Cheap Short-Term Car Insurance in 2024 (Save With These 10 Companies!)

Geico, AAA, and State Farm are the best choices for cheap short-term car insurance — simply purchase a regular plan from one of these companies and cancel it when you no longer need a policy to achieve temporary coverage.

Most major insurance companies won’t sell temporary car insurance. Instead, you’ll need to purchase a regular policy and cancel it when you no longer need it.

Our Top 10 Company Picks: Cheap Short Term Car Insurance

Geico is your best choice for temporary coverage because it’s usually one of the cheapest auto insurance companies.

Read on to learn more about short-term car insurance and what the best solution for your needs might be. Then, compare rates with multiple companies by entering your ZIP code into our free comparison tool.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

#1 – Geico: Top Pick Overall

Pros

• Competitive Rates: When you need cheap temporary car insurance, Geico is known for affordable pricing and discounts. See how much you might pay in our Geico car insurance review.
• Flexible Policy Options: While there is no Geico temporary car insurance, Geico does make it easy to lower your coverage to the bare minimum if you want to keep your policy.
• Strong Digital Presence: Geico’s user-friendly website and mobile app make online policy management easy.

Cons

• Limited Personal Interaction: With its focus primarily on online service, there are fewer local agents for personalized help.
• Higher Premiums After Short-Term Ends: Since Geico doesn’t offer true short-term car insurance, you’ll need to cancel a regular plan whenever you’re done with it. This tactic provides temporary auto insurance, but you’ll see higher rates later.

#2 –  AAA: Best for Roadside Assitance Plans

Pros

• Member Benefits: AAA members get access to additional perks such as shopping and travel discounts.
• Flexible Coverage Options: While it doesn’t offer daily or monthly car insurance plans, AAA has plenty of coverage options to help you get the most from your coverage.
• Roadside Assistance: AAA offers three roadside assistance plans so you can pick the perfect short-term auto insurance coverage. Learn more about AAA’s roadside assistance plans in our AAA car insurance review.

Cons

• Membership Requirement: You must be an AAA member to purchase insurance and access benefits.
• Higher Initial Costs: AAA membership comes with an annual fee, which adds to the overall cost.

#3 – State Farm: Best for Personalized Assistance

Pros

• Local Agent Network: State Farm encourages personalized service through an extensive network of local agents. Read more about the personalized service representatives offer in our State Farm car insurance review.
• Customizable Policies: Get State Farm temporary car insurance that fits your needs by customizing your policy with coverage like roadside assistance.
• Good Reputation: State Farm’s strong reputation for customer service and claims handling means you’ll get temporary auto insurance you can rely on.

Cons

• Higher Base Rates: Initial State Farm premiums can be higher before discounts.
• Inconsistent Discounts: The availability and extent of State Farm discounts can vary by agent and location.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

#4 – Travelers: Best Customer Service Experience

Pros

• Range of Coverage Options: Add coverage like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursements to your Travelers month-to-month auto insurance.
• Discounts for Safe Drivers: Among Travelers’ 15 discounts are potential savings for maintaining a clean driving record.
• Good Customer Service: Travelers generally receives positive reviews for customer support and claims handling. See what customers have to say in our Travelers car insurance review.

Cons

• Digital Tools: Online and mobile tools at Travelers are less robust compared to some competitors.
• Limited Local Agents: Fewer Travelers local agents are available in some areas for personalized service.

#5 – Progressive: Best for Short-Term Car Insurance on a Budget

Pros

• Name Your Price Tool: Progressive’s Name Your Price tool allows customization of coverage based on your monthly budget.
• Flexible Policy Terms: While Progressive doesn’t sell one-day car insurance for temporary coverage, getting Progressive temporary car insurance is easy because canceling your coverage is simple.
• Snapshot Program: Earn potential savings of up to 30% based on your driving habits with Progressive’s usage-based insurance (UBI) program, Snapshot. See if Snapshot is right for you in our Progressive car insurance review.

Cons

• Higher Rates: Premiums will likely be higher if you need to renew your policy after canceling it.
• Customer Loyalty Issues: Some customer reports of dissatisfaction with Progressive’s claims handling lead to low driver loyalty statistics.

#6 – American Family: Best for Costco Members

Pros

• Customizable Coverage: You can add coverage like gap insurance to your monthly auto insurance with American Family’s flexible policies.
• Discount Opportunities: American Family offers various discounts, including safe driver and multi-policy savings.
• Costco Policies: American Family manages Costco auto insurance policies through its subsidiary CONNECT. Learn how you can save on your short-term coverage as a Costco member in our American Family car insurance review.

