Insurance Car Insurance Car Insurance Basics Temporary Car Insurance: What Are Your Options? By Mila Araujo Updated on October 15, 2021 Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein In This Article View All In This Article What Is Temporary Car Insurance? Who Might Want Temporary Car Insurance? Before Buying Temporary Car Insurance Does My Car Insurance Cover a Temporary Car? Non-Owner Liability Policies What's Covered by Temporary Car Insurance? What About Personal Effects in a Car? How Much Does Temporary Car Insurance Cost? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: Halfdark / Getty Images You may have more than a few options if you need car insurance for an auto you'll only be driving for a short time. Some people may think they need temporary car insurance, but getting the right coverage may not mean that you must buy a policy separate from the one that covers your own car. What Is Temporary Car Insurance? For a few reasons, temporary car insurance, or short-term car insurance, could work if you will only need insurance for a short time, such as less than six months. Insurers often write standard car policies that last for a term of six months to one year. They are not in the business of writing insurance for terms as short as just a few days. People often look for other options, which might not be easy to find in the U.S., but there are ways to make sure that you're covered. Who Might Want Temporary Car Insurance? You might need or want a temp policy if you buy a new car that you only intend to own for a short time, or you might want coverage now so you can take your time shopping for a permanent policy. You might borrow a friend's car for a few hours. You don't need your own policy in that case, but that would change if you were to borrow the car for days or weeks. People who visit another country and take their car with them may also look into temporary car insurance for the short term. You could get temp insurance to cover you if you were to drive to Mexico and spend a few weeks there. Note Contact your insurer if you plan to buy a car but then sell it shortly after. You may be able to add the new car to an existing policy instead of taking out a new one. Before Buying Temporary Car Insurance People are often confused by the coverage that different policies provide. You may not need temp coverage at all, depending on your circumstances. Contact your last car insurer, your current home insurer, or a licensed insurance rep. Explain your situation to them. Do so before you decide you need to buy an extra liability policy or a car policy for temporary reasons. They may surprise you by letting you know that you already have coverage, or they may be able to steer you to a temporary solution. Note Call your agent before you buy a new car if you have insurance on another car or truck. Your insurer may be willing to cover the new vehicle for a brief time. You can also look into buying a policy with a short term, such as for six months. Another option is to speak to the owner of the car you'll be using. Have them ask their own insurer whether your use of their car is covered. You might not have to buy any coverage if this is the case. Check with your credit card lender if you're renting a car. Some credit cards will cover your rental car insurance if you pay for the rental with your card. You can always buy a non-owner liability policy if you don't own a car, but that might not be your only or best option. Speak with a professional to get the best advice. Liability policies won't cover damage to a car. Does Your Personal Car Insurance Cover a Temporary Car? Your car insurance may cover rental cars. You may not need to buy any temporary car insurance through a rental agency if it does. The coverage will often reflect the same as what you carry on your own car. It would extend to your rental car if you have a $500 deductible on comprehensive coverage. Note Your personal auto insurance might not extend to business use of rental cars. Check with your insurer to confirm that you have the proper coverage before renting a car for this purpose. They should be able to help you. Non-Owner Liability Policies Non-owner liability policies are meant to cover certain circumstances. They have some exclusions on cars that can be insured on the policy. Do a search online to find a good rate on a non-owner policy. Many insurers offer these policies, so again, it can be good to start with your own company. You may save some money by making sure you're not doubling up on your coverage when you don't have to. What's Covered by Temporary Car Insurance? You will have different coverage options, depending on the kind of temp insurance you decide to purchase. Ask about basic coverages to make sure you understand the policy before you buy it. These would include liability, comprehensive, and collision. Ask about coverage against uninsured and underinsured drivers as well. Find out whether the policy covers medical costs, towing, and loss of use. What About Personal Effects in a Car? Rental agencies may ask whether you would like to purchase personal effects coverage, but your belongings might be covered under your homeowner insurance policy or renters policy if you lose items in a car. They must be items that are not attached to the car, or a part of the car itself so they are not covered by your car insurance. Note Your claim would likely be subject to a deductible. Making a claim may also result in losing your loss-free discount. How Much Does Temporary Car Insurance Cost? The price of temp insurance will depend on what kind of car you are insuring, if you are even able to find a temporary policy for what you need. It may also depend on how you will be using it, your insurance history, and the length of time for which you need insurance. Shop around and see what coverage you can get from your own company first. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Who offers temporary car insurance? Most major auto insurers don't have specific "temporary" policies, but you can typically cancel a six-month policy when you no longer need it, without facing fees. This allows you to avoid paying for months you don't need. You may be able to find smaller insurers in your area that offer specific temporary insurance policies. How do I add a temporary driver to my car insurance? Most insurance policies let you add and remove drivers as you please. You don't need to acquire a special "temporary" status for a driver, and as long as they are an adult with a clean driving record, then it probably won't cost you any more money to add them. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Allstate Insurance Company. "Auto Coverages & Policies." Alliant Credit Union. "The Best Way to Pay for a Rental Car: Credit Card or Debit Card?" Trusted Choice. "The Type of Insurance to Buy If You Don’t Own a Car." Allstate Insurance Company. "Should You Buy Extra Rental Car Insurance At The Counter?" Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. "Why Non-Owned Automobile Insurance Is Important for Businesses." Allstate Insurance Company. "Does Car Insurance Cover Theft?" Travelers. 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