One day car insurance is hard to come by, but it is possible to get other types of temporary coverage if you only need car insurance for a short time.

Written by Jacoba Bood

Reviewed by Kathleen Flear

Updated on Mar 23, 2023

Table of Contents

Can I get it?
Borrowing a car
Rentals
Test-drive
Car in storage
Temporary insurance
Don't have insurance
Cheap car insurance
FAQs

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Unfortunately, most reputable insurance companies don’t offer one day car insurance.

Even if you don’t own a vehicle or drive regularly, there are plenty of situations where you might find yourself behind the wheel. Maybe you’re borrowing a friend's car, renting, or taking a car out of storage for a spin.

What do you do about car insurance in situations like this?

Though one day car insurance is hard to come by, the good news is that there are some different short-term coverage options available.

That’s why insurance comparison app and licensed broker

Jerry

has compiled all the information that you need to know about short-term

car insurance

coverage, even if you just need coverage for a few days.

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Can you buy one day car insurance?

One day car insurance policies don’t really exist, so be wary of companies marketing this option.

Although you might be able to arrange for monthly payment cycles, trusted insurance providers usually offer temporary policies in either 6-month or one-year increments.

Unfortunately, this is hardly ideal if you are only looking for a short-term insurance solution.

Here are some instances of why you need car insurance for one day and how to handle them:

MORE:

Temporary car insurance: what is it and do I need it?

When you’re borrowing a friend’s car

In most cases, if a friend has permitted you to drive their car, their policy will at least partially cover you.

However, if you are in an accident, you could be on the hook for

property damage liability

bodily injury liability

If this is the case, there are a couple of ways to ensure you have the required minimum coverage when you drive a vehicle that you don’t own.

If you borrow the car frequently, you could ask your friend to add you as a driver on their policy to get around this.

If you only borrow the vehicle on occasion or borrow different cars from different people, you might want to consider taking out a

non-owner insurance policy

so you don’t have to worry about car insurance coverage if you decide to take a last-minute road trip to the beach.

One day car insurance when you’re driving a rental

If you have a standard car insurance policy, it likely provides adequate

rental car insurance

as well.

Most policies will extend their regular terms to include the use of rental vehicles, so you only have to purchase additional coverage from a rental car company if you want to supplement the coverage you already have.

However, it’s always a good idea to check with your insurance provider to make sure that your existing coverage applies to your specific rental situation.

If you don’t have an existing car insurance policy, opt for a collision damage waiver.

If you’re renting a car and you don’t have an existing car insurance policy, you can take out a collision damage waiver with your rental car provider.

A collision damage waiver is the most comprehensive insurance coverage that rental car companies provide. While it usually isn’t cheap, it does fill in almost all the coverage gaps that the less pricey rental car insurance options leave out. It will also cover the car for as long as you're renting it.

The cost of a collision damage waiver will vary depending on the rental car company you choose, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $10 to $30 a day for your rental car coverage.

MORE:

Rental car insurance, explained

When you’re test-driving a car

If you’re test-driving a car, there’s no need to worry about car insurance coverage. Dealerships are legally required to provide blanket coverage on the vehicles they’re selling.

That means you will be covered regardless of whether you have an existing policy or not while test-driving a car from a dealership.

However, once you purchase a vehicle, the dealership will require you to have

your own insurance

in place before you drive it off the lot.

Keep in mind that private sellers are not under the same obligation to provide insurance on the vehicles they sell, so make sure that there is insurance coverage in place before test-driving a vehicle that is not from a dealership.

MORE: How to test drive a car

When you’re driving a car that was in storage

Even if a car is in storage, it should always be insured. If the vehicle is a

classic or antique model

that you don’t actually drive, comprehensive insurance might cut it as long as the car is parked on private property.

If you decide to start driving the car or take it out on occasion, bump your coverage up to a standard insurance plan in case you get in an accident.

Most states will legally require a minimum amount of basic

liability car insurance

. You will also need to meet the minimum state insurance requirements if you park your car on public property.

MORE:

Cheapest car insurance available

Temporary car insurance

You are out of luck if you’re trying to purchase car insurance for a single day. But there are other insurance options available that can help you find short-term insurance.

You might be able to purchase

temporary car insurance

policies from one month to 6 months, but most major insurers don’t offer short-term policies. If you find a temporary policy, it is likely to come with high rates that could easily offset the benefits.

A solution is to purchase a 6-month or 1-year policy and then cancel it once you are done driving.

However, depending on the provider you choose, you could face cancellation fees. Also, should you end up taking out another policy at a later date, insurance companies might charge a fee or hike your rate for having an

insurance lapse

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Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

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What happens if you don’t have insurance?

Unless you live in

New Hampshire

, it is illegal to drive without the mandated amount of minimum car insurance.

Even if you happen to live in a place that doesn't require it,

driving without car insurance

is always risky, especially if you have an

at-fault accident without insurance

If this is the case, you could be sued for bodily injury and property damage and rack up some hefty legal fees as a result. On top of it all, you might be designated a high-risk driver and have trouble finding

cheap car insurance

coverage options in the future.

Even if you don’t have an accident, if you’re caught driving without your state’s legal minimum car insurance coverage in place, you could face a fine of up to $5,000.

Your car might be towed at your expense and the infraction could be recorded on your driving record. Many states will even monitor your vehicle electronically to keep track of anybody who is driving without insurance.

The bottom line is, it is never a good idea to drive without insurance, even if you are just taking out a vehicle for a few hours. The potential costs just aren’t worth the risk.

MORE:

Car insurance quotes online

How to find cheap car insurance

When it comes to finding cheap car insurance that works for you,

Jerry

is the ultimate solution.

Jerry is a personal insurance broker that lives in your pocket. But don’t worry about buying tiny office furniture; Jerry is a

trustworthy insurance comparison app

Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, and you’ll immediately get

car insurance

quotes for coverage similar to your current plan.

Jerry customers save an average of $800+ a year. Oh, and we should mention — Jerry is 100% free.

"Jerry is the new benchmark in app usefulness. I gave very little information, and they pulled up my current car insurance policy and gave me quotes for better deals. I'm now saving around $1400/year with my new insurance and the whole process took me less than an hour. Get the app and use it now!" - Satisfied Jerry User

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy car insurance for one day?

No. Not unless you are taking out insurance on a rental car.

Reputable companies do not offer one day policies. However, some major providers will offer short-term policies that will cover you for one to six months.

You can use

Jerry

to find the most affordable policy option to suit your needs. Jerry also makes it easy to cancel your remaining coverage and helps you get a refund from the insurance company, if necessary.

Why is short-term car insurance so expensive?

Insurance providers are reluctant to sell short-term policies because shorter coverage terms make it more difficult for them to take care of administration costs.

These companies also want to encourage long-term loyalty, so some major insurers are reluctant to hand out shorter policy options.

Should I consider non-owner car insurance?

Non-owner insurance might be a good option if you drive relatively often and tend to use different vehicles.

Non-owner insurance will ensure that you are covered regardless of what type of insurance the vehicle-owners have in place.

Insurance shopping isn’t always easy. That’s why the comparison car insurance shopping app

Jerry

is here to help.

If you’re on the lookout for a new insurance company, Jerry can provide you with three competitive quotes in under a minute. Swapping is just as effortless. Jerry takes care of all the paperwork, phone calls and even cancels your old policy on your behalf–oh, and it’s free!

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