Cons

• Higher Base Premiums: Although it offers cheap month-to-month car insurance for some, American Family generally has higher rates than the national average.
• Limited Availability: American Family sells car insurance in just 19 states.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

#7 – Nationwide: Best for UBI Savings

Pros

• Flexible Coverage Options: Whether you need 30-day car insurance or long-term coverage, Nationwide has a variety of coverage options to perfectly tailor your policy.
• SmartRide Program: Save up to 40% with SmartRide, Nationwide’s UBI program. See other ways to save on your insurance by taking advantage of Nationwide car insurance discounts.
• Accident Forgiveness: Nationwide offers protection from rate increases after your first accident, though you might not qualify for short-term coverage.

Cons

• Digital Experience: Nationwide’s online tools and mobile app could be more user-friendly.
• Limited Agent Interaction: Nationwide may focus on personal interactions with agents to manage policies, but it can be hard to find local agents in some areas.

#8 – Farmers: Best Selection of Car Insurance Discounts

Pros

• Customizable Policies: Get coverage that fits your needs perfectly with Farmers’ customizable policies.
• Discount Opportunities: If you’re looking for cheap temporary auto insurance, Farmers is a good place to start. Explore all of Farmers’ 23 discount opportunities in our Farmers car insurance review.
• Personalized Service: Farmers makes it easy to get personalized help through its vast network of local agents.

Cons

• Higher Base Rates: Despite offering 23 discounts, many drivers will find cheaper rates at other companies.
• Customer Service Issues: Some customers report that Farmers has slow claims processing.

#9 – Allstate: Best for Full Coverage Policies

Pros

• Coverage Options: Get the best coverage possible with Allstate’s ample selection of car insurance add-ons. Explore Allstate’s full coverage options in our Allstate car insurance review.
• Discount Opportunities: Save with Allstate’s various discounts, including safe driver and new car savings.
• Drivewise Program: If you regularly practice safe driving habits, you can save up to 40% with Allstate’s UBI program, Drivewise.

Cons

• Higher Initial Rates: No matter how long you need coverage, Allstate is almost always one of the pricier insurance options on the market.
• Digital Tools Lacking: Despite being one of the largest insurance companies in the country, Allstate’s digital tools are lacking. For example, you can’t get instant temporary car insurance online – you’ll need to speak with an agent.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

#10 – Liberty Mutual: Best for Unique Coverage Options

Pros

• Diverse Coverage Options: Liberty Mutual offers coverage options that can be hard to find elsewhere, like original parts replacement coverage. Explore every unique option in our Liberty Mutual car insurance review.
• Discount Opportunities: Liberty Mutual offers 17 generous discount opportunities to help drivers save.
• Accident Forgiveness: Sign up for accident forgiveness to escape rate hikes after your first accident. You’ll have to speak with a representative to see if short-term car insurance for a rental car qualifies for accident forgiveness.

Cons

• Premium Variability: Liberty Mutual’s rates can vary more significantly than other companies based on individual factors.
• Customer Service: Customers leave mixed reviews on Liberty Mutual’s customer service quality and responsiveness.

Short-Term Car Insurance Rates

If temporary car insurance is all you need, you’ll probably want the cheapest coverage possible. Minimum insurance is your cheapest option, but it doesn’t offer the same amount of protection that the best full coverage car insurance does.

To see how rates compare between minimum insurance and full coverage, check the average prices from our top companies below.

Short-Term Car Insurance Monthly Rates by Coverage Level & Provider

If you do want full coverage, there are plenty of ways to save on even a short-term policy. One of the best ways is to find as many discounts that you qualify for as possible. Check below to see some of the most popular discount options at our top companies.

You can also save by choosing a higher deductible and comparing quotes. Most car insurance websites offer an easy quote request form that requires a few pieces of information to use.

If you need your temporary car insurance quickly, you can skip filling out individual forms and use a quote comparison tool to see multiple rates at once.

Short-Term Car Insurance Explained

Most auto insurance companies offer auto insurance policies in six-month (read our “Can you buy car insurance for six months?” for more information) or 12-month policy terms. So, if you’re looking for auto insurance coverage for less than six months, you may want to compare weekly car insurance because your options are limited.

If you want month-to-month car insurance, the best option is to sign up for the shortest coverage option available and cancel your car insurance policy when you no longer need insurance. 

You can sign up for a six-month policy for the coverage you need, whether regular auto insurance or a non-owner auto insurance policy. However, depending on the insurance company’s cancellation policy, you may be stuck paying fees for early termination. 

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Short-Term Car Insurance Situations

There are several situations where you might want auto insurance coverage for a short period. If you don’t have car insurance but do any of the following, you may want to look into temporary auto insurance: 

• Temporarily Borrow a Car: While borrowing someone’s car to run an errand doesn’t warrant getting insurance, you may want to get non-owner car insurance if you borrow their car every day to go to work. 
• Stop Driving Your Car: If you’re selling your car or will no longer drive it, you still must carry auto insurance and cancel it before the end of the policy period.
• Rental Car Insurance: You could purchase extra rental car insurance if you’re renting a car for a long time. With rental car insurance, you won’t have to worry about canceling a policy prematurely.

