Weekend-Only Car Insurance

The short answer is no, insurance companies don’t offer proper weekend-only car insurance. The shortest standard policy term is typically six months, and offers for one-day or one-week coverage are often misleading or not from reputable providers. There are legitimate alternatives if you only need coverage for a short period.

You can purchase a standard policy and cancel it early, or consider rental car insurance if you're driving temporarily. Non-owner insurance is a good option if you don’t own a car but still need proof of coverage. Depending on your driving habits, Usage-based, rideshare, or pay-per-mile insurance is also worth exploring.

To find the best short-term coverage, compare quotes from multiple providers. You’ll need basic documents like your driver’s license, Social Security number, and vehicle details to apply.

Several options exist for temporary coverage. Make sure your policy meets your state's minimum car insurance requirements. In some cases, you may need more than the minimum — learn more about how much car insurance you need based on your situation.

You might think about weekend-only coverage if you don’t drive regularly but need protection for specific situations. While no insurer sells a true two-day policy, temporary or alternative coverage options can help in the following cases:

The cost of short-term car insurance varies by location and coverage type. Drivers often buy and cancel a standard policy after a few days, weeks or months. The table below shows costs based on how long you keep your policy.

Insurance companies don't offer true weekend-only car insurance, and offers claiming otherwise should be viewed with caution. There are safe, reliable ways to get short-term coverage if you only need it for a few days.

Car insurance generally covers the car, not the driver. So, if you borrow a friend's vehicle with permission, you may already be covered. Consider buying a standard policy and canceling early, or explore alternatives like rental, non-owner or usage-based insurance.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about weekend-only car insurance:

MoneyGeek analyzed data from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services to determine the average cost of car insurance. This guide shows how much short-term coverage typically costs and what steps to take when buying a policy.

Study Overview

We collected quotes using a sample driver profile to calculate the national and statewide average costs of minimum coverage insurance. We also determined differences between minimum and full coverage rates and how minimum coverage rates vary for high-risk drivers (drivers with accidents and tickets).

Data Sources and Depth

We used information from Quadrant Information Services and state insurance departments to collect 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.

Driver Profile

We used the following sample driver profile to determine average car insurance costs:

• 40-year-old male
• Has a clean driving record
• Drives a Toyota Camry LE
• Drives 12,000 miles annually

This profile was modified by geographic location, coverage type and coverage limits to find the average car insurance costs for various categories of U.S. drivers and coverage needs.

Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained

In collecting national average rates, we used 100/300/100 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

To make this easier to understand, let’s break these points down into bite-size pieces:

Comprehensive and collision coverage is known as “full coverage insurance” and provides the best financial protection.

A deductible is the amount of money you’ll need to pay toward a covered loss before your policy kicks in and starts paying for your claim.

100/300/100 is shorthand for:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $100,000 property damage liability

Meanwhile, in gathering quotes for state averages, we used state-specific data using 50/100/50 comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible.

50/100/50 is shorthand for:

• $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.