Unfortunately, true temporary car insurance, like a policy for just a day or a week, doesn’t really exist in the U.S. Major insurers don’t sell standalone short-term policies. The shortest you’ll typically find is six months.
But don’t worry. If you only need coverage for a short time, there are legitimate workarounds that can get you covered without locking you into a long-term commitment.
Buy a regular policy and cancel it early
This is the most straightforward workaround if you own a car but only need coverage for a month or two.
Here’s how it works:
📱Buy a standard policy from a major insurer. You can do this quickly using the Jerry app.
🛡️ Use the coverage for as long as you need it.
💵 Cancel when you’re done and get a car insurance refund for any coverage you paid for but didn’t use, minus any cancellation fees.
This may not be the best option if:
- You don’t want to pay upfront or wait 7-30 days for a refund.
- You need coverage that kicks in immediately (some insurers have waiting periods).
- You’re worried about having an insurance lapse on your record, which can raise car insurance rates in the future.
can get you covered today
Do you need coverage quickly? Jerry makes it easy to find the right solution for your situation – whether that’s a standard policy you can cancel later or non-owner insurance.
Borrow someone’s car and be covered by their insurance
Here’s something a lot of people don’t know: if you borrow a friend or family member’s car with their permission, their insurance usually covers you.
This is called “permissive use”, and it’s built into most standard car insurance policies. As long as the car’s owner says you can drive it, you’re covered under their policy if something happens.
This option will work if:
- You only borrow their car occasionally, typically less than 12 times a year.
- You don’t live at the same address as the car’s owner.
- The owner has given you permission.
- You’re not specifically excluded from their policy.
This won’t work if:
- You live with the car’s owner, since you should instead be listed on their policy.
- You borrow the car regularly, typically 12 times a year or more.
- Their policy specifically excludes permissive use.
- Their policy names you as an excluded driver.
Key takeaway: If you borrow someone else’s car occasionally, the owner’s insurance usually covers you. Just make sure you have permission, don’t live together and aren’t excluded from their policy.
Learn more: Can you drive someone else’s car?
Get non-owner insurance if you regularly drive others’ car
If you don’t own a car but drive regularly, a non-owner insurance policy gives you your own liability coverage. However, It won’t pay for damage to the car you’re driving.
A non-owner policy could be right if you:
- Rent cars frequently.
- Regularly borrow cars.
- Don’t want an insurance lapse.
Get added to someone’s policy
If you’re going to be driving a friend or family member’s car regularly for a while, the simplest solution might be for them to add you to their policy.
This gives you the same coverage as the car’s owner, and is often cheaper than getting your own policy. When the situation changes, they can simply remove you.
This may be a good fit for:
- College students home for the summer.
- Family visiting for an extended stay.
- Temporarily using a family member’s car while yours is being repaired.
- Sharing driving duties during a long road trip.
This may not work if:
- The owner is worried about their premium increasing if you’re listed on the policy.
- The owner doesn’t want a potential accident you cause to appear on their insurance record.
Key takeaway: If you’re driving someone’s car regularly, getting added to their policy gives you coverage and is often cheaper than getting your own. They can remove you when you’re no longer using their car regularly.
Get pay-per-mile insurance if you rarely drive
If you own a car but barely drive it, pay-per-mile insurance might be perfect. Instead of paying a flat monthly premium, you pay a small base rate plus a few cents for every mile you drive.
This isn’t “temporary” insurance in the traditional sense, but it effectively gives you cheaper coverage if you’re only using your car occasionally.
How it works:
💵 You pay a monthly base rate.
🛣️ You then pay a per-mile rate for every mile you drive. There’s typically a daily mileage cap so you don’t overpay.
📱 Miles are tracked through a device that plugs into your car or by a mobile app.
faq
- 📅 Can I get car insurance for just one day?
- 💰 What’s the cheapest way to get short-term coverage?
- 🚗 Can I drive someone else’s car without insurance?
- 📊 Will short-term coverage affect my insurance history?
- ✈️ What about international trips?
- 🛣️ Is pay-per-mile insurance worth it?
