Updated: May 15, 2025
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Most insurers don’t offer true short-term policies — buying a six-month policy and canceling early is the most practical workaround.
The average cost of a three-month car insurance policy in New Jersey is approximately $418. Canceling early adjusts costs based on your coverage period.
If you need temporary coverage in New Jersey but don’t own a car, rental or non-owner car insurance can offer a flexible and convenient solution.
Although most major insurers in New Jersey don’t offer true short-term car insurance, there are several ways to get temporary coverage.
If you own a car, you can buy a standard policy and cancel it early once you no longer need it. If you don’t own a car, options like non-owner or rental car insurance can provide the short-term protection you need.
If you're focused on finding the most affordable option, MoneyGeek analyzed rates for one-, three- and six-month car insurance policies in New Jersey. GEICO offers the lowest average price for a 90-day policy at $259.
Our estimates assume you purchase a standard policy and cancel it early — most insurers don’t charge cancellation fees and typically refund any unused premium. You can see a breakdown of temporary coverage rates by insurer in the table below.
Company | One Month | Three Months | Six Months |
|---|---|---|---|
GEICO | $86 | $259 | $518 |
New Jersey Manufacturers | $114 | $341 | $681 |
MetLife | $117 | $351 | $702 |
Allstate | $124 | $372 | $745 |
Progressive | $125 | $376 | $752 |
Amica Mutual | $134 | $402 | $805 |
Travelers | $152 | $456 | $912 |
State Farm | $173 | $518 | $1,035 |
Mercury | $178 | $534 | $1,069 |
Esurance | $192 | $576 | $1,151 |
Adding an 18-year-old to your auto insurance policy in New Jersey can be costly, with an average annual increase of $3,635. But if your child lives more than 100 miles away for most of the year — such as when attending college — you may be able to temporarily remove them or qualify for a distant student discount.
We found that adding a student for just two months during the summer costs around $606 on average, offering significant savings compared to keeping them on the policy year-round. Among major insurers, State Farm offers the biggest savings when adjusting coverage for a college student.
Company | Adding 18-year-old for two out of 12 months | Adding an 18-year-old for the full year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
GEICO | $2,158 | $360 | -$1,799 |
Progressive | $2,902 | $484 | -$2,418 |
Allstate | $4,339 | $723 | -$3,616 |
State Farm | $5,141 | $857 | -$4,284 |
If your child attends school less than 100 miles from your home, you may still be able to save money by shopping around. We compared different insurance providers to help you find the cheapest insurance companies for teens in New Jersey.
There’s no one-size-fits-all option for temporary car insurance in New Jersey, but several flexible solutions are available depending on your situation:
Most insurers in New Jersey don’t offer policies shorter than six months, but you can still get temporary coverage by purchasing a standard policy and canceling it early. A six-month policy costs about $837 on average, while canceling after 90 days typically brings the cost down to around $418.
Many insurers will refund unused premium months, especially if there’s no cancellation fee. Just be sure to avoid any gaps in coverage, as even a short lapse could lead to higher rates in the future.
If you already have a car insurance policy in New Jersey and only need short-term changes, it may be easier to adjust your existing coverage rather than purchase a new policy. It’s a practical way to stay covered when your driving situation changes for a short period. These adjustments can help you save money and avoid the hassle of canceling and restarting coverage.
If your child is attending school elsewhere in New Jersey, you can temporarily remove them from your policy or ask for a discount.
If you plan to keep your car in storage, you can save money by canceling all coverages except comprehensive insurance. Military personnel can also take advantage of USAA's car storage discounts.
If you let someone else drive your car, you should only add them to your insurance policy if they drive it regularly.
If you’re putting your car in storage for a while, you can lower your insurance costs by switching to a comprehensive-only policy or asking your insurer about storage discounts. Comprehensive coverage protects against non-driving risks like theft, vandalism or weather damage — without the added cost of liability insurance.
In New Jersey, a comprehensive and collision policy with a $1,000 deductible costs about $387 per year on average, compared to $1,404 for a full policy that includes liability coverage.
