While it is possible to obtain temporary car insurance, many policies advertised as one-week car insurance or even one-day car insurance may be too good to be true. However, short-term car insurance is available in certain situations like if you are renting a car.
Read on to learn more about where you can buy one-week car insurance and find out which providers our team of experts ranked as the best in the nation. To go ahead and start getting free quotes from providers in your area, enter your zip code into the rate comparison tool below.
Can I Insure a Car for One Week?
Yes, you can insure a car for just one week. You can even buy single-day car insurance. The ability to purchase a one-week insurance policy provides drivers with the added flexibility they need when they want to purchase coverage for a short period of time. However, it is important to note that one-week auto insurance policies are not available everywhere. Also noteworthy is the fact that these types of policies could end up costing you much more in the long run.
After all, auto insurance providers are businesses trying to make a profit. Selling drivers one-week policies is not going to be as lucrative as locking new customers in for long-term coverage. Therefore, most companies will charge you higher rates for short-term car insurance.
Why Would I Need Car Insurance for a Week?
Despite the fact that one-week insurance coverage can be more costly than a long-term policy, it still has its uses. For example, a short-term car insurance policy is a great option if you are taking a road trip and need a rental car. You can easily purchase your own policy instead of buying coverage from the rental company.
Short-term insurance coverage can also be useful if you have family members or friends staying with you. If relatives are living under your roof and borrowing your vehicle, then they will need their own policy. Purchasing a one-week plan is much more practical than adding them to your standard six-month coverage.
Sometimes referred to as non-owner car insurance, one-week policies are also extremely beneficial for college students. For instance, many freshman college students are not allowed to take cars on campus.
If you find yourself in this situation, then having a standard six-month car insurance policy is impractical. Instead, you could purchase a one-week policy during school breaks when you are back at home with your parents and actually driving.
Where Can I Buy a One-Week Car Insurance Policy?
As noted above, one-week policies do not generate much revenue for car insurance providers. For this reason, not many major insurance companies advertise these types of policies. A licensed agent will be able to let you know whether a provider offers one-week car insurance coverage.
Weekly Car Insurance vs. Traditional Car Insurance
When you’re pursuing a weekly car insurance policy, it is important to understand how it will stack up against traditional coverage. Doing so will help you find the perfect solution for your automotive insurance needs. To help, we have outlined the key distinctions and similarities between these two coverage options.
Similarities Between Weekly and Traditional Car Insurance
In terms of coverage, weekly and traditional policies are surprisingly similar. When you’re purchasing your temporary car insurance policy, you will get to choose from a variety of coverage options. You can add liability coverage, bodily injury and other protections that are commonly included in traditional policies.
When you’re purchasing temporary coverage, you will have the ability to shop around and compare quotes with varying deductibles. You will also be provided with an insurance card and/or access to a mobile app. You will have a similar experience when purchasing a six-month policy.
Whether you are purchasing weekly or traditional car insurance, providers will assess your driving history. Specifically, the insurance companies will check your driving record to see whether there are any restrictions on your driver’s license and whether you have been involved in an accident that caused property damage. The reason why insurance providers do this is to assess risk and charge you accordingly.
Limitations of Weekly Car Insurance
Temporary auto insurance is not without its limitations. Most notable are the significant age restrictions. The majority of insurers will not sell you one-week coverage unless you are at least 21 years of age. Some push the limits even further and will not offer temporary auto insurance to drivers under 24 years old.
Another significant restriction is cost. Even though you are only purchasing coverage for one week, these policies are not very cost-efficient. If you suspect that you will be renewing your weekly policy, then it may be worth purchasing traditional coverage instead.
Do your research on insurance plans to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck. Remember, you can always cancel a traditional policy before the six months have elapsed. If a single month of coverage is cheaper than buying two consecutive one-week policies, then you may want to consider a normal policy. If you cancel a policy early, however, you may have to pay cancellation fees.
Our Recommendations for Auto Insurance
If your goal is to optimize savings, comparing quotes is vital. While there are many ways to obtain quotes from auto insurance providers, the easiest way is to use a rate comparison tool like the one found below. This tool will connect you with top providers like GEICO and State Farm.
Read on to see what our experts had to say about these companies, then check out our easy-to-use quote comparison tool to get free quotes from providers in your area.
GEICO: Best Overall
GEICO has been a staple in the auto insurance industry for decades. Our experts rated GEICO as the Best Overall insurance provider, awarding it a total score of 9.5 out of 10.0. It is known for providing a great customer experience, flexible coverage options and more. GEICO offers mechanical breakdown insurance and rideshare insurance in addition to standard coverage.
State Farm: Best Insurance for Students
If you are looking to insure a student driver, you can’t go wrong with State Farm. Our experts recognized it as the best choice for students and awarded the company an 8.9 out of 10.0 overall. The insurer provides numerous discounts for young drivers, as well as safe drivers and those bundling multiple policies.
FAQ: Where Can I Buy One-Week Car Insurance?
What is included in temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance includes many of the same coverage options as a traditional insurance policy. You should have the option to choose specific protections, including bodily injury and uninsured motorist protection. However, these policies are usually much more expensive.
Which companies carry one-week car insurance?
Most major providers do not advertise one-week car insurance policies since these policies are not as lucrative. Instead, you will have to speak with an insurance agent directly and ask about that option specifically, or seek out a smaller provider.
Can you extend a one-week car insurance policy?
Technically, yes, you can continue to extend your one-week policy indefinitely. However, this approach can be quite costly. Purchasing a traditional policy will save you money and eliminate the hassle of having to renew your insurance in one-week increments.
How do I apply for temporary car insurance?
As noted above, temporary car insurance is not available everywhere. You will have to find a company that offers this type of coverage and provide some basic information to get a quote. All you need to do after that is pay for the policy.
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, pricing, 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.
