Modify Coverage During Non
If you store your vehicle for most of the year, you also have another option. You can pay for an annual policy but remove road, liability, and accident coverage during the time your vehicle is in storage. You only need to keep comprehensive insurance while your car hibernates. Comprehensive insurance is the portion of your policy that offers coverage against fire, storm damage, or theft. Once you decide to use that car on the road, then youll need to make some changes. Addtionally, you may have to renew the license plate and start road insurance at least two to three weeks prior to driving. This will give your insurer some time to update your details with the Insurance Bureau of Canada.
Who Should Get Temporary Car Insurance
You should get temporary car insurance if:
- You want to prevent a lapse in coverage from your main auto policy.
- You want to insure a collectors car that you dont drive daily.
- You are temporarily driving a car belonging to someone you dont live with.
- Youre renting a car and dont want to purchase insurance from the rental car company.
- Youre on vacation and want coverage during your trip.
- You want to insure a car used temporarily for a rideshare.
There are a few instances where temporary car insurance might not make sense. For instance, you dont want to get temporary car insurance if you drive your car every day. Temporary insurance also isnt for you if youre borrowing a car from someone in your same household or if youre a college student, as a long-term policy will likely be cheaper.
You Maintain Minimum Liability Insurance But Not Comprehensive Insurance
Here you probably dont need to buy additional liability insurance coverage from the rental car company if you are comfortable asking your insurance carrier to pay any liability claims against you.
But you should consider purchasing rental car coverage or a temporary policy to cover the rental if it is damaged or stolen.
You should compare the daily cost of the damage waiver and the amount of the deductible, if any, to the daily cost of a temporary car insurance policy and the amount of the deductible. There are temporary policies that are cheaper than the cost of coverage through the rental company.
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Why Its A Bad Idea To Cancel Your Car Insurance Policy Early
Because short-term car insurance is not generally available, you may be tempted to buy a standard policy and cancel it early. However, canceling your car insurance policy early is a bad idea.
In addition to the hefty termination fees that the insurance company may levy for early cancellation, the cancellation record could increase your future insurance rates. Those who go without car insurance coverage for extended periods often pay significantly higher fees once they decide to purchase insurance again, as the coverage gap could be interpreted as high risk. Insurers can also see your coverage history. Those who often terminate their policies early could be charged more or denied coverage altogether.
If you cancel your insurance policy early and keep driving, you may be subject to significant fines and penalties. For example, you may end up getting your license suspended for breaking the law. In addition, if you get into an accident, you wont have the financial protection of an active insurance policy, leaving you to pay for damages out of pocket.
Shopping For Temporary Car Insurance

If you already have automobile insurance, you should ask your insurance carrier whether it offers temporary coverage. Some insurance companies offer discounted rates for current customers.
The big question: Is short-term car insurance expensive?
The best way to find the cheapest temporary car insurance is to comparison shop by requesting online quotes from different insurance companies. Finding the cheapest temporary car insurance depends on the amount of monetary risk you are willing to assume. Temporary car insurance is expensive, so be sure to buy only what you need. The best way to get the cheapest coverage is to compare prices from multiple companies.No matter what type of car insurance you are looking for, we can help you. Who has the cheapest auto insurance? Get affordable temporary car insurance quotes when you enter your ZIP code below to find out.
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How Can You Get Car Insurance For A Temporary Situation
You can always get a traditional policy and cancel it when you’re finished driving. This does give you temporary access to whatever car insurance you need but will likely cause you a termination fee. Just remember that lapses with coverage do come with risks, namely sending your rates through the roof.
You can also ask to be added to someone else’s policy for a short time if you’re borrowing their vehicle on a regular basis. All they have to do is take you off once you have your own car.
How Much Does Temporary Car Insurance Cost
When looking for cheap temporary car insurance, buying a six-month minimum coverage policy is a solid option. Insurance rates depend on various factors, but you can check the average annual cost of liability car insurance in your state below.
Top Auto Insurance Companies Average Monthly Minimum Coverage Rates
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You might notice a significant difference in insurance rates between states. Most states have auto insurance requirements affecting how much your coverage costs. Other factors like traffic, crime rates, and extreme weather risks can also increase your rates.
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Can I Travel To Europe On A Temporary Policy
If youre going to take a trip to Europe, your normal annual car insurance should cover you, but sometimes its at the minimum level of third-party only, even if you have a comprehensive policy in the UK.
