To get temporary car insurance in Washington State, most experts recommend purchasing a traditional car insurance policy for six months and canceling early. You may find companies that claim to provide coverage for just a few days, weeks, or months, but these are typically scams.
If you are in Washington and looking for short-term car insurance coverage, it may be tempting to look for temporary policies. Most reliable insurance companies, however, only offer policies for a minimum of six months. But don’t worry—you can usually cancel these early without paying a fee.
You’ll want to be sure you can trust that your policy has your back when you’re on the road and that it won’t leave you with any gaps between coverage, as the penalties can be harsh for driving without insurance. If you’re wondering which short-term car insurance solution is right for your needs, car insurance
broker app Jerry
has put together a guide for all you need to know about temporary cheap car insurance in Washington State
. 
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What is temporary car insurance?
If you’re going to own a car for a period of fewer than six months, you will still need an auto insurance policy. Finding temporary insurance in Washington State, however, can be especially challenging.
Why? Because temporary car insurance
doesn’t really exist. Websites promising two-week or 30-day coverage are usually scams—most reputable insurance providers don’t offer temporary coverage. When looking for temporary car insurance in Washington, you should instead purchase a legitimate six-month policy and cancel early. You just need to be sure that the policy you pick won’t charge you any early cancellation fees.
Best companies for temporary car insurance in Washington State
Many companies will let you cancel your insurance policy early—some will even refund you for any unused premiums. That means that even though a real “temporary insurance” policy doesn’t exist, you can still use this method to get short-term insurance.
These companies make it easy to cancel your policy:
GEICO
: You can cancel your policy at any point in your term with GEICO, and they will typically issue a refund for any unused amount.Allstate
: Allstate allows you to cancel your policy at any point in your coverage, and in most cases, they do not charge a cancellation fee.Progressive
: You can cancel your policy before your term is up, and in most cases, there will not be a cancellation fee with Progressive. However, in some cases they may charge a fee of up to $50, so be sure to check with your broker to be sure you won’t be subject to that charge. State Farm
: In most cases, State Farm makes it easy to cancel your insurance early with no cancellation fees. USAA
: While this is only available to military members and their families, if you have a USAA policy, it is typically easy to cancel without incurring any fees. And in many cases, you can get a refund for your unused funds.
While canceling should be easy, it’s important that you remember to buy another policy if you plan to keep your car. Driving without insurance is illegal in Washington, so you’ll want to make sure you have a policy that meets the Washington car insurance laws
at all times to avoid a penalty. The penalty for driving without insurance in Washington State is a fine of $450. You may also receive an additional penalty of community service, as well as be required to pay a $15 community restitution fee. For repeat offenses, you could even be convicted of a misdemeanor and have your driver's license suspended. You may also have to file an SR-22.
Key Takeaway You can easily cancel a policy early with many reputable companies, but make sure you buy another policy and don’t allow your coverage to lapse if you plan to keep your car.
Alternatives to temporary car insurance
You may be able to take advantage of some alternatives to temporary car insurance in Washington State. Rental car insurance and non-owner car insurance are two options for drivers looking for a short-term policy.
Rental car insurance
If you’ve decided that a rental car is your best bet for getting around Washington during your stay, you’ll have a few options for car insurance. While most regular insurance policies include a bit of rental car insurance
, if you do not currently have any auto insurance, you’ll want to look into these specific coverage options: Rental car liability coverage
Personal accident insurance
Personal effects coverage
While a collision damage waiver (CDW) will offer you the most protection, they aren’t right for everyone’s situation and can be a bit pricier than the other coverages. Make sure to look into which option is best for you
Note that sometimes, you can get free rental collision coverage through your credit card company!
Non-owner car insurance
If you don’t own your own car, but do a lot of driving in Washington State in borrowed or rented vehicles, you may want to choose non-owner car insurance
. These policies follow you from car to car, so that you have liability insurance no matter what vehicle you are driving. These are typically cheaper than a primary car insurance policy, although they do not include comprehensive or collision coverage. Key Takeaway Rental car insurance and non-owner car insurance might be right for you in lieu of traditional policies, depending on your circumstances.
How to find affordable car insurance in Washington State
If you’re still not sure which Washington State car insurance policy is right for you, or if you just need help comparing quotes, you don’t have to do it alone. The licensed broker
and car insurance comparison app Jerry
has your back. After just a handful of questions that will take you roughly 45 seconds to complete, you’ll immediately get car insurance quotes just for you. And the average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance!
“After Jerry
found me car rental insurance, I’ve recommended them to all my colleagues, friends, and family. The service got me just what I needed.” —Luis C.
RECOMMENDEDThis app is great, but the customer service is even better! Not to mention convenient! My husband and I got the lowest rate (much lower than the rates I was finding online through my own searches), quickly, and pretty much all through text message! Thank you so much for a hassle free experience👍
