Temporary Car Insurance in Florida: What You Need to Know (2024)
A normal car insurance policy in Florida lasts for six months. Travelers provides the cheapest six-month policies in Florida.
Excellent
)
Written byJacqueline DeMarco
)
13+ years writing insurance and personal finance content
Insurance, lending, and retirement expert
Jacqueline has contributed content, and her personal finance passion, to dozens of noteworthy financial brands, including Credit Karma, Bankrate, and MagnifyMoney.
Featured in
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
Edited byCourtney Mikulski
)
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Featured in
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
Reviewed byAmber Benka
)
Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance. She has owned the R.A.L Insurance Agency for four years.
Updated October 30, 2024
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
Advertiser Disclosure
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
Table of contents
Temporary car insurance — also known as short-term car insurance — can be very hard to come by, as most auto insurance companies only offer car policies that last for six months or longer. While it’s possible to find temporary auto insurance in Florida, it’s often easier to pursue alternative options when you only need car insurance for a short time. The average cost of a standard liability-only car insurance policy in Florida is $339 a month, and it may be more effective to buy this type of policy and cancel it early or to pursue another solution.
Let’s take a closer look at how temporary car insurance works in Florida and what alternative insurance options entail.
Quick Facts
If you only need car insurance for a short-term rental or borrowed vehicle, consider purchasing a nonowner car insurance policy or rental car insurance.
Alternatively, you can opt for a longer policy term with a traditional car insurance policy and cancel it early if desired.
Canceling a car insurance policy before the end date may result in a cancellation fee, but it could save you money in the long run by avoiding costly monthly premiums.
Is temporary car insurance available in Florida?
Most major car insurance companies don’t offer temporary policies, so even though these policies may be available in Florida, they can be hard to find.
Mark Friedlander, Insurance Information Institute corporate communications director, urges consumers who want to buy temporary car insurance to be careful when they do so.
“Insurance professionals also warn consumers to be wary about scams from companies that advertise temporary insurance (such as seven-day and 30-day plans), as the level of coverage provided may not be adequate. Most short-term plans are offered through obscure insurers,” Friedlander says. “If you plan to buy temporary auto insurance, make sure you are purchasing it from a reputable carrier and that the coverage is adequate so you are financially protected from all potential losses.”
The reason major auto insurance companies don’t offer temporary policies is that it costs companies more to underwrite the risk than they make off a short-term policy, according to Friedlander.
Hugo is a relatively new insurtech company that offers short-term and temporary car insurance policies to Florida drivers. You can buy insurance under two plans — flex or basic/full — and turn your coverage on and off as needed. If you’re not driving, then you don’t have to pay for car insurance, but the option to turn it on and get coverage is available.
Find Florida Car Insurance
Secure. Free. Easy-to-use.
Based on 3,806+ reviews
4.8/5
Getting nonowner car insurance in Florida
“If you’re driving a vehicle you don’t own, you can look into other options like nonowner insurance,” Friedlander explains. Nonowner car insurance is a great fit for people who frequently borrow other people’s cars or want to use a car-sharing service. What’s great about nonowner car insurance is that you can easily purchase it for a period of six months to a year. Unlike traditional car insurance policies, this kind of coverage is usually more affordable. Moreover, if you only need the policy for a short period, you can usually cancel it without any hassle.
Keep in mind that having continuous insurance coverage is an important part of your driving history, and insurers may consider you a higher-risk driver if you have coverage gaps when you buy insurance again in the future.
Important Information
Although nonowner car insurance offers terms and conditions similar to regular car insurance, it only covers injuries and damages that you cause to other people and their property. It doesn’t cover your injuries or property.
Canceling your policy early in Florida
You also have the option of buying a standard car insurance policy and canceling it early. If you want to, you can purchase a six-month policy and then cancel it after a few months if you no longer need coverage — like if you sold your car or stopped driving it. You may have to pay a cancellation fee, but you won’t be on the hook for monthly premiums anymore.
You can cancel a car insurance policy for any reason. But it’s important to note that even if you cancel your policy, you still need car insurance in Florida if you drive again. You risk license or vehicle registration suspension if you drive without insurance.[1]
Getting car insurance for a rental car in Florida
If you’re renting a car, you have a few options for getting rental car insurance coverage:
Check your existing car insurance policy. Your current policy may provide limited coverage for rental cars. Call your insurer to find out the details of your coverage and any exclusions or limits.
Consider credit card coverage. If you pay for the rental with a credit card, it may provide primary or secondary coverage for damage and theft. Check with your credit card issuer to understand the details of its benefits.
