Temporary Car Insurance in Texas

Texas doesn't offer true temporary car insurance policies. No insurer sells coverage for just a few days or weeks. However, you still have options for short-term protection.

Your best bet is buying a standard six-month policy and canceling early. Most major insurers don't charge cancellation fees and will refund your unused premium. Some companies like Root and Metromile offer month-to-month billing, which gives you more flexibility than traditional six-month terms.

Don't own a car but need to drive sometimes? Non-owner insurance covers liability when you borrow vehicles or rent cars. You'll pay 40% to 60% less than standard policies.

Texas doesn't sell temporary policies, but these options can cover your short-term needs:

Canceling your policy before the full term ends gives you shorter coverage. Most insurers will refund the remaining balance of your policy costs after cancellation.

When canceling car insurance, you must ensure you don't have a coverage lapse. Otherwise, you might pay higher car insurance rates in the future.

Our research found that State Farm is the cheapest temporary car insurance provider in Texas for a 90-day policy, at $351.

The costs used in this guide exclude cancellation fees since most insurers don't charge cancellation fees. After canceling your policy, insurance providers give you a refund for the months you haven't used in your policy.

Drivers who don't own cars but need to file an SR-22 may have to prove that they have insurance before getting their suspended licenses back. Non-owner car insurance serves this purpose, and you can get it in Texas at $571 per year on average.

Non-owner car insurance is the cheapest option if you don't own a car.

Rental companies offer temporary car insurance when you rent a car in Texas.

Rental car insurance in Texas includes standard liability coverage, and you can purchase extra coverages like supplemental liability insurance, personal accident coverage and collision damage waivers.

Adding all optional coverages to your policy costs an average of $55 to $60 per day. Selecting only the add-on coverages you need can save you money.

Enterprise offers the lowest rate at $55 daily, while Hertz is the most expensive at $60 daily, and Avis costs $57 daily.

If you work for a rideshare company, you get insurance coverage once you accept a fare or as soon as you start transporting a passenger. Before accepting a ride, you will have a temporary lapse in your coverage and might need to purchase rideshare insurance.

Rideshare insurance policies vary by state and may not be available in all states. MoneyGeek’s rideshare insurance comparison can help you identify the best rideshare options available in Texas.

Drivers who already have car insurance in Texas but need to remove or add temporary coverage can adjust their current policy to meet their temporary needs.

The most common questions about temporary car insurance involve teenage drivers going away to college, drivers who want to store their cars and letting people borrow a car.

The average cost of temporary auto insurance in Texas is $97 per month on a minimum coverage policy. Rates vary by city and provider. Check the tables below to see which city has the cheapest temporary car insurance in the state.

Texas doesn't offer true temporary car insurance. You can buy a standard policy and cancel it early, or choose rental car coverage or non-owner insurance instead. Compare quotes to find which option costs less for your situation.

Below are answers to common questions about temporary insurance in Texas.

Most Texas drivers who don't own cars struggle to find affordable liability coverage when they borrow or rent vehicles. We built this research around the unique challenge of comparing non-owner policies, which most major insurers don't even offer.

Using data from the Texas Department of Insurance and Quadrant Information Services, we gathered 240 car insurance quotes from five providers that write non-owner coverage in Texas. Finding companies that actually offer this coverage type matters because your options are limited compared to standard policies.

Texas minimum coverage for non-owner policies

Non-owner policies match Texas's required minimums since you're not protecting a vehicle's physical value. Our quotes reflect what you'll legally need:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $25,000 in property damage liability per accident

These minimums protect other people and their property when you cause an accident in a borrowed or rented car.

Sample profile for fair comparisons

We used a 40-year-old male driver with a clean record and good credit (where legally allowed for rating). Companies still need a reference vehicle for rating purposes, so we used a 2012 Toyota Camry LE as the baseline. The driver profile included 12,000 miles driven annually and no accidents or violations in the past five years.

Why does age matter for non-owner insurance? Drivers around 40 represent the largest group seeking this coverage: they're experienced enough for lower base rates but active enough to need regular vehicle access. The clean record shows you what rates look like before accidents or tickets increase your costs.

What this research tells you

This approach captures what Texas drivers actually pay when they need financial protection without owning a car. You'll see real costs from the limited pool of companies that specialize in non-owner coverage, helping you budget for liability protection when you borrow vehicles or rent cars regularly.

Learn more about our car insurance methodology.