One-Day Auto Insurance Coverage
One-day car insurance costs about $15 a day on average and can save you a lot of money if you only need car insurance for a short period of time. Short-term auto insurance may be the right choice if you’re renting a car for the day, have a car you don’t drive very often, or even if you’re just borrowing a car from a friend. Most major auto insurance companies offer a variety of temporary auto insurance policies.
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Insurance Lawyer
Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Jeffrey Johnson
Insurance Lawyer
Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Jeffrey Johnson
Updated July 2023
- One-day car insurance is useful if you’ll be driving a car for a very short amount of time
- Common one-day insurance situations include borrowing a car, renting a car, taking a test drive, or taking a driver’s test
- One-day insurance generally covers the same as standard policies, but only for a limited time
- Short-term auto insurance is only cost-effective if you actually only need it for a short period of time
One-day auto insurance might sound superfluous on the surface, but there are actually a lot of situations where it makes the most financial sense. It’s pretty easy to get from most major insurance providers, and it can protect you against costly medical bills and vehicle repairs.
Read on to learn more about one-day insurance and why you might need it. Or, enter your ZIP code to start comparing the best auto insurance rates for free.
What is one-day car insurance?
One-day car insurance is, as the name suggests, insurance that only lasts for a short period of time. Though it is commonly purchased for a single day, short-term auto insurance can extend for multiple days or even a few weeks.
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What does one-day auto insurance cost?
Can you find affordable one-day car insurance? The cost for temporary car insurance varies from provider to provider, and from state to state. On average, though, one-day auto insurance costs around $15 a day.
When do you need one-day car insurance?
There are a few different situations in which one-day (or otherwise short-term) auto insurance is the smart choice.
You Don’t Drive A Lot
Say you only drive your car once a month to the department store, or just a few times a year to the doctor and the dentist. Rather than paying for comprehensive auto insurance coverage 24/7, you’ll spend way less money just paying for those few days individually.
Maybe you have multiple cars but you only drive one on a regular basis. Some people have a sports car they only take to shows once or twice a year, or just have a nice Lambo they don’t want to take out all the time.
One-day insurance ensures you aren’t paying for coverage while the car in question is sitting in the garage.
You’re Renting A Vehicle
Most rental companies will offer rental car insurance or a collision damage waiver on your rental vehicle. Some may even require it before you can drive their car off the lot. You may also have rental coverage through your regular insurance on your car.
But, if neither of these is true, it may be prudent to get short-term insurance. If you’re in an accident in your rental, you don’t want to have to pay for costly repairs and medical bills just because you weren’t in your own vehicle.
You Need to Take the Driver’s Test
New or young drivers taking the driving test can still be responsible for vehicle damage and medical bills should they be in an accident during the test.
Normally, young drivers will use a parent’s car, on which they can easily be added as an authorized driver.
But, if you plan to borrow a friend’s car, or have your own car but haven’t decided on what kind of insurance you want yet, one-day car insurance might save you some financial headache. A non-owner policy will give you the coverage you want on a vehicle that you don’t own.
You’re Just the Middle Man
If you’re assisting in a vehicle title transfer that requires you to drive the vehicle in question, one-day insurance can protect you against liability in an accident while you’re behind the wheel.
It’s only a day, so is it really worth it?
Insurance for just one day might seem like overkill. But all 50 states have a minimum insurance requirement, and the penalties for driving without this minimum insurance are pretty high across the board.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the fines for driving without insurance can be as high as $5,000. And in addition to fines, driving without insurance could also lead to driver’s license suspension and even possible jail time.
You can’t predict an accident (or when you’ll get caught in a speed trap), and the last thing your wallet needs is to shell out for uninsured driving.
Ready to buy one-day car insurance? Whether you need one-day coverage, temporary insurance, or just want to see the cheapest auto rates available, enter your ZIP code below to compare the best auto quotes for free.
Case Studies: Exploring the Benefits of One-Day Auto Insurance
Case Study 1: Rental Car Coverage
John, a frequent traveler, decides to rent a car for a weekend trip. The rental company offers insurance coverage, but it seems expensive. John explores other options and discovers one-day auto insurance. He decides to purchase it for the duration of his rental. During his trip, John is involved in a minor accident, but thanks to the one-day insurance, he doesn’t have to worry about expensive repairs.
Case Study 2: Occasional Driver
Mary owns two cars but only drives one regularly. Her second car is used occasionally for special events or when her family visits. Instead of paying for full-time insurance coverage, Mary opts for one-day auto insurance whenever she uses her second car. This way, she saves money by paying for insurance only on the days she actually drives the vehicle.
Case Study 3: Driver’s Test Protection
Alex, a young driver preparing for his driver’s test, plans to borrow his friend’s car for the test. As he doesn’t have his own car yet, he needs insurance coverage. Alex decides to get one-day car insurance to protect himself against any liabilities during the test. This way, he has the necessary coverage without committing to a long-term policy for a vehicle he doesn’t own.
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