If you are borrowing someone’s car for a few hours or a day or two while your car is in the shop, you don’t need to worry about getting short-term car insurance. The owner’s car insurance will cover you if you borrow their car for a short period. 

However, if you regularly use a friend’s car, you should get non-owner car insurance. Also, if you live with your friend, you should have them add you as a driver to their auto insurance policy. 

How to Get Short-Term Car Insurance

We’ve established there isn’t such a thing as short-term car insurance offering less than six months of coverage unless you cancel your policy early. So when shopping around for car insurance policies, we recommend getting quotes from different companies to see which offers the cheapest rates.

When you cancel your auto insurance, make sure you get refunded for any unused premiums and get a copy of the cancellation for your records. It may take a while for the refund to show up in your account. 

Also, you should always check your account after cancellation to ensure you don’t get automatically charged for another month, which can happen when you set up autopay.

Read more: Compare Car Insurance for Part-Time Drivers: Rates, Discounts, & Requirements

Other Short-Term Car Insurance Options

There are other options besides purchasing a regular auto insurance policy and canceling. We’ve outlined some of your other choices for short-term auto insurance below, from adding a driver to an insurance policy to getting rental car insurance.
Adding Driver to Existing Policy 

If you live with the owner of the car you’re driving, they can add you as a driver to their car insurance policy. Once you no longer drive the car and don’t need insurance, they can remove you as a driver.

For example, if you borrow your roommate’s car multiple times per week, it’s prudent to be added as a driver. While the policyholder is responsible for the extra cost of adding a driver, you can always pay the policyholder for your portion of the insurance bill. How can I add someone to my car insurance for a day? Sometimes you need to add someone for a very short period of time, and this is possible with many insurance companies. 

Read more: Can I add someone to my car insurance for a week?

College Student Coverage

Parents of college students may wonder if they should remove their child from their auto insurance policy when the child is away at school without a car. While you could remove and re-add your child to your insurance policy when they’re back living at home, there’s also the possibility your insurance company offers a student-away discount. 

With a student-away car insurance discount, you can save on car insurance without removing your child from your auto insurance. The only stipulations at most insurance companies are that your child doesn’t have one of the cars and they must be going to school more than 100 miles away. 

Non-Owner Car Insurance

Let’s say you don’t own a car but frequently borrow a friend’s. In these cases, if you aren’t living with the vehicle’s owner, purchasing a non-owner car insurance policy is best.

A non-owner car insurance policy provides the basic liability auto insurance you need to drive legally in your state. If you cause a car accident, the other parties’ accident bills get covered by the non-owner insurance. In addition, since it’s non-owner insurance, you’ll be covered in whatever car you drive, as this car insurance is for the policyholder, not the car.

Pay-Per-Mile Insurance

If you rarely drive, consider looking into pay-per-mile car insurance as a cheap temporary car insurance option. If you need it for less than six months, you’ll still be stuck canceling it early, but it can be a more economical way to purchase short-term insurance.

With pay-per-mile insurance, you often pay a daily rate of a few dollars and a per-mile fee of a few cents per mile. Paying for car insurance by the day is often much cheaper than a traditional auto insurance policy, making it a better option for drivers needing short-term insurance. 

Rental Car Insurance

If you’re renting a car, you could purchase rental car insurance for extra protection while driving it. You may be able to get rental car insurance through your credit card company, regular auto insurance provider, or the rental car company itself.

Before you find yourself at a rental car counter deciding whether you should buy rental car coverage, here are a few details to keep in mind: https://t.co/y7gciSDtyA #CarInsurance #RentalCar pic.twitter.com/nO6QnEl0jM

— Travelers (@Travelers) August 17, 2022

When you return your rental car, your coverage ends, making this the easiest way to get short-term auto insurance when renting a car. Find out how to get cheap rental car insurance.

Read more: Compare Weekend Car Insurance: Rates, Discounts, & Requirements

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Find Cheap Short-Term Car Insurance Today

If you need auto insurance coverage for less than six months, you’ll likely have to purchase a buy car insurance for six months and cancel before the end of the policy period. There are also other options, like non-owner or rental car insurance, when you need short-term car insurance for cars you don’t own.

If you need short-term car insurance quickly, the best way is to get auto insurance quotes and compare rates to see which company offers the best deal. Enter your ZIP code below to use our free quote comparison tool to see which auto insurance company offers the best rates in your area.

Free Car Insurance Comparison

Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.

 Secured with SHA-256 Encryption