How to Buy Temporary Car Insurance

Most reputable car insurance companies won’t sell policies for less than six months. But it’s possible to find short-term, temporary coverage.

Jamie Johnson
Written byJamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson
  • 6 years experience in personal finance writing

  • Featured on Credit Karma and Insider

Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.

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Sarah Archambault
Sarah Archambault
  • Experienced personal finance writer

  • Background working with banks and insurance companies

Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.

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Mark Friedlander
Reviewed byMark Friedlander
Mark Friedlander
Mark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications, Triple-I
  • Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute

  • 20+ years in insurance and communications

As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.

Updated October 30, 2024

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Temporary car insurance provides coverage for a short time — anywhere from a few days up to a few weeks or months. You may benefit from purchasing a temporary auto policy if you’re renting a car or adding a student driver to your insurance.

Most insurers don’t offer policies for less than six months, but newer companies like Hugo offer pay-as-you-go policies for infrequent drivers. Be sure to understand your options when it comes to short-term car insurance. Comparing quotes is the best way to find a policy that meets your needs.

Quick Facts
  • Short-term car insurance may be available for as little as one day.

  • Pay-as-you-go insurance provides usage-based coverage with rates based on actual mileage and driving habits.

  • You don’t always need insurance when driving someone else’s car, but if you’re planning to drive it often, consider non-owner insurance.

Four temporary car insurance options

When it comes to temporary car insurance, you have four main options. The best one for you depends on your situation and budget. For example, pay-as-you-go insurance suits drivers who are on the road infrequently, while rental car insurance covers drivers who rent vehicles often.

Consider how each policy works to make the best choice for your needs.

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Pay-as-you-go car insurance: Best for infrequent drivers

Pay-as-you-go insurance is a type of car insurance that bases rates on how many miles you drive in a month. With this type of policy, you pay a low daily or monthly base rate and an additional rate for each mile you drive.

Many of these programs use telematics to monitor how many miles you drive. Some insurers also monitor your driving behaviors and offer you a bigger discount for following safe driving habits.

Low-mileage drivers often see significant savings with pay-as-you-go car insurance. But it generally only makes sense if you drive less than 10,000 miles per year and are a safe driver.[1]

Hugo is a good choice for pay-as-you-go insurance thanks to the company’s flexible payment options. You can buy coverage for a few days, weeks, or months at a time and only pay when you drive. But Hugo only offers state-minimum liability coverage in 13 states, so if you need full coverage, higher liability limits, or live outside its coverage area, you won’t be able to use Hugo.

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User Reviews
4.0
IQ Score
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.

Pros
  • Short-term policies

  • No down payment required

  • Micropayment option

Cons
  • Only available in 13 states

  • Full coverage not available

  • No discounts

Read more driver reviews of Hugo
Dawn - October 21, 2024
Verified

Paying Too Much

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.

Pay-as-you-go insurance vs. standard insurance

Most insurance companies that offer pay-as-you-go insurance charge a daily or monthly rate along with a per-mile rate. Here are some top insurers that offer pay-as-you-go insurance.

Company
Rate
Availability
IQ Score
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.
Best For
Allstate (Milewise)Daily rate + per-mile rateAZ, DE, ID, IL, IN, MD, MN, MO, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, VA, WA, WI, and WV8.9Overall
Nationwide (SmartMiles)Monthly base rate + per-mile rateEverywhere but AK, HI, LA, NC, NY, and OK8.7Wide availability
HugoOn-demandAL, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, MS, OH, PA, SC, TN, and TX7.0Flexibility
MetromileBase rate + per-mile rateAZ, CA, IL, NJ, OR, PA, VA, and WA7.0Families
Mile AutoMonthly base rate + per-mile rateAZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, and WI7.5Ease of use
Noblr (USAA)Monthly fixed rate + monthly variable rateAZ, CO, GA, IL, IN, LA, MD, MO, NV, NM, OH, PA, TX, VA, and WIN/AMilitary community
  • Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

    We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.

    • Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
    • Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
    • Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
    • Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
    • Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

Non-owner car insurance: Best for driving a vehicle you don’t own

A non-owner policy provides coverage when you’re driving a vehicle you don’t own. For example, non-owner car insurance is often a good choice when borrowing a friend or family member’s vehicle for a period of time.

This type of policy provides liability coverage for any injuries or property damage resulting from an accident you cause. You can also add medical payments, personal injury protection, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

These policies usually have six-month or one-year terms, but you can cancel at any time. Non-owner insurance tends to be less expensive than standard auto insurance. If you’re interested in exploring this option, several major insurers offer non-owner policies, including GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, and Liberty Mutual.

Pay-per-mile car insurance: Best for low-mileage drivers

With pay-per-mile car insurance, your monthly payment is based on how many miles you drive. This policy can be a good option for low-mileage drivers looking to save money on car insurance. For example, if you work from home and spend very little time driving, a pay-per-mile policy could cut down on your auto insurance costs.

Your insurer tracks the number of miles you drive using either a telematics device in your vehicle or a smartphone app. The device reports collected data to your insurance company, along with information about your driving habits.

Keep in Mind

Pay-per-mile car insurance offers more control over your car insurance costs since you can choose to spend less time driving in order to save. But pay-per-mile insurance isn’t available in every state, and it often costs more than standard insurance if your mileage increases. Allstate, Nationwide, and Metromile all offer pay-per-mile policies.

