How to Get Temporary Car Insurance

Do you need temporary auto insurance but do not know where to begin?

Before diving into the process, you’ll need to have the necessary documents containing personal info at hand.   This includes your driver’s license, vehicle information (make, model, and VIN), and details about your driving history.

Most providers use a set of acceptance criteria to decide if you meet the requirements to obtain a policy. These criteria include things like age, address, penalty points, and even past criminal convictions. Companies often require their temporary auto insurance clients to have no outstanding criminal convictions apart from traffic infractions.

Making the right insurance choice requires consideration of these factors.

Moreover, there are a few other ways to obtain temporary insurance, such as using credit card coverage. Although the terms of coverage may differ, certain credit cards come with rental car insurance as a perk when you use the card to pay for rentals.

There is also rental coverage where you receive short-term insurance plans to cover your rental car for the duration of the rental.

Another option is to get a standalone policy, which is one that certain insurance providers offer especially for temporary requirements like a few days, weeks, or months of coverage. They function independently of your standard auto insurance and usually offer protection for a set time frame, which can be anywhere from a few days to several months.

Investigating various options for temporary auto insurance can provide you with customized options that meet your needs, which is crucial.

Everything about temporary insurance and crucial factors will be covered in this post. So buckle up, and I will set you up with temporary car insurance in no time!

Read: How to Get Lower Car Insurance Rates

What is temporary car insurance?

Commonly referred to as short-term auto insurance, temporary car insurance spares you from having to purchase an annual insurance policy when driving a car for a brief amount of time. For a maximum of 30 days, it provides full coverage beginning from one hour to a couple of months. 

You can always access temporary car insurance policies for hourly, daily, or monthly purposes. 

Applying for this coverage is quick and easy, and you can access your policy online at all times. As needed, add more days or hours. Since there is no yearly commitment, the policy ends whenever you no longer need it.

How to get a temporary car insurance 

Temporary car insurance is not different from car insurance, just that it has a limited or shorter time. So how do you get temporary car insurance? 

Short-term insurance can be gotten from your insurance agents. Here are some steps you need to go through if you want to get temporary car insurance;

1. Buy your coverage and cancel it 

The easiest way to get temporary car insurance is to apply for normal coverage and hit the cancel button when you don’t want it. You don’t have to tell your insurer when you purchased it that you have plans to cancel.

You will usually receive a refund based on the event that you cancel if you pay the entire fee in advance.

If you want to cancel your insurance early, some carriers charge a penalty for canceling but most don’t. Verify whether an insurance company charges a fee if you’re searching for short-term coverage. If so, include that amount in your overall coverage costs when comparing providers.

2. Use the coverage provided by the rental car company 

When you rent a car, their providers give you rental car insurance if that’s all you require. Every policy should cover the minimal requirements for the state in which you rent a car, though the specific types and amount of coverage may be different.

If you need more coverage beyond what a regular rental policy provides, you can purchase it at the rental desk. In addition to increased coverage restrictions, you might be able to purchase add-ons such as roadside aid.

3. Get non-owner car insurance

A lot of insurers sell non-owner insurance policies, which cover you when driving someone else’s car. This includes company cars, ride-share, and car-sharing vehicles, as well as those owned by loved ones.

Non-owner policies are frequently much cheaper than owner insurance premiums. This is partly because they often only cover property harm and loss liability cases.

They also typically provide backup coverage, which means that the owner’s existing policy will cover liability lawsuits before non-owner coverage steps in.

Related: How to Get a Non-Owner Car Insurance

4. Make use of specialized discounts

Some individuals don’t often have access to their vehicles, thus they require temporary coverage. Active-duty military personnel and students at universities who park their cars at home are good examples of this.

Insurers provide specific discounts that can lower the cost of coverage for many of these drivers.

For instance, several suppliers give students who are absent from school without their cars discounts. Some offer discounts to be used for at-home military personnel. If you park your car for a long time, several insurers will also reduce the rate you pay.

