How to Find Temporary Car Insurance in Oregon
Temporary car insurance really doesn’t exist in Oregon, but you can get a six-month policy and cancel early, or pay month-to-month.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you need insurance for less than six months in Oregon, your wisest course of action is to buy a six-month policy from a legitimate company and then cancel early when you no longer need coverage. Policies for less than six months don’t really exist, so if you see one advertised in Oregon it’s most likely a scam.
If you want car insurance for a short period of time, it can be rather difficult to find a policy. Companies that claim to offer short-term solutions are typically disreputable and the shortest policies offered by legitimate companies are for six months. It can feel a bit like you're being punished for trying to do the right thing!
If you need
car insurance
for less than six months and are worried about dealing with a shady company, have no fear! Jerry
has your back. Read on for everything you need to know about getting short-term cheap car insurance in Oregon
. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds (Title in payload)
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversWhat is temporary car insurance?
The plain truth about “
temporary car insurance
” is that it doesn’t exist in Oregon. Car insurance policies are six months or a year in length by nature and any company that advertises a policy for a shorter period than that is likely a scam, or at least on the shifty side. If you need insurance coverage for just a few months, it’s best to buy a six-month policy and then cancel it when you no longer need coverage. But be cautious when you do this—jumping between policies can lead to gaps in coverage and driving without insurance in Oregon can have serious legal and financial consequences.
Best companies for temporary car insurance in Oregon
Although finding a true “temporary insurance” policy under six months is impossible in Oregon, you can cancel your policy early. Depending on the insurer, you won’t have to pay for early cancellation—some will even refund you for unused premiums. Here are a few top companies to consider for short-term insurance:
- GEICO: GEICO allows you to cancel your insurance at any point in a six-month period and they generally issue a refund for the unused amount.
- Allstate: Cancel policies at any time with Allstate—you won’t have to pay a cancellation fee in most cases.
- USAA: Providing insurance exclusively to military members and their families, USAA doesn’t charge cancellation fees and does provide refunds.
- State Farm: It’s easy to cancel a State Farm policy and in most cases you’ll get a refund without getting hit with an early cancellation fee.
- Metromile: Metromile is a newer company and only provides plans in a handful of states, but they offer good solutions for low-mileage drivers and have month-to-month plans.
Remember that you need to stay continuously insured in order to be in compliance with Oregon law. If you have had a lapse in insurance, there will be a $75 reinstatement fee to restart coverage and you may be required to file an SR-22 certificate. Repeat offenses of driving without insurance in Oregon can result in getting your license suspended or having your car impounded.
Alternatives to temporary car insurance
Even though temporary car insurance isn’t really a thing in Oregon, there are other short-term car insurance options that may suit your situation.
Rental car insurance
and non-owner car insurance
can cover you if you find yourself borrowing a vehicle—either from a rental company, a family member, or a car-share program—on a regular basis. Rental car insurance
If you need a way to drive temporarily in Oregon without risking the steep penalties that can accompany driving without insurance, a rental car can be a useful option. You’ll also most likely have the option to purchase insurance from the rental car company.
You may have heard of rental companies offering a collision damage waiver (CDW), which provides protection for any damage done to the car. However, CDWs can be expensive and they don’t offer any liability coverage. Liability and personal accident coverage are generally offered by rental car companies to make sure you are in accordance with
Oregon car insurance law
. Pro Tip Most major credit card companies offer some form of insurance if you use their card to rent a car, so make sure to check out the benefits offered by your credit card issuers.
Non-owner car insurance
If you find yourself renting or borrowing a car,
non-owner car insurance
can be a good solution for covering your insurance bases. Typically, a car insurance policy is tied to a specific vehicle, but a non-owner policy is not vehicle specific and follows the driver from car to car. This can be a handy way to make sure you always have insurance that meets Oregon’s minimum coverage requirements. Plus, non-owner coverage has the extra bonus of usually being a little cheaper than traditional car insurance.
How to find affordable car insurance in Oregon
No matter what kind of coverage you’re looking for,
Jerry
can help you find the insurance you need at a price that fits your budget. Download the licensed broker
and top-rated app, enter a small amount of info, and you’ll have a number of customized quotes from the nation’s top insurers to choose from. The best part? Jerry users save almost $900 a year on their car insurance. If you thought that short-term coverage was the only kind you could afford, you might be able to get more than you thought possible with Jerry!
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Can I insure a car for just one month?
You might see places that advertise policies for less than six months, but buyer beware—it’s almost certainly a scam. Reputable companies will not offer any coverage for less than six months, so your best bet is to get a six-month policy and cancel it early.
What happens if you drive without insurance in Oregon?
Driving without car insurance in Oregon is a serious offense. Depending on the circumstances, being caught driving without insurance can result in a fine of anywhere from $130 to $1,000.
You also run the risk of having your car impounded, or getting your license suspended. Additionally, if you allow your insurance to lapse, there is a $75 fine for reinstatement and you may have to get an
SR-22 certificate
in order to be insured again.
