Most insurance companies force you to pay a large lump sum upfront, which is usually 20% of the policy value. No deposit car insurance is an option where you can choose monthly payments rather than one deposit at the start.
The thing is this sort of 30 day auto insurance doesn’t actually exist in the US—at least not among reputable providers who won’t gouge you for rates.
There are many reasons for this, but one of the main ones is that people who want short-term insurance are often seen as higher risks to insure. Also, it’s not financially sensible for insurance providers to only collect one payment for one month since companies need more money to pay out claims. As such, most US insurers offer coverage on policies for six months to a year. This is standard.
But this doesn’t mean you won’t see advertisements for month to month auto insurance from US insurance providers. Some companies will make ads about 30 day auto insurance, but they’re not actually selling this kind of monthly car insurance. Rather, they’re trying to entice people who want month to month car insurance to their website where they’ll show them alternatives to 30 day car insurance.
And there are several alternatives. However, before we get into those, let’s talk about why you might need short-term insurance.
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There are definitely valid scenarios for wanting monthly car insurance. You could be going on a trip and planning on driving, you could be staying with friends or family and want to borrow their car, you might need short term car insurance while shopping for a vehicle, or you might be trying to sell your vehicle and need a stop-gap policy.
Needing monthly car insurance is completely legitimate, but it’s not a common option because it’s risky for car insurance providers and can be more easily misused by those looking to get an insurance payout.
While it might seem counterintuitive to sign up for a longer policy than you need if you’re trying to save money on car insurance, month to month car insurance can often be more expensive. Choosing a policy that lasts six months to a year will net you more savings and often cost you less in the long run—especially if you extend your monthly car insurance one or more times.
If you’re looking to save money on car insurance, you have alternatives to 30-day auto insurance. These include:
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Here’s what you need to remember about comparing month to month car insurance quotes online: you can’t actually compare them, because most companies do not provide monthly policies.
For this reason, when you’re comparing one month car insurance quotes, don’t even bother telling a car insurance representative you’re only looking for a 30 day policy. Instead, focus on what you’d shop for in a longer term policy (remember, there are other options for drivers looking for more sporadic insurance, including just canceling the policy after a month).
As mentioned, the first order of business is getting quotes from at least three different providers.
Next, understand that some providers cater to different sorts of drivers, be it younger drivers or drivers with excellent records. For this reason, your quotes can vary widely, underscoring the importance of shopping around.
Other factors that can affect your one month auto insurance rates aside from the regulations of a particular provider include your age, sex, driving record, credit score, vehicle type, and the extent of the coverage you require.
Lastly, don’t neglect to ask your insurance agent if you qualify for any discounts, since these can add up and significantly lower your monthly premium, which is always a perk, even if you only need car insurance for a month.
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No, though the car you are driving needs to be insured, which it probably will be under your parent’s, spouse’s plan, or friend’s plan.
We did our homework, looking into upwards of a dozen top insurance providers. Then, we selected the best of the best, making judgments based on company reputation and longevity, customer service, discounts, affordability, types of coverage, and coverage areas. These are the providers from which we collect your quotes: the ones who provide the best options for people who want short-term car insurance.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
