Julia Taliesin is an insurance content writer at Insurify. She began her career as a journalist, covering local government and business in Somerville, Mass.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
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*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on October 30, 2024
Rates shown are real-time Insurify user quotes from 100+ insurance companies and Quadrant Information Services data. Insurify’s algorithm excludes anomalous quotes and anonymizes personal details, then displays refined quotes by price, date, and insurer popularity up to 10 days ago from October 30, 2024. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
You may need car insurance for just one day or a couple days at a time if you drive infrequently. But most major car insurance companies only offer car insurance plans for six or 12 months. Be careful responding to ads for one-day car insurance — they may be scams.
Hugo is the only legitimate car insurance company that offers policies shorter than six months. Comparing car insurance quotes from Hugo and other companies can help you find affordable car insurance.
Quick Facts
Most major auto insurance companies won’t sell a policy for a term shorter than six months.
Hugo sells state-minimum liability-only policies in 13 states, so not every driver will be able to buy coverage.
People who only want to pay for the miles they drive can consider a pay-per-mile insurer.
Can you buy one-day car insurance?
Insurance companies generally don’t sell car insurance policies for terms shorter than six months. If you’re looking for temporary car insurance for your vehicle, Hugo may be an option if you live in one of the states where it operates and you only require state-minimum coverage.
Hugo is a newer insurance company that currently offers state-minimum liability car insurance in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The insurer plans to expand into more states in the coming years.[1]
The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.
7.0/10
Liability Only
Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages.
$234/mo
Launched in 2021, Hugo is currently the only insurance company offering policy terms as short as three days and the ability to make smaller, more frequent micropayments. Drivers open an account with Hugo without paying a down payment, and choose their policy term. Hugo sells policies for three, seven, 14, or 30 days, or six months, and offers minimum coverage liability insurance. Hugo no longer sells full-coverage policies, and liability policies are limited to state minimums – you can’t buy higher liability limits.
It's pretty expensive and they don't really provide much coverage.
Kimberly - September 21, 2024
Verified
Hugo Whoa!
It's steep, but convenient.
Sheila - September 10, 2024
Verified
Great in a Pinch
It's good when you need it on the spot and don't have a lot of money because you pay daily. However, it's very expensive in the long run.
…
In the states where it operates, Hugo offers state-minimum liability policies for terms of three, seven, 14, and 30 days, or six months. The insurer no longer offers full-coverage policies, and you can’t buy higher liability limits from Hugo. If you need full coverage or higher liability limits, you’ll have to look elsewhere for coverage.
Hugo doesn’t charge a down payment or hidden fees when you purchase short-term coverage, which cuts down on typical car insurance costs.
How much temporary car insurance costs
The majority of insurers won’t sell policies for less than six months. Typically, the policy term doesn’t affect the cost of car insurance. Instead, insurers in most states base rates on information like your driving record, age, gender, ZIP code, type of vehicle, credit history, and other factors.[2]
But some types of policies may save you money depending on your driving habits. Pay-as-you-go car insurance is one option that could be cost-effective if you don’t drive much.
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How pay-as-you-go rates compare to traditional insurers
Whether pay-as-you-go car insurance rates are the cheapest option depends on several factors, including how much you drive.
For example, if you’re driving only a few days in a month, a flexible pay-as-you-go policy could save you money. Buying coverage for 30 days comes at an above-average monthly rate, but if you need coverage only for one month, it’s much cheaper than paying a full annual premium.
Several insurers offer pay-per-mile policies as well, which could be the best option if you drive infrequently or only short distances. A traditional insurer may offer more competitive rates if you drive most days.
Monthly Liability Rates by Insurer
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Alternatives when you need one-day car insurance
You may want one-day car insurance for several reasons, such as if you store a vehicle, borrow a friend’s car, or rent a car. While no insurer currently offers one-day car insurance, here are some alternatives to consider and when they might be helpful based on specific needs.
Pay-per-mile insurance
Pay-per-mile insurance typically includes a base rate and a per-mile rate. Nationwide provides an example comparison for a Chicago driver who pays $95 per month with its SmartMiles policy versus $133 for a traditional auto policy with unlimited miles. The SmartMiles policy has a $60 base rate and a $0.07 per-mile rate for 500 miles.
Good when: You don’t drive much
If you drive infrequently because you live in an urban area or work from home, you could save by purchasing a short-term or pay-per-mile insurance plan so you only pay for the days or miles you drive.
Non-owner car insurance
Many insurers offer non-owner insurance, which protects licensed drivers who don’t own a car when they borrow a vehicle. This type of insurance only includes liability coverage for damage and injuries you cause. It could be the best policy option if you frequently drive a friend’s vehicle or a rental car.
Good when: You’re borrowing someone else’s car
A friend’s or family member’s car insurance policy might not fully cover you if you drive their car. You can purchase short-term car insurance when you plan to borrow their vehicle or non-owner insurance if you’re driving a borrowed or rented car regularly.