That means youd have to pay for your damages and the costs of transporting the car back home for repairs if you were involved in an accident abroad.
If your insurer cant extend comprehensive cover to driving in Europe, you could take out a temporary European car insurance policy instead to give you comprehensive cover just for the time youre abroad.
You might be able to add on cover for additional drivers and breakdown cover too, for a fee.
To get quotes and buy a policy, have the cars registration number to hand, plus your driving licence and passport details.
If you claim on your short-term European policy, itll have no impact on any other separate policy you have at home.
Do I Need Insurance With A Temporary Licence Plate Sticker
You need car insurance even for a vehicle with a temporary licence plate sticker, but the car insurance wont mirror the 10-day temporary licence plate sticker. A temporary licence plate sticker is intended to bridge the gap until the requirements for a regular licence plate sticker are completed. As a result, you will need long-term car insurance regardless when the regular sticker is obtained.
To learn more about registering and insuring a car in Ontario, visit the following Government of Ontario links:
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Should I Buy Temporary Car Insurance
Before making a decision, consider your situation. You may not need to purchase temporary car insurance is you are just renting a car, if you already have the coverage on your permanent policy. However, there are other times it would be necessary, like if you are borrowing a car for a short amount of time.
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Rachel Bodine graduated from college with a BA in English. She has since worked as a Feature Writer in the insurance industry and gained a deep knowledge of state and countrywide insurance laws and rates. Her research and writing focus on helping readers understand their insurance coverage and how to find savings. Her expert advice on insurance has been featured on sites like PhotoEnforced, All… |
Written byRachel BodineFeature Writer |
Dan Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has been working in his familys insurance agency, FCI Agency, for 15 years . He is licensed as an agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. Hes also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco.He reviews content, ensuring that ex… |
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Temporarily Adding Someone To Your Car Insurance
Loaning your car to a friend or roommate for a one-time errand? You probably don’t need to add this temporary driver to your car insurance. Temporary instances of car sharing are likely covered on your own insurance policy by what’s known as a permissive user clause a policy that protects your car when another driver occasionally uses it.
Have a baby sitter, relative or friend who will regularly drive the car for a short-term period? You’ll want to add this person to your car insurance. To temporarily add someone to your car insurance policy, you’ll need to call your insurer and share the following information about them:
- How long they’ve had their license
- Any recent traffic tickets or accidents
When the friend, babysitter or relative in question stops using the car regularly, you can remove them from your policy. Putting someone on your car insurance temporarily will increase your rates, but it’s worth it to ensure your car is covered in case this person gets into an accident.
Temporary Insurance For International Drivers

International drivers who are visiting the country may want temporary car insurance just for the time theyre in the United States. The best way for these drivers to get short-term insurance depends on the length of their stay.
Visiting foreign drivers who only plan to stay in the U.S. for a short time can get short-term insurance from their rental car company. They could also avoid the higher costs that rental car companies charge for extra insurance and opt for coverage from a company that specializes in rental car insurance.
For longer stays, drivers should consider getting per-mile insurance that lasts six months if they buy their own car. It will be cheaper than a standard six-month policy but theyll have sufficient coverage.
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Temporary Car Insurance In Quebec
Quebec offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in all of Canada. The government can provide a temporary permit that can last for between half a day to a month. This permit allows the driver to use the car, but a driver will need to get coverage in order to be protected during this time. Quebec has some of the lowest requirements for liability coverage at fifty thousand dollars. This means that most drivers will want to purchase a policy with additional coverage.
Quebec does not have any car insurance providers that offer coverage for less than six months. This means that a driver should look into the cost of canceling a policy early.
Who Can Get Non
Any driver with a valid drivers license that doesnt own a vehicle is eligible for non-owner car insurance. However, many insurance companies wont offer non-owner insurance to drivers who have access to a vehicle in their household. So, if a family member or someone in your household is lending you a vehicle, non-owner car insurance isnt the appropriate choice. In this case, you are to be included on your family members insurance policy, even if its as an occasional driver.
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How Do You Get Short
Since you cant buy car insurance by the day, youll need a standard car insurance policy. The purchasing process is the same as if you were buying regular coverage, though youll cancel the policy when you no longer need it.