If a member of your household drives your car, they must be insured on your policy. If you let someone from outside your household drive your car, they will be automatically covered by your policy without you needing to make any modifications to your coverage.
If you're renting a car in New Jersey, you can buy insurance directly from the rental company, with daily costs typically ranging from $59 to $70. Most companies include basic liability and offer optional add-ons like collision damage waivers and personal accident coverage.
You may not need extra coverage if you already have car insurance or a credit card that includes rental protection. To avoid unnecessary costs, check your existing coverage before buying anything additional.
Company | Total Insurance Cost | Supplemental Liability Cost | Collision Damage Waiver Cost | Personal Accident Insurance Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Enterprise | $70 | $13 | $51 | $6 |
Avis | $59 | $18 | $31 | $10 |
Hertz | $60 | $19 | $34 | $7 |
Non-owner car insurance is a good option for drivers who do not own a car but need to provide proof of insurance to reinstate their license. Non-owner car insurance in New Jersey costs an average of $867 per year. For people in New Jersey who do not own a vehicle but drive regularly, non-owner insurance can be the most cost-effective option.
New Jersey rideshare drivers may be aware that they are covered by insurance when they accept fares or travel with passengers. However, there is a temporary coverage gap when drivers do not have a fare. Rideshare insurance may be useful in this situation. However, ridesharing insurance does not exist in all states.
We compared the coverages offered by different insurance companies for this type of policy to help you find the best rideshare insurance in New Jersey.
MoneyGeek's car insurance calculator will give you a customized estimate of your auto insurance cost. It's free to use, requires no personal information and we won't send you any spam.
Rates updated:
Jul 01, 2025
| Insurance Carrier | MoneyGeek ScoreMG Score | Average Monthly Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  GEICO | 81 /of 100 | $85 |
| 2 | 81 /of 100 | $122 | |
| 3 | 69 /of 100 | $143 | |
| 4 | 78 /of 100 | $146 | |
| 5 | 79 /of 100 | $155 | |
| 6 |  Foremost | 66 /of 100 | $180 |
Although MoneyGeek partners with some of the companies we recommend, our content is written and reviewed by an independent team of writers, editors and licensed agents. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
In New Jersey, obtaining temporary car insurance typically involves purchasing a standard six-month policy and canceling it early, with companies like GEICO offering one-month coverage for approximately $86. Alternatively, non-owner or rental car insurance can provide short-term solutions. In this article, we discussed these options to help you choose the best temporary coverage for your needs.
Temporary auto insurance in New Jersey is a great option for many reasons. We answer common questions about temporary car insurance below.
You can create temporary automobile insurance in New Jersey based on your individual needs, but keep in mind that most insurers won't cover you for less than six months at a time.
Yes, you will usually be refunded for your unused months of coverage if you cancel your policy early. However, you should be aware that canceling your insurance might involve cancellation fees.
Canceling a policy doesn’t impact your driving record, but frequent cancellations or coverage lapses may lead to higher rates later. Always notify your insurer and avoid gaps in coverage.
Non-owner car insurance is a good choice if you borrow or rent cars regularly. It meets legal requirements and provides liability coverage, but it doesn’t cover physical damage to the vehicle.
If you already have car insurance, your liability coverage often extends to rental vehicles. However, for added protection like collision or theft, consider buying supplemental coverage from the rental agency or using a credit card that includes rental insurance.
No, New Jersey law requires all drivers to carry at least the state’s minimum liability coverage. Driving uninsured can result in fines, license suspension and other penalties.
MoneyGeek compiled New Jersey auto insurance rates by collecting data from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and Quadrant Information Services. We examined 240 car insurance quotes from five providers to identify the state's best and most affordable options.
Coverage Levels
We compared non-owner car insurance rates from companies in New Jersey using minimum coverage policies. The state-required minimum coverage includes:
Drivers and Cars in New Jersey
To find the best and most affordable companies for non-owner car insurance in New Jersey, we used a sample driver profile with the following characteristics:
Learn more about MoneyGeek's car insurance methodology.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