Rental car insurance: Best for frequent travelers

If you rent a car frequently, you can benefit from rental car insurance — especially if you don’t have your own auto insurance policy. You can sometimes use rental car insurance for international rentals. You can often purchase rental car insurance when booking your rental vehicle online or at the rental counter when picking up the car.

Can you get car insurance for one day?

No, you can’t typically get insurance for one day unless you’re buying rental insurance for a one-day rental. Most insurers offer policies ranging from six months to one year, but Hugo does offer coverage starting at three days.

When you might need temporary car insurance

You may need temporary car insurance for a variety of reasons. For example, insurance comes in handy if you’re going to borrow a friend or family member’s car or are renting a vehicle.

Insurance coverages such as permissive use, rental, and non-owner policies are all good ways to get car insurance temporarily, depending on what you need it for.

You’re driving someone else’s car

You can often rely on your friend or family member’s insurance when you borrow their car, as long as you have permission to drive it. This is known as permissive coverage. It’s a good option if you plan to drive occasionally. But if you intend to use the car more frequently, consider having them add you to the policy or purchasing a non-owner policy.[2]

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Someone else will drive your car for a short period

The concept of permissive coverage also applies when you lend someone your vehicle. For coverage, you must have a current auto insurance policy and grant permission to the driver. But if you’re unsure about your policy’s coverage or want an added layer of protection, consider asking the borrower to purchase their own temporary insurance.

You have a student driver on your policy

You can typically add dependents learning to drive, like your children, to your policy. While your premium might increase, adding a student driver to your current plan is typically cheaper than purchasing a separate policy.[3]

Ask your agent about discounts for good students, recent graduates, and students away at school.

You’re renting a car

Rental car insurance covers you when you rent a car and don’t have your own car insurance. You can purchase rental car insurance through the rental car company. Coverage requirements vary by state but usually include collision and liability coverage.

Car rental companies usually offer a collision damage waiver. But the waiver only covers damages to the rental car and excludes liability coverage. Some credit card companies offer the coverage for free — so if you plan to pay for the rental with a credit card, check your card’s benefits.[4]

You’re traveling internationally

Car insurance policies typically cover American citizens driving in Canada. But if you plan to drive to Mexico, you must purchase a separate policy.

You’ll also need a separate policy if you drive in any other country, even if the country’s laws don’t require it. Your domestic car insurance policy won’t cover you internationally, so without insurance, you could expose yourself to financial liability if you get into an accident. Check with your current insurer about adding international coverage.

Good to Know

International tourists visiting America typically need insurance to drive in the U.S. — along with a valid driver’s license. Some international licenses might be valid, but be sure to check local laws.

Your car is going into storage

Cars in storage aren’t legally required to be insured — as long as you don’t put them on the road. But storage insurance helps protect against theft and vandalism. If you need short-term insurance for a stored vehicle like a classic car, consider comprehensive coverage. Check with your insurance company to see whether it lets you drop other parts of your coverage to save money on your premium.

Temporary car insurance FAQs

If you’re still not sure whether you need temporary car insurance, this additional information may help.

  • Is temporary car insurance legit?

    Temporary car insurance advertised to last less than six months may not be legitimate, and you should proceed with caution when dealing with companies offering such policies. Most insurance companies sell policies that last at least six months. Hugo Insurance is one exception.

  • Can you get month-to-month car insurance?

    Hugo is a legitimate company that sells short-term coverage. Most insurance companies don’t offer month-to-month car insurance. But it’s possible to get a six- or 12-month car insurance policy and cancel once you no longer need it. Some insurers charge a cancellation fee, but it’s usually minimal and less than what you’d pay if you kept the policy active.

  • Do you need insurance to drive someone else’s car?

    Not necessarily. With permissive use, the owner permits you to drive their car and their insurance often covers you. But the car owner can also add you to their insurance policy for long-term coverage if you drive the car regularly and live at the same address. Or you can purchase a separate non-owner auto insurance policy.

  • Does GEICO offer temporary car insurance?

    GEICO offers a non-owner liability policy, which can provide coverage if you’re using a rental car or borrowing a friend’s car. GEICO’s policies typically range from six months to one year.

Sources

  1. Insurance Information Institute. "Background on: Pay-as-you drive auto insurance (telematics)."
  2. Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance basics—understanding your coverage."
  3. Insurance Information Institute. "Auto insurance for teen drivers."
  4. Insurance Information Institute. "Rental car insurance."
Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson

Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.

Sarah Archambault
Sarah Archambault
  • Experienced personal finance writer

  • Background working with banks and insurance companies

Sarah enjoys helping people find smarter ways to spend their money. She covers auto financing, banking, credit cards, credit health, insurance, and personal loans.

Featured in

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Mark Friedlander
Reviewed byMark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications, Triple-I
Mark Friedlander
Mark FriedlanderDirector, Corporate Communications, Triple-I
  • Corporate communications director for Insurance Information Institute

  • 20+ years in insurance and communications

As Director, Corporate Communications for Triple-I, Mark serves as the non-profit’s national spokesperson, sharing information and education on a wide array of insurance issues.

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