Not everyone needs to make a long-term commitment to their car insurance, which is why temporary car insurance can be such an excellent option. It affords you the protection you need, without having to be locked into a higher price for a longer time.
Temporary or short-term car insurance is that lasts for a short period, such as less than six months. However, car insurance is usually sold in six-month or one-year packages. In most cases, you will be asked to purchase six months of car insurance, which you can then pay for on a month-to-month basis until you no longer need the protection.
Short-term car insurance safeguards you in case you are driving a car that does not belong to you or in case another person is driving a car that belongs to you. Any person looking to drive a car that they do not own can benefit from cheap temporary car insurance.
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If you find yourself driving a car that you do not own and that is not covered by a pre-existing insurance policy, you may want temporary car insurance coverage. You don’t want to put yourself in a high-risk situation in case of an unforeseen situation like a road accident.
Temporary auto insurance can be for a second driver of your vehicle, such as your college-age child who only drives the car for a certain period, like in the summer months of any given year. Taking out an instant temporary car insurance policy for the second driver is more cost-effective than adding the second driver to your pre-existing insurance plan—this can increase your premium by up to $2,500 per year.
A rideshare driver who doesn’t own the car they drive may purchase cheap short-term car insurance to cover themselves against liability insurance or collision coverage. Liability insurance is protection against a lawsuit if one is involved in an accident and causes damage to someone else’s vehicle, while collision coverage helps to pay for repairs to a vehicle if one is involved in an accident.
Choosing short-term auto insurance is also a great idea if you’re planning on driving while on vacation. After all, a road mishap can quickly derail any time away and you don’t want to remember the trip by a ticket or worse, an accident.
Even if your car is not on the road and is in storage, it can be at risk of getting stolen or damaged. This is why you should also look into retaining temporary insurance for a stationary car.
You may also choose temporary car insurance for when you’re car shopping or between permanent vehicles. This is because you want insurance coverage, but you don’t want to commit to a policy long-term before you choose a vehicle.
There are plenty of reasons to choose temporary auto insurance, but it comes down to a simple fact: you need car insurance but you don’t need it for a long time.
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If you’re considering temporary car insurance and aren’t sure if it’s right for you, there are other options.
Since temporary car insurance can be hard to come by, these alternatives might be easier to secure and can often be a great way to save on car insurance while getting the coverage you need.
Start with your current car insurance company, but not all insurance providers offer short-term car insurance. Comparing temporary insurance options online can provide you with an idea of the options available and get you the best quote possible.
Whether you’re driving for one day, one month, or one year, you need car insurance. It’s legally required in almost every state, but it’s also a smart choice: a car accident (regardless of how minor) can set you back financially, physically, and emotionally. Temporary car insurance is a great way to get the coverage you need without committing to a long-term period.
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Short-term auto insurance is great for any situation where you’re driving a car that’s not already insured. There are many instances where short term auto insurance is the more cost-effective choice, such as students home from college or driving on vacation.
It depends on the provider and policy. Most insurance providers don’t offer insurance for less than six months but can make exceptions in certain situations or have special offers.
Claire Smith Claire is a creative entrepreneur with a variety of marketing and content creation skills, including blog and web copy writing, research, and strategy. She has a Masters in Cultural Studies from Queen's University and is known for thinking laterally about marketing, based on her deep knowledge of people and behavior.
