There are several reasons you may need same-day car insurance. You could be buying your first car and need to meet the minimum car insurance requirements in your state. Or maybe your current car insurance policy is expiring, and you need same-day coverage so your coverage doesn’t lapse. Get and compare quotes instantly using MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator and read our analysis on the cheapest same-day car insurance companies.
Same-Day Car Insurance
Key Takeaways
Most insurance companies offer online quotes that are close to final, so you can get car insurance in a matter of minutes or hours.
If you're looking for cheap instant car insurance, it's worth taking some extra time to compare multiple quotes.
If you can avoid it, don't get car insurance the same day you need it. Buying in advance can help you save money and figure out which company is the best fit for you.
Get Same-Day Car Insurance in 3 Steps
You can easily get same-day car insurance by requesting quotes online. The process is simple with three quick steps; gather your information, choose your coverage, and get quotes to compare premium costs to find the most affordable policy for you.
MoneyGeek's Auto Insurance Calculator can give you instant car insurance quote estimates to compare insurers— without the finer details of your personal information. When you select an insurer, you will need to provide your personal information to receive a direct quote and to purchase a policy.
Gather Your Information
Some car insurance providers offer a fully online experience, while others may need you to speak with an agent to formalize your policy. It's best to have all of your information prepared before seeking quotes to ensure the entire process goes as quickly as possible. You will need:
- Personal information: age, address, drivers license number, employment and marital status
- Vehicle information: make, model, year, vehicle identification number (VIN), safety features, current vehicle mileage and annual mileage
- Driving record and insurance history: information on violations or accidents in recent years and a record of your insurance history
Choose Your Coverage
How much car insurance you need will depend on where you live and how much coverage you want to purchase. A liability-only policy is usually the cheapest option, but a full coverage policy will offer the best financial protection.
If you have a valuable car or you've leased or financed your car purchase, you may need to purchase a full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision insurance.
Get and Compare Same-Day Quotes
Use our calculator below to review, compare, and get personalized quotes as fast as possible for same-day insurance. You can also visit a provider's website to use their online tools to get instant quotes to make a purchase.
Auto Insurance Calculator
See how the Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates vary with the options chosen.
Average Annual Auto Insurance Rates
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Click an insurer below to visit their review page or continue to your personalized quote.
If time is of the essence and you need same-day car insurance to avoid a costly lapse in policy, or you purchased a new car and need coverage to legally drive, you may not have the flexibility to fully comparison shop for the best car insurance company and policy. But don't worry, most providers offer six-month policies.
Signing up for a six-month policy allows you to get the same-day insurance you need now and gives you a trial run for the provider. Once you near the term of your six-month policy, you can compare quotes in greater detail for discounts, additional coverage options, or bundling your policy to get the cheapest car insurance.
Cheapest Same-Day Car Insurance Companies
Most major insurers offer online quotes that allow you to purchase a policy online — the fastest way to get instant same-day car insurance.
State Farm offers the cheapest same-day insurance for a full and minimum coverage policy:
- Full coverage: $883 annually, $74 a month
- State minimum liability-only: $409 annually, $34 a month
Review MoneyGeek's data on the cheapest insurers that offer online quotes for same-day insurance in the table below. Select your age range and the type of policy you need to find the most accurate rates for you.
Just because you need car insurance fast doesn't mean you can't find a company that fits your situation. MoneyGeek has the resources you need:
- The cheapest car insurance companies can help you get savings if you're focused on cost.
- The best car insurance companies can help you balance affordability and service.
If you need car insurance for a short-period of time, you should know that there's technically no such thing as a car insurance policy shorter than six months, but you do have options.
Compare Insurance Rates
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
Get Cheap Car Insurance Instantly in Your State
Even if you need car insurance with same-day coverage, you should still be able to get an auto insurance policy that’s affordable. The cheapest car insurance companies nationally include some of the biggest names like GEICO, Nationwide, and State Farm which all have online quote tools to help you get same-day coverage.
But the cheapest options for car insurance depend greatly on where you live. The table below details the average cost of same-day car insurance by state. Click on your state to learn more about the cheapest insurers in your area.
