Temporary Car Insurance: Who Offers Short-Term and Month-to-Month Options?

If you are going to own a car for a short period of time and you’re looking for temporary car insurance, you will have to buy a policy that lasts at least six months. None of the major insurance companies will offer you a policy on a month-to-month basis, but you might have the option to cancel your policy before the six month term is finished and get a refund on the remainder of the term.

If you don’t own a car but you’re going to be renting or borrowing, or if you need proof of insurance, there are plenty of ways to get temporary car insurance coverage without buying a traditional car insurance policy. The car insurance policy of a car’s owner, rental car insurance policies and non-owner car insurance policies can help cover you temporarily in these situations.

Read on to learn the best ways to ensure you’re covered if you only need car insurance for days, weeks or a few months.

• What is temporary car insurance?
  
• How to get temporary car insurance
  
• Best temporary car insurance companies
  
• Alternatives to temporary car insurance
  
• When to get non-owner car insurance

Car insurance companies sell car insurance policies in one year or six month increments. Insurers don’t offer temporary insurance policies for those looking for coverage for a single day, a couple of weeks or even a month.

A website search will pull up companies that claim to offer car insurance for a day or a week, but these are often car insurance scams, or they’ll connect you to someone who will sell you a six-month policy.

The best way to get temporary car insurance coverage depends on your situation.

• If you own a car and you need coverage for a period shorter than six months, you are in a rare situation where you actually need to buy a traditional car insurance policy temporarily. You can create a temporary car insurance policy by buying a six month policy and canceling it early, though you risk incurring some penalties.
• If you own a car and someone is borrowing it, they’re almost certainly already covered by your existing car insurance policy, as long as they have your permission to drive. You won’t need a new policy.
• If you don’t own a car but you need temporary coverage because you’re renting, it usually makes sense to get rental car insurance coverage. If you’re frequently renting cars, you might want to consider non-owner car insurance. Neither is a traditional car insurance policy, but each will better fit your needs.

If you fall in the second two categories, read more about how to cover yourself without buying a traditional car insurance policy.

If you’re in a rare situation in which you’ll be owning a car for less than six months, you can get a six-month no-deposit policy and opt to pay in monthly installments. When you no longer need the insurance, you can cancel it. If you have prepaid for the policy in full, the insurance company will issue a refund for the unused months.

Keep in mind that if you cancel your car insurance and plan to buy a policy again in the future, the lapse in coverage may result in you paying higher rates down the line. Insurance companies reward drivers who have had continuous insurance coverage.

The table below illustrates your cost if you get a six-month policy and then cancel it. The policy's total cost is $678, with the first 30 days billed at $113. If all you need is a month's worth of car insurance, you would cancel the policy. The insurance company should refund you $565 for the unused portion.

You can also choose to pay month to month. The premiums tend to be a little higher than if you paid in one lump sum, but then you don't have to come up with the full amount all at once. You also don't have to wait for a refund.

Shop around just like you would for any insurance. Choose the amount of coverage you need and then consider whether you need liability insurance, collision and comprehensive or personal injury protection.

To cancel your car insurance, call your insurance company and ask to speak to someone about canceling your policy. They may have you sign a cancellation letter verifying your desire to cancel. Then request a refund for the unused months.

Getting a refund may take as long as thirty days. Some states do have rules surrounding how insurance companies have to handle refunds, so contact your state insurance commissioner if you're having difficulty getting your refund.

Some insurance companies charge a fee if you try to cancel. While some companies will cancel immediately, some will require you to wait as long as thirty days. Here are the best temporary car insurance companies we found. Getting a quote on car insurance from these and other top companies could help you save.

MoneyGeek calculated the cost of getting temporary car insurance in each state assuming you hold a policy for one to three months, get a full refund and avoid a cancellation fee. With this method, buying an insurance policy could cost as little as $51 for one month of coverage.

Click on your state below to learn more about ways to secure temporary car insurance coverage where you live.

Shopping around can help you find the best car insurance for your needs and budget. Get quotes from at least three companies, comparing coverage and limits. Since you will be canceling the policy, get quotes from companies that don’t charge cancellation fees. If you pay in one lump sum, understand that receiving your refund might take a while. You should also set a reminder on your phone, so you don’t forget to cancel.

To buy car insurance, you’ll need:

• Driver’s license
• Social security number
• Bank information
• Vehicle information on the car you want to cover

You can either go directly to an insurance company or to an online broker to get instant car insurance quotes from multiple companies. You can also call if you prefer to talk to someone to sort out your options.

Most people who don’t own a car and are only driving for short periods of time should not get a traditional car insurance policy. The price of temporary car insurance — buying a policy and then canceling it before the end of six months — won’t be worth it.

But there are many ways to get covered without buying temporary car insurance. If you’re renting a car, you can buy insurance from the rental company. If you’re borrowing a car, you’ll be covered on the owner’s policy. And for people who drive frequently but don’t own a car, we suggest non-owner auto insurance as a solution.

Below, explore some of the scenarios in which you can get temporary coverage without buying a traditional six month car insurance policy.

Non-owner car insurance is insurance for people who drive but don't own their car. It's less expensive than maintaining a traditional policy. MoneyGeek found that a sample non-owner policy cost an average of $585 per year, $180 cheaper than an equivalent owner policy.

A non-owner policy includes liability car insurance coverage, which is required in almost every state. Even if it isn't required, it's essential to be protected in case of an accident to protect yourself from the cost of damages. A non-owner policy will not cover damages to the car you’re driving.

Most car insurance companies offer non-owner policies, although most require you to call to get a quote.