Rental car insurance
You can purchase a short-term policy through Hugo or a car rental company. It can include a few types of coverage and is a good option for drivers who don’t have a personal auto insurance policy or coverage that doesn’t extend to rentals.
Good when: You insure a rental car
You can typically get rental car insurance through the rental company.[3] You can compare quotes to see if buying temporary coverage is more affordable.
Standard insurance with early cancellation
You can always purchase a traditional six-month policy and cancel it early. Make sure to check for early cancellation penalties before purchasing a standard policy. If you lease or finance a car, this may be your only option, but it’s possible to find affordable rates starting at $40 for full coverage and $17 for liability-only coverage.
Good when: You plan to own the car for a short time
If you inherit a car you plan to sell quickly, purchasing temporary insurance will cover those few times you’ll be out and about.
Liability-only coverage
If saving money is your top priority, liability-only car insurance is always the cheapest option and will help protect you from bodily injury and property damage liability. Every state except New Hampshire requires a minimum amount of liability coverage, so it’s possible to find savings by purchasing liability coverage that just meets your state’s requirements.
But keep in mind that minimum-coverage insurance offers far less financial protection than a full-coverage car insurance policy that includes comprehensive and collision. Ask about discounts that could help you save, like accident-free or low-mileage discounts.
Good when: You need proof of insurance
You’ll likely need proof of insurance in a few different situations, like when buying a car, getting pulled over, or registering your vehicle at the DMV. A flexible short-term policy can help you get insurance documentation quickly.
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Consequences of driving without insurance
New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require car insurance. You’ll need car insurance with at least state-minimum coverage, or more if you’re financing or leasing your vehicle.
Driving without insurance can carry significant legal consequences. For example, in California, your driving privilege will be suspended for up to four years if you’re in an accident without at least minimum coverage, no matter who’s at fault.[4]
If you can’t produce proof of coverage in Florida, your driving privilege and registration can be revoked for up to three years; reinstatement fees range from $150 to $500. Texas will fine you $175–$350 if you can’t show proof of insurance the first time, and you face $250 license renewal surcharges per year for three years. Subsequent convictions carry increasingly severe penalties.
One-day car insurance FAQs
If you need a short-term car insurance policy, flexible options like pay-per-mile coverage or Hugo could be a good fit for you. You can always ask your insurance agent, but here’s some additional helpful information about one-day car insurance.
Can you buy same-day car insurance?
Yes, it’s possible to buy a car insurance policy on the same day you apply for coverage. Many insurers offer same-day car insurance policies. It doesn’t cost more to get same-day auto insurance, and there’s no difference in coverage. Using a comparison site to shop for multiple quotes can help ensure you find a good rate on the coverage you need and secure a policy in one day.
Can you buy car insurance for one day?
You can’t buy standard car insurance for just one day. The shortest available policy term right now is three days from Hugo. If you need to insure a rental vehicle for one day, you can typically buy coverage through the rental car company.
What company sells one-day car insurance?
No legitimate car insurance companies sell coverage for just one day. Hugo sells car insurance in increments as short as three days. But if you need full coverage or higher liability limits, or if you don’t live in one of the 13 states where Hugo is available, you won’t be able to buy a policy from the insurer.
Do you need auto insurance before buying a car?
Typically, yes, you need to have auto insurance before buying a car. Most states require drivers to purchase a minimum amount of liability insurance before operating a vehicle.
What is the shortest time you can insure a car?
With Hugo, the shortest time you can insure a car is three days. A standard car insurance policy from other insurance companies is for six- or 12-month terms.
Can you get temporary car insurance in New York City?
Hugo isn’t available in New York, and no similar insurers are authorized in the state. Pay-per-mile insurance could be the best car insurance option if you drive infrequently or for short distances.
Julia Taliesin is an insurance content writer at Insurify. She began her career as a journalist, covering local government and business in Somerville, Mass. She reported multiple investigative stories about municipal finances and budget allocation, building development and inspection, and personnel. When the pandemic began she became a de facto public health reporter, writing daily and weekly reports using available data to quickly communicate rates of infection and city response.
She's worked for print and digital outlets, writing everything from quick-hit breaking news to long-form community features. More recently, Julia managed content strategy at a startup creating a social platform for licensed nurses, overseeing a team of nurse freelancers and editing interview transcripts and news articles for publication.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in communications from Simmons University, with a focus in journalism. Outside of work, Julia enjoys working on crafting projects, learning about homesteading, and singing in cover bands.
Evelyn PimplaskarEditor-in-Chief, Director of Content
10+ years in insurance and personal finance content
30+ years in media, PR, and content creation
Evelyn leads Insurify’s content team. She’s passionate about creating empowering content to help people transform their financial lives and make sound insurance-buying decisions.
Clinical Professor of Finance, University of San Diego
Dan is a well-recognized and widely quoted financial services expert, regularly appearing in a variety of national and local media as a subject matter expert.
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