Purchase a rental car insurance policy. The rental company will likely offer optional insurance policies to cover liability, collision damage, and theft. The cost will depend on the level of coverage and the value of the rental car. Only buy what you need to supplement your existing coverage.[2]
Best car insurance companies for short-term car insurance in Florida
If you’re looking for insurance companies that offer short-term car insurance policies in Florida, the following table outlines some popular insurers and their average rates for liability-only, six-month car insurance policies.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ | Insurify Quality 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. ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $219 | 4.3 |
| National General | $222 | 3.5 |
| Safeco | $229 | 3.8 |
| Progressive | $244 | 4.1 |
| Midvale Home & Auto | $317 | 3.2 |
| Dairyland | $332 | N/A |
| Mercury | $335 | 3.6 |
| Bristol West | $377 | 2.2 |
| Infinity | $405 | N/A |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
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.
Methodology
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers' vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates. With this data, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums. The data included on this page represents averages across all driver ages, genders, credit scores, and driver profiles for Florida drivers.
Recent Insurify quotes for Florida drivers
Drivers in and around Florida have found policies from Mercury, GEICO, Bristol West, and more, through Insurify in the last few days.
*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.
*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.
Car insurance for students in Florida
Let’s look at two common scenarios that can affect how students or their parents pursue car insurance coverage while the student is in college.
Scenario 1: Students who just moved to Florida for college and intend to drive their car at college
If you’re a student who just moved to Florida for college and plan to bring your car, you’ll need to modify your car insurance policy to meet the state’s requirements. To modify your car insurance policy, contact your insurance company and inform it of your move to Florida. A representative will help you adjust your coverage to meet the state’s requirements. You may also want to consider increasing your coverage beyond the state minimums to protect yourself financially in case of an accident or damage to your vehicle.
Scenario 2: Parents who have a child who just moved to college and will no longer drive their car
If you’re a parent who has a child that just moved to college and will no longer drive your car, you may be able to modify your car insurance policy to save on costs. You can also choose to remove your child as a driver from your policy, which could result in a lower premium. To remove your child from your car insurance policy, contact your insurer and inform it of the change. An agent will adjust your policy accordingly and provide you with any necessary documentation. However, if your child plans on using your car during school breaks or visits home, you may want to keep them on your policy to ensure they have coverage in case of an accident.
Temporary car insurance in Florida FAQs
Before you buy temporary car insurance in Florida, let’s address some frequently asked questions about the topic to help you better understand your options.
Can you get temporary insurance in Florida?
Terms of six months or a year may be the norm for car insurance policies in Florida, but drivers who need temporary coverage have some options. Whether you go with a company like Hugo, rental car insurance, nonowner insurance, or canceling your policy early, make sure to do your research and choose the option that works best for your specific needs.
Is temporary car insurance legit?
It’s possible to buy temporary car insurance in Florida, but it can be hard to find these types of policies with major insurance companies, which is why insurance expert Mark Friedlander warns consumers to look out for scams and to make sure they receive adequate coverage if they buy a temporary car insurance policy.
It’s best to do research on any auto insurance company you’re considering buying a policy from. Spend some time online looking up customer reviews and Better Business Bureau (BBB) complaints.
Can you drive a car without insurance if you just bought it in Florida?
No. If you buy a car in Florida, you must insure it to register it with the state and drive it on public roads.[3] Furthermore, most dealerships won’t let you leave with the car you just bought if it doesn’t have insurance.
How long can you be without car insurance in Florida?
In the state of Florida, you can’t drive a car without car insurance for any reason. It’s illegal, and driving without a license can result in license plate suspension for up to three years.[3]
Related articles
More cities in Florida
Sources
- III. "Is it legal to drive without insurance?."
- III. "Rental car insurance."
- Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. "Florida Insurance Requirements."
)
Jacqueline DeMarco
During college, Jacqueline DeMarco interned at a retirement plan advisory firm and was tasked with creating a presentation on the importance of financial wellness. During her research into how money can affect our health, relationships and career, Jacqueline realized just how important financial education is. Jacqueline is a contributor for Insurify and has worked with more than a dozen financial brands, including LendingTree, Capital One, Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, Bankrate, Student Loan Hero, ValuePenguin, SoFi, and Northwestern Mutual, providing thoughtful content to give readers insight into complex topics that they likely didn’t learn in school.
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
Featured in
Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance. She has owned the R.A.L Insurance Agency for four years.
)
)
)
)
)