What is a six-month car insurance policy? Car insurance is sold in either six- or 12-month policy periods. This means that it is fairly straightforward to find a six-month car insurance policy, and all major providers offer one. There are still some important things that you should know before you choose an auto insurance policy.
Our experts reviewed major auto insurance providers to find the best car insurance companies. We recommend comparing at least three quotes when you shop to find the best option.
What Is a Six-Month Car Insurance Policy?
As the name implies, a six-month auto insurance policy is one that lasts for six months.
Car insurance policies are written to last either six months or 12 months. These are the two standard durations that are readily available. You can make monthly payments or pay in full for either length of policy term.
When you opt for a six-month policy, you will lock your premiums in for those six months. The only way that your rate will change during this time is if you make a change to your auto insurance policy.
After six months, your auto insurance company will reassess your risk. This gives them the chance to change your rate, which means it could go up or down.
As your auto insurer reevaluates after the six-month contract, you should as well. It is smart to shop around at the end of your six-month policy. This will help you confirm that you are still receiving the best deal.
Things to Know About Six-Month Car Insurance Policy Prices
The cost of a six-month car insurance policy will vary based on numerous factors, including the insurance providers. Six-month auto insurance policies offer the option of either paying the entire term upfront or making monthly payments. This is a standard option offered by major auto insurance providers.
To know your potential costs, it’s best to get quotes online from multiple providers. When choosing between monthly payments and a single payment for the full term, be sure to compare the costs.
Some companies will charge slightly more for a monthly payment plan. However, not all companies increase the premium. For marketing reasons, it is common for insurance providers that do not charge more monthly to say they offer a “discount.” Technically, they simply do not charge the extra fee per month that other providers would.
Benefits of a Six-Month Car Insurance Policy
There are many reasons that you may want to consider choosing a six-month car insurance policy. Remember that the alternative is typically a 12-month policy.
The biggest advantage of a six-month policy is that you can have your policy reassessed every six months. This can let you take advantage of changes that bring down your rates more quickly. It can also give you a chance to comparison shop more often.
There are many potential life changes that could slash your rates, making a six-month policy attractive. For example, accidents only remain on your driving record for a set amount of time. When it falls off the record, you will see a rate drop more quickly with a six-month policy than you would with a 12-month policy.
The same is also true if you have a birthday that brings you out of an age group considered high risk. Remember that teen drivers are considered very high risk, and drivers in their early 20s are also high risk.
Depending on your insurance company, you may also get a discount on your auto insurance premiums if you become a homeowner. Having a six-month policy will let you take advantage of this sooner.
Other changes to your life that may lead to lower rates can include:
- Completing a defensive or teen driving education course
- Having a home or another insurance from the same company as your auto insurance
- Driving less due to a job change
- Moving to a city with lower premiums
- Getting married
- Improving your credit score
You can also compare auto insurers more often if you have a six-month policy. This lets you decide if it is smart to switch insurance providers to get a better deal.
Remember that you can switch auto insurance providers as frequently as you want to. You just have to make sure that you maintain continuous coverage at all times.
How to Get a Six-Month Car Insurance Policy
Every provider offers six-month auto insurance policies. These are not hard to find. The most challenging part will be comparing the coverage, premiums and deductibles offered by each. But that becomes easy with a comparison tool.
Since the process is the same for a six-month insurance policy as a 12-month policy, you can choose to use a comparison tool to shop. Or you can shop online with the help of an insurance agent or with an auto insurance broker. You can choose the method that you are most comfortable with.
When buying a six-month insurance policy, you get to choose when it starts. All major providers let you buy a policy and begin coverage that day. They also let you schedule the coverage to begin at a future start date of your choosing. This ability to buy a policy and start coverage immediately is particularly helpful when buying a new car, as it is illegal in most states to drive a car without insurance.
The only thing to remember is that you should specify you want a six-month plan when getting a quote or talking to an agent. While many providers automatically offer plans that feature six-month increments on quotes, this is not always the case. Some will default to 12-month car insurance plans.
Our Recommendations for Auto Insurance
Based on our team’s exhaustive research of the major auto insurance providers, we suggest that you consider a six-month policy from GEICO, USAA, or Progressive. Remember that the best way to compare free quotes from various auto insurance providers is with a comparison tool.
GEICO: Best Overall
In our evaluation, GEICO earned an overall score of 9.1 out of 10.0. GEICO offers an excellent selection of discounts, including discounts for drivers with emergency deployment jobs, good driving records and airbags in their vehicles.
USAA: Best Military Provider
USAA received an overall rating of 8.9 out of 10.0 in our research. Some of the discounts offered by USAA include military installation, multiple vehicles and driver training discounts. USAA is also known for cheap six-month car insurance policies.
Progressive: Best for High-Risk Drivers
Progressive also received a 9.1 out of 10.0 for its overall rating. Progressive offers discounts for homeowners, teen drivers, having continuous insurance and more.
FAQ: Six-Month Car Insurance Policy
Is it better to pay car insurance monthly or every six months?
Most auto insurance companies will charge you slightly more if you decide to pay monthly instead of every six months. However, some – like USAA – do not. This means that you can frequently (but not always) save money by paying your car insurance every six months.
What is the average six-month auto insurance premium?
The average six-month car insurance quotes from the most affordable insurers will be about $500 to $700.
How does six-month car insurance work?
With six-month car insurance, you keep the same premium for six months and can either pay monthly or in a one-time larger payment. After six months, your auto insurance company can reassess you and adjust your quote.
Can you do six months of car insurance?
Yes, all of the major auto insurance providers offer six-month auto insurance policies. This is a standard offering. The other standard offering is a 12-month auto insurance policy. You can’t do fewer months, though, and one-month car insurance is not offered in the U.S.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car insurance provider to formulate rankings of the best insurers. Our in-depth rating system takes into account market share, coverage, auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services, customer satisfaction, and ratings from industry experts. Each insurer is given a weighted score in four categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto insurance companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