Compare Insurance Rates
Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.
What is Same-Day Car Insurance?
Same-day car insurance is a car insurance coverage that goes into effect immediately after you have purchased a policy. Most major insurers offer instant online car insurance quotes but some insurers may require you to call to complete the sign-up process.
- State Farm: 1 (800) 782-8332
- Nationwide: 1 (877) 669-6877
- GEICO: 1 (800) 207-7847
- Travelers: 1 (800) 842-5075
- Progressive: 1 (888) 671-4405
- Allstate: 1 (800) 726-6033
- Farmers: 1 (888) 327-6335
Getting car insurance quickly is critical if you plan to drive the same day you are seeking insurance. Comparison shopping is the best way to get cheap car insurance, but it usually requires reaching out to multiple companies to request individual quotes. Use MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator to instantly compare rates and find the most affordable policy for you.
What Do I Need to Get Same-Day Insurance?
The key to getting car insurance instantly is to have the right information available before you start an online quote. You should already know most of the information, like your address, age, marital, and employment status. The rest of the needed information is more specific, including:
- Your driving record: Gather information with dates for violations and type of claim for accidents in recent years.
- Other driver information: If there are other drivers in the household, you’ll need their info too.
- Your insurance history: What company is it? What type of coverage limits do you have? And how long have you been insured? If you have been with the car insurance company for a year or less, you may need the previous company’s information.
- Vehicle information: Make, model, year, annual mileage, current vehicle mileage and specific safety features available (daytime running lights, anti-lock brakes, factory-installed accident sensors, theft recovery devices, etc.).
Do you know how much car insurance you need? First-time car buyers have several options on how much liability insurance to buy and whether to add comprehensive, collision and other coverages. Most insurance experts advise purchasing as much liability insurance as you can afford. MoneyGeek recommends newer car drivers choose full coverage to protect their finances and their vehicle.
When Drivers Can’t Get Same-Day Car Insurance
Not all drivers will qualify for immediate same-day car insurance coverage. There are three scenarios where a driver may not be able to get an online quote instantly:
- Missing information noted above that prevents the driver from getting a quote.
- Owning or purchasing a rare vehicle that requires specialty collector car insurance coverage.
- Having a high-risk driving history, with multiple serious convictions like DUIs or driving with a revoked or suspended license.
In the last situation, car insurance companies may not cover you now or at all. These high-risk drivers should contact their state’s Automobile Insurance Plan Service Office, which helps drivers who can’t find car insurance.
When Drivers Shouldn’t Get Same-Day Car Insurance
Ideally, you should always buy car insurance in advance rather than on the same day you need it because it can help save you money and give you more time to explore your options. Even those who don't have their car yet should get car insurance before buying a car.
Buying in advance will entitle you to advanced quote discounts, and it will also allow you to contact an agent and make sure all available discounts are applied to your policy, not just the ones listed on the company's online quote tool.
For instance, if you plan which insurance companies you are going to shop with ahead of time, you can combine it with your home insurance to get a home and auto bundle discount, one of the best ways to save.
Buying car insurance in advance is also less risky. A lapse in car insurance coverage could increase your car insurance rates by hundreds of dollars per year, even if the lapse is only a few days. Planning ahead to make sure you have secured continuous coverage will help you avoid such penalties.
Reasons to Buy Car Insurance in Advance
With many insurance companies, buying a car insurance policy at least seven days before the needed effective date entitles you to an advanced quote discount.
Not all online quote tools offering same-day coverage and proof of insurance show all possible discounts, which means you could be missing out on potential savings.
An online car insurance policy might not include all available coverages like pay-per-mile insurance, which may be a good choice for low-mileage drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Same-Day Car Insurance
If you still have questions about buying car insurance today, check out answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Expert Advice: Same-Day Car Insurance
- Can you get a car insurance policy that takes effect on the same day you buy it?
- How long does it usually take to get a final car insurance quote?
- Should I buy car insurance in advance of my current policy expiring or the same day?
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About Mandy Sleight, Licensed Insurance Agent