Speak with an insurance agent to find out more about these price cuts. They might also know of cost-saving options that will not be publicly mentioned on the insurance website.

5. Examine insurance based on use 

With usage-based insurance, you receive savings which is dependent on the way you drive. These apps monitor how you drive in real time by gathering tracking data from gadgets or phone apps.

Most programs take your mileage into account, and driving less will result in a larger discount.

Temporary car insurance is a stress-free, easy way to get insurance for different needs. Each insurance company has its policy but you can readily get temporary insurance from 60 minutes to 30 days.

It will be a great idea to consider this if you want to use a friend’s car, test run a new vehicle, or take a long drive. You will only get to pay as you use it. 

6. Coverage for permissible use

The majority of auto insurance policies provide coverage for both the primary driver and any additional drivers. Thus, if you were to drive someone else’s car, you would be protected. 

On the other hand, if you live at the same address and intend to drive someone else’s car frequently, you might want to get non-owner’s insurance or add yourself to their policy.

7. Make use of a standard auto policy

The easiest substitute for a short-term auto insurance policy is a regular policy that you use for a brief period. It usually does not take long for standard coverage to begin because most auto insurance policies take effect after your initial payment.

You should find out if the auto insurance plan you are thinking about has cancellation fees, even though many don’t.

Finding another way to get around might still be more sensible than getting a month-long auto insurance policy, which comes with a small cancellation fee or loss of deposit.

8. Vehicle insurance based on mileage

Car insurance based on mileage is a subset of usage-based insurance. However, your mileage is the only consideration when using this option.

Not driving frequently can result in significant cost savings because you drive fewer miles. The following are a few instances of this coverage:

• Metromile 
• Allstate Milewise
• Nationwide SmartMiles

A low monthly base rate plus a rate per mile are typically paid with these programs. To prevent you from overspending on a road trip, pay-per-mile plans also feature daily mileage charge caps.

When looking to purchase short-term auto insurance

Several considerations should be made when searching for options for temporary auto insurance, such as those mentioned above. Among these are the following:

1. Prevent a coverage lapse

Whatever method you choose to fulfill your temporary insurance needs, be careful not to let your auto insurance coverage lapse. This occurs if you own a car that is registered in your name but lacks insurance. 

The DMVs in every state receive direct reports from auto insurance companies, so even if you cancel your policy but keep your car registered, your state will still be informed.

2. Inquire about the cost of cancellations

Depending on the provider and the state, cancellation costs can amount to 10% of your auto insurance premium. To save money on future premiums, it might be worthwhile to pay a small cancellation fee if you are looking for temporary insurance. 

On the other hand, be aware of any costs associated with canceling your policy if you are shopping around for a new one.

3. Take into account every temporary insurance option available

Although there is no such thing as temporary insurance, there are still lots of other options available. Consider the amount of coverage you truly receive for the money when determining the type of coverage you need and want.

Is it possible to get monthly, weekly, or daily temporary car insurance?

It is likely fraudulent and not genuine if you come across a company advertising a one-day, one-week, or one-month temporary auto insurance policy. The shortest term that can be specified is six months.

Fortunately, obtaining temporary usage rights and a simple enrollment process are offered by standard auto insurance. If you sell your car or decide to stop driving, for instance, you can buy a six-month policy and cancel it after a few months. 

After you cancel, your auto insurance company will not bill you for the remaining months, but you might have to pay a cancellation fee.

Additionally, you ought to think about enrolling in a pay-per-mile insurance plan if you do not drive your car very often. In this case, you would only pay for the actual amount you drive, or you might be rewarded with reduced rates.

What situations would require short-term vehicle insurance?

Short-term coverage may be necessary in several circumstances, even though there are no short-term auto insurance policies. Among them are:

• Taking summer break and returning home from college
• Traveling to a place where driving a car is necessary
• Residing with loved ones and using their vehicle while they are away
• Living overseas yet traveling by car in the United States
• Using your vehicle in certain seasons
• Purchasing a vehicle that you intend to sell shortly 

Read: How Do I Find Out If My Car Is Insured?