Can I Get Car Insurance for One Week
| A former insurance producer, Laura understands that education is key when it comes to buying insurance. She has happily dedicated many hours to helping her clients understand how the insurance marketplace works so they can find the best car, home, and life insurance products for their needs. Full Bio → | Written by |
| Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo... Full Bio → | Reviewed by Joel Ohman |
UPDATED: Oct 8, 2021
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Here's what you need to know...
- One-week car insurance is not available everywhere.
- Some short-term car insurance may be available for up to six months.
- There are no long-term commitments or premiums for the policyholder.
- Your basic coverage will include personal injury protection, as well as bodily and damage liability.
Can you get car insurance for a week? Buying weekly car insurance is possible, but it is not available everywhere. It may be more difficult to find a week's car insurance policy and will probably be more expensive when you do.
The same is true for one-month or weekly car insurance rates. Is it possible to find cheap weekly car insurance rates online? Yes, if you are willing to do your research.
You may be asking, "Is researching my insurance company important?" Absolutely. And you should never just take the first offer you receive. For now, read on to learn more and then compare one-week car insurance quotes online for free.
Where it is available, short-term coverage may be purchased from one to 28 days. Although in some states, this range may be longer — even up to six months.
In order to find out how much a seven-day car insurance policy is, you will need to shop around. Different companies offer different coverages with varying rates, so finding cheap car insurance can sometimes take time.
When buying weekly car insurance or regular car insurance, you will need to compare weekly car insurance quotes. Online car insurance rates are available at your request. Enter your ZIP code to compare short-term car insurance options today.
Car Insurance for One Week
Weekly car insurance has average rates of $17.50/day in the U.S. Compare multiple car insurance quotes from different companies to save up to 20 percent on your rates.
- Car insurance coverage for one week is a relatively new option for drivers in the U.S.
- The average cost of this type of coverage is $10 to $25 per day.
- In some cases, it may be cheaper to purchase one-week car insurance than to buy coverage through a rental company.
As the insurance industry continues to evolve, it does the same as any other industry in terms of developing new products and services.
One insurance product relatively new to the U.S. market is short-term car insurance. A subset of that, car insurance for a week, has been around in the U.K. for quite some time and is now available here in the States.
Obtaining car insurance for a week might seem strange to you, but there are legitimate reasons for doing so.
Perhaps you'll be borrowing or renting a car for a week-long driving vacation. Or perhaps you have out-of-town visitors who will be staying with you and require the use of a car.
There are many reasons to get short-term car insurance, but these two give you a general idea.
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Can I insure my car for one week?
Can I insure my car for a week?
Typically, any licensed driver whose license is currently not under suspension or revocation by his state can buy short-term car insurance. The only factor to be considered is age, which varies from state to state and provider to provider.
Unfortunately for younger people, a standard rule of thumb in the insurance industry is to not offer week insurance policies to drivers under the age of 21. Some providers even set their minimum age at 24.
If you are not a U.S. citizen you may also have some difficulty in obtaining car insurance for a week.
If you plan to come to the States for an extended visit that requires a car, you may have no other choice but to purchase insurance from the car rental company.
You may have the opportunity to purchase a policy in your own country, but you'll need to check with insurance officials at home to know whether or not that's possible.
Purchasing car insurance for a week is certainly possible, and it's a smart thing to do under certain conditions.
A one-week policy could make all the difference in the world if you or your guests have an accident in a rented or borrowed car. And with a reasonably low cost, there's no reason to avoid a week-long car insurance policy.
Why do I need car insurance for a week?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, it is illegal in all 50 states to drive a vehicle that is uninsured.
Vehicles are insured by their owners, and coverage is extended only to drivers in their immediate family. This means a father who insures two cars will be covered, along with his spouse and any children that live in his home.
That insurance does not cover other drivers for more than just short, local trips taken on behalf of the car owner.
Though it's common for people to loan a car to out-of-town guests, the reality is that any accidents those guests are involved in will probably not be covered by a basic car insurance policy.
Additional coverage is needed unless the guest driver is using your vehicle to perform some task or service on your behalf.
For example, driving to a college to bring your child home would qualify. Another option would be non-owner car insurance.
Another typical scenario requiring extra car insurance is when renting a car.
The basic insurance provided by the car rental company only includes the primary driver. At the time you pick up the vehicle, they will commonly ask if there will be other drivers. If so, they will charge extra to allow those other drivers to operate the vehicle.
It could be less expensive for you to purchase your own car insurance for a week than pay extra to the car rental company.
What are the rates for weekly car insurance?
The cost of one-week insurance policies varies from company to company.
On average, you can expect to pay between $10 to $25 per day depending on distance driven and the model of car for this type of pay-as-you-go car insurance. You can also read our article for the answer the question how does pay-as-you-go car insurance work?
At the higher end of the scale, a one-week policy could cost as much as $175 or as little as $70. But what's more important than cost is making sure you have adequate coverage.
Every state has minimum requirements for liability, property damage, and personal injury. The cost of these minimums is built into the policy price but may not be sufficient for your circumstances.
If there are factors that would prompt higher coverage limits, your insurance provider should make you aware of them.
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Why would you need to buy car insurance by the week?
Weekly car insurance is designed for drivers with short-term needs for coverage.
- The main difference between weekly and traditional car insurance is the cost.
- All types of coverage are available in weekly and traditional plans.
- If you only need a car periodically, then a weekly car insurance plan could be a great option for you.
Life is so hectic that we sometimes need a simpler, more effective solution to our coverage concerns than a standard long-term insurance policy.
Weekly car insurance, also known to many as short-term coverage, is indeed a particular niche of the car insurance market that is useful to many individuals.
What's the difference between weekly plans and traditional car insurance?
The one significant difference between weekly and traditional insurance is the price.
