You might need car insurance for a day, a week, or a month rather than the coverage for six months to a year offered by traditional policies. What you're looking for in such an instance is short-term car insurance. A short-term car insurance policy provides the crucial coverage you need to protect a vehicle and yourself for a much shorter time frame than a traditional policy offers.
An independent insurance agent in your area can help you find short-term car insurance if you're in need. They'll make sure you get set up with exactly the right type of coverage. But first, here's more about short-term car insurance and when you might need it.
What Is Short-Term Car Insurance?
Also known as temporary car insurance, short-term car insurance is an auto insurance policy that only covers you for a short period of time. These policies can sometimes be purchased for just one day, but are usually used for a few weeks or months. Temporary car insurance is most commonly bought by drivers who need to borrow a vehicle for a while or who need short-term coverage for another vehicle that's not covered by their existing auto policy.
What Does Short-Term Car Insurance Cover?
A temporary auto insurance policy can provide similar coverage to a traditional full-length policy. At a minimum, your short-term car insurance will likely include liability coverage, but may also include other protections such as collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage. Work with an independent insurance agent to find the right type of policy for you.
How Long Does Short-Term Car Insurance Last?
Even if you only need it for one day, short-term car insurance usually lasts about a month. You might be able to find short-term auto insurance for one day or a week, but it's critical to be aware of scams advertising this coverage. Working with an independent insurance agent is the best way to find legitimate short-term car insurance for one day.
Just like traditional car insurance, your options for car insurance for short-term time frames can vary depending on the options you choose and the type of policy you buy. You can opt for just liability coverage or get a comprehensive policy that can help pay for repairs in the event of a windshield break, vandalism, or an act of nature.
Why Temporary Car Insurance Can Be Helpful
It might not make sense to place a visiting relative on your regular car insurance policy, especially if they have a history of car crashes. Adding a driver with a poor record to your existing car insurance can considerably increase your premium rates.
There's also another benefit of keeping a separate one-day or short-term auto policy for unusual needs or circumstances. Should you need to file a claim on your short-term auto policy, it won’t affect your claims-free discount on your regular car insurance policy.
When to Consider Short-Term Car Insurance
While most auto insurance policies cover any driver who's been given permission to use your car and can protect against damage caused by an occasional driver, some policies are only valid for the family members who have been named as part of the household. In this case, if you had a relative visiting from out of town who needed to borrow your car for a brief period, getting a short-term car insurance policy might make sense. This type of protection can be useful in a variety of circumstances, including if any of the following apply:
- Your car is in the shop, and you're driving another person’s vehicle.
- You're in the process of buying a new car and are test-driving several options.
- You're lending your car to a family member, friend, or anyone else excluded from your full-length policy.
- You're selling your car and need it covered only temporarily for those who will be test-driving it.
- You're in the process of switching full-length auto insurance policies or companies.
An independent insurance agent can help you determine if you need a short-term car insurance policy based on your unique circumstances.
Is a One-Day Short-Term Car Insurance Policy Really Worth It?
Unfortunately, some people learn the hard way that forgoing car insurance, even for just one day, can cost thousands of dollars. Just a minor car accident can cost $500 to $3,000 in medical expenses and property damage, while severe and fatal car accidents can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $1 million or more, including legal expenses.
It may be a matter of needing car insurance for a single day, week, or month, but a crash can happen in mere moments. In the event you plan to rent a car or a moving van, it’s especially important to protect yourself from the costs of a crash. Driving an unfamiliar vehicle on unfamiliar streets or highways can increase your chances of being involved in an accident.
What Do I Need to Find the Right Policy?
There's a bit of information you'll need to have prepared when you're ready to buy short-term car insurance. Make sure to walk into your appointment with the following gathered:
- The make, model, year, and VIN of your vehicle
- Your name, address, and driver's license, or that information for the driver you want to insure on your vehicle
- The driving history of you or the other person
Tell your independent insurance agent exactly what you need short-term car insurance for and for whom. They may be able to help you print out your insurance card right away for immediate use. Your independent insurance agent can also help you compare short-term car insurance policy options and costs so you get the best deal possible.
How Much Does Short-Term Car Insurance Cost?
Like traditional car insurance, short-term auto insurance premiums can depend on a variety of factors, such as the make and model of your car, where you'll be driving it, your driving record, and your age. Short-term policies are generally more flexible and less expensive than purchasing a traditional car insurance policy or changing an existing one. A local independent insurance agent can help you find affordable temporary car insurance near you.
How to Find the Right Short-Term Car Insurance for You
Working together with an independent insurance agent is a super-easy way to find the right type of short-term car insurance coverage for your needs. Independent insurance agents can even help you find short-term car insurance for a 21-year-old if you have a younger driver in your household.
They can also help you get covered with short-term European car insurance if you have a foreign vehicle. Just let them know what you're looking for, and they'll get to work.
Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?
Independent insurance agents make the process of shopping and comparing quotes for short-term car insurance easy. They compare policy options and rates from tons of different insurance companies for you, ultimately finding you the best blend of coverage and cost. They'll get you set up with all the short-term car insurance you need, right when you need it.
FAQs About Short-Term Car Insurance
How long does short-term car insurance cover you?
You can buy short-term car insurance policies ranging from a single day to a few months. Most policies average one month in coverage.
Can I use short-term car insurance when borrowing a friend's car?
If you have an existing car insurance policy, you're likely already covered while driving a friend's vehicle. However, you'll need to review your policy to be sure. It's also possible that your friend's auto insurance policy would cover you while you're driving their car.
Can I use short-term car insurance for business vehicles?
Some short-term car insurance companies offer temporary commercial auto policies. You might want to use temporary business vehicle insurance when renting a truck or van for work-related purposes, such as transporting equipment, or if you need to use your own car temporarily for business purposes.
Sources
https://learnandserve.org/average-cost-of-a-car-accident/
https://www.allstate.com/resources/car-insurance/temporary-car-insurance