According to Forbes, most car insurance policies are sold in six-month units, though you can also find one-year plans. When you buy a policy, you can make monthly car insurance payments or pay for everything upfront.
When you need temporary coverage, consider getting minimum insurance to keep your costs down. Although your insurance wont be around for very long, you should still compare quotes with as many companies as possible to find the lowest rates.
Once you no longer need insurance, you can cancel your policy. If you decide to pay for your policy upfront, your insurance company will refund you for the unused portion. Most large insurance companies dont charge a cancellation fee, but you should double-check.
If you plan to keep your insurance for more than a week, setting a reminder to cancel can prevent you from paying for more insurance than you need. While you can get a quote and sign up for insurance online, youll probably have to speak to an insurance representative to cancel. Find an auto insurance company agent online to find out more.
When Would I Need Short
Short-term car insurance can be useful for lots of situations, whether you own a car or not.
Its handy if you need car insurance to borrow someone elses car, drive one home after buying it, or for occasional use of a vehicle you keep off the road:
- Borrowing a friend or family members car If you dont have your own car, short-term car insurance lets you get behind the wheel of someone elses
- Learner drivers practising before their test You can get short-term cover for learners, so you can practice in your parents car without having to be added to their policy as an additional driver
- Collecting or delivering a vehicle Its a quick way to arrange cover to go and pick up a car youve just bought, for example, or take one to someone else
- Test driving a new car If youre buying from a private seller but dont have cover to drive other cars, short-term cover will let you legally have a test drive
- Splitting driving duties with friends and family on a long journey You can all share the driving if you get temporary policies
- Occasionally driving a classic or sports vehicle If your pride and joy is usually kept carefully garaged, short term cover will let you take it out just for special occasions
- In an emergency You can borrow a car in a hurry by quickly arranging a temporary policy instead of having to be added to the owner’s annual car insurance
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Best Temporary Car Insurance Providers
- Best On-Demand Insurance: Bonzah
- Best for Collector Cars: Nationwide
- Best for Claims: Progressive
In most states, operating any form of motor vehicle without insurance is illegal. You even need insurance for rental carsthe rental car company doesnt do it for you. Driving without insurance can result in fines, a suspended license or even jail time if youre caught, not to mention expensive medical bills and repair bills in the event that youre involved in an accident or injure another driver or a pedestrian. That’s why temporary car insurance may be your answer in certain instances.
This is a problem thats usually corrected very easily the best car insurance providers can get you covered in as little as a few hours. But what if you wont be driving for the duration of the twelve-month policy offered by most insurers? Do you really need to commit to paying a years worth of premiums to stay on the road legally for just a few days or weeks? What about non-owner car insurance? Non-owner policies are out there, and they can help you if you need temporary car insurance coverage.
Temporary insurance coverage is, however, often built differently than an annual policy. This is why its important to read through your coverages carefully, understanding that insurance rates for a short-term policy may be lower but temporary cover can be a little confusing if you dont familiarize yourself with it first.
Temporary Insurance For Rental Cars
Remember, your personal auto policy will likely cover a rental, namely through collision, comprehensive, and liability insurance. Collision helps cover damages to the car caused by crashes. Comprehensive covers damage to the car caused by non-collision situations. Liability covers the vehicle and personal damage of drivers in another vehicle. Check with your carrier to see what coverage carries over to a rental.
Your company is another option for rental car insurance, if you use it to rent the car. It is commonly secondary to your personal car insurance. It will usually only cover certain damage or theft to the rental vehicle. Be aware that different credit card companies offer different coverage. Check to see what your card covers before you get to the rental counter.
Rental car companies usually offer personal accident insurance which helps cover the medical expenses for you and your passengers in the event of an injury caused by a motor vehicle accident while you’re driving the rental. It may also offer supplemental liability insurance which helps cover the expenses for those whom you hurt or whose property you damage while operating a rented vehicle. There is also personal effects coverage which could cover personal belongings such as clothing or personal electronics that are lost to theft or an accident.
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Final Thoughts On Temporary Car Insurance
Unfortunately, if youre an Ontario driver, customizable short-term insurance plans arent yet available. However, some auto insurance providers appear to be shifting their focus towards more innovative programs. Pay-as-you-go billing is one example of the emerging shift in the consumer model of car sharing and functional vehicle use. This is a significant first step, and perhaps will help to open the window to invite new plans that can suit your driving style and value for your money.