If you are a person who rarely drives, then it doesn't make financial sense to have to purchase a long-term plan because you will be losing money.
You can get all of the same coverage on a weekly plan that you can with a regular long-term policy.
Whatever your state requires for minimum coverage holds true no matter how long the plan is for.
And just like with regular term car insurance policies, the cost of the plan is tied to your age, experience, driving record, the area you live in, and the type of car you are driving.
Do I need optional coverage?
More times than not you are getting weekly coverage when you are going to rent a car for a short trip.
When you rent a car you are ultimately responsible for what happens to that vehicle.
If you don't have long-term insurance, then you want to investigate what coverage the car rental company provides or do your research before you rent from an outside provider.
Purchase a plan that includes collision, comprehensive, uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist.
Of course, liability insurance is required in all states in some form or fashion as well.
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What do I need to know before buying one-week car insurance?
Whether you need cheap car insurance for just a week or 52 weeks, the coverage is the same. You can even get one-day car insurance in the USA if that is your need.
You may be dealing with a different type of car insurance company, but the coverage you purchase still has to meet your state's minimum requirements.
It's also worth noting that you will be included in the Motor Insurance Database after purchasing one-week coverage. The Motor Insurance Database is what insurers and authorities use to see if a driver is insured.
What is included in temporary car insurance?
Your basic coverage will include personal injury protection, as well as bodily and damage liability.
You are also able to add provisions if necessary, such as an additional driver. Consideration is given to all potential drivers of the vehicle. Just like with normal car insurance, you can choose to add additional coverages.
You can request the coverage options that fulfill your needs. There is no one size fits all policy.
It is important to note that most states do require some sort of minimum car insurance. These laws and penalties are the same for drivers with regular car insurance and those with temporary insurance.
This table will show you just how important it is to maintain car insurance.
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If you allow your coverage to lapse and drive without insurance, you can be fined, lose your vehicle, or even be put in jail.
What companies carry one-week car insurance?
Many of the major carriers will carry short-term or temporary car insurance.
They may not advertise this coverage availability since it is more profitable to them if you purchase 12-month policies. There simply aren't that many one-week car insurance companies around.
This table shows you the average annual rates based on coverage levels for some of the major carriers. This will allow you to compare rates for temporary coverage. You may find it cheaper to carry a traditional policy, depending on how long you need insurance.
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If you already have car insurance but need to add a temporary policy, your regular carrier might have the coverage you need. One advantage of adding coverage to your current policy is that you might qualify for car insurance discounts — including a multi-car discount.
Otherwise, there are specialty short-term/temporary carriers. These carriers may advertise their short-term specials and incentives.
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How much does temporary car insurance cost?
Short-term or temporary car insurance serves a temporary need and usually costs more as a result.
There is no long-term commitment or premiums for the policyholder.
Premiums are paid in frequent increments of bi-monthly or advance payments.
Some companies require short-term car insurance premium payments in advance, especially in cases of coverage for one week.
If there is a need for a rental car for a business trip or vacation, insurance is usually made available through the rental company. You may purchase your own insurance, however, at a cheaper rate.
Insurance premiums through your rental company can be as much as $12 to $15 per day, which is almost as much as the daily rate of the rental car itself.
Some companies include the offer of credit life coverage if that's something you need or would want through a rental car company.
Who needs one-week car insurance?
There are many reasons people use one-week car insurance. Two have been mentioned: business trips and vacations.
Another use may be for your college student who is going to be home for spring break, or perhaps you are borrowing the car of a friend or a family member.
If you are borrowing a car, you might find that the car insurance coverage the owner keeps is just not enough to make you comfortable. In that case, you might want to increase the liability coverage, or add collision, comprehensive, or other coverages.
It's reassuring to know that you can get temporary car insurance on a friend's car. It will prevent headaches and disagreements in your friendship.
If you are going to be borrowing a car regularly, you might consider non-owner car insurance instead. It might be cheaper to carry that instead of temporary car insurance if you will need coverage long term.
You might also want temporary car insurance if you are a first-time car buyer. If you have not had time to research car insurance, a one-week or one-month car insurance policy will give you time to compare coverages and rates.
Can you extend a one-week car insurance policy?
If you have recently purchased a short-term car insurance policy and need to extend your temporary insurance coverage, you will probably be able to do so without an issue. Short-term policies can usually be extended.
You can call your car insurance provider and ask to have your policy extended.
You may need to pay additional money to have your short-term car insurance policy extended. As long as you make the request before coverage has lapsed, you should not experience any difficulties.
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Are there restrictions on temporary car insurance?
The same restrictions or exclusions that are included in a regular car insurance policy are included in a short-term or temporary policy. Insurance will not pay for claims filed for damage resulting from:
- Using the car for commercial purposes
- Riots or acts of terrorism
- Racing
- A driver not listed on the policy
It is unlikely that someone will make modifications to a car in one week, but in case you do and there is an accident, damage may not be covered.
You can add coverages to your policy that would include custom work, mechanical breakdown, and roadside assistance, among others if needed.
How do I apply for temporary car insurance?
This type of car insurance is available online and by phone. You can get quotes from different companies to compare coverages. Once you decide on a company, they will gather more in-depth information to match you with the right kind of policy.
If your policy is needed for more than one week, you may call to extend your coverage. At increased rates, the insurance company will not mind.
If you purchase this type of insurance until you find a permanent policy, you may start saving as soon as you find something.
Now that you know the ins and outs of one-week car insurance, you are ready to start getting quotes. You will want to look at quotes from different companies to make sure you are getting the best coverage at the cheapest rates.
For affordable weekly car insurance, it is important to compare rates. Compare the car insurance rates of quality insurance providers by typing in your ZIP code below.
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Can I Get Car Insurance for One Week
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