving needs and financial situation.