Can I get car insurance for just part of the year?
Car insurance for part of the year is known as short-term car insurance or temporary car insurance. You can purchase car insurance for part of the year from most car insurance companies or rental car agencies. Compare temporary and short term car insurance quotes online by entering your ZIP code below in our free comparison tool.
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Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: Oct 4, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 4, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
You may want to get short-term car insurance if you are planning to take a trip and would like to have a vehicle available during that time.
You may also want to arrange coverage when visitors are staying at your home or you have a child who is attending college or university and will be driving during breaks during the school year.
Get car insurance quotes on short-term coverage with just a zip code in the box above!
- People who want to arrange short-term car insurance for just part of the year have a few options to choose from
- One of them is to ask insurance providers for quotes for temporary insurance instead of a full year of coverage
- If you need coverage for less than six months, you may want to consider renting a vehicle and buying coverage from the rental agency
- As with all decisions about insurance coverage, you will want to review any policy carefully to make sure that you are adequately protected
Short-term Car Insurance
Insurance coverage can be arranged for time periods of up to six months at a time.
The policy will cover bodily injury and property damage claims. It may also provide protection against damage caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Bodily injury damage coverage pays for the medical bills and other expenses incurred by the occupants of another vehicle after a car accident.
Property damage liability insurance coverage pays for the cost of things like repairing the other driver’s vehicle and other objects damaged in the accident like:
- Fences
- Sheds
- Buildings
- Mailboxes
- Street signs
Uninsured motorist coverage pays out when the at-fault driver in a car accident does not have insurance coverage.
Underinsured motorist coverage is used to top up insurance coverage when the at-fault driver has insurance but does not have enough coverage to fully cover the damages incurred.
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Temporary Insurance Coverage
If you are looking for temporary car insurance coverage, you have a couple of options.
One of them is to go online to get quotes for the time frame you have in mind. You can conduct an online search for short term or temporary car insurance in your area and then visit a few websites that appear in your search results.
When you do so, be sure to click onto the company’s “About Us” page to discover something about its history and its financial stability.
Just because you are only looking for coverage for a short time, it doesn’t mean that you should be dealing with a company that doesn’t have a good rating.
For more information about the companies you are considering, visit an insurance ratings agency like Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s. They can provide you with valuable information about a company’s financial stability.
The other option when looking for short-term car insurance coverage is to work with an insurance agent. These individuals shop the market on a client’s behalf and present quotes from a number of providers.
The agent can also answer your questions about your coverage options and the policy terms.
Case Studies: Car Insurance for Part of the Year
Case Study 1: Temporary Coverage for a Vacation
Lisa and her family are planning a cross-country road trip for two months during the summer. They want to ensure they have insurance coverage during their trip, even though they don’t own a car. Lisa researches and finds out about short-term car insurance options.
She obtains quotes from various insurance companies and rental car agencies for temporary coverage for the duration of their trip. After comparing the quotes, Lisa selects a policy that provides the necessary coverage for their vacation.
Case Study 2: Coverage for a Visiting Relative
Mark’s parents are coming to stay with him for three months, and they will be using his car during their visit. Mark wants to make sure they have insurance coverage while driving his car. He explores short-term car insurance options and contacts an insurance agent.
The agent helps Mark compare quotes from different providers and explains the coverage options. Based on the agent’s guidance, Mark chooses a temporary car insurance policy that covers his parents’ driving needs during their stay.
Case Study 3: Seasonal Coverage for a College Student
Sarah’s son is away at college and only needs a car during the winter break. Rather than maintaining a year-round car insurance policy, Sarah decides to explore short-term car insurance. She uses an online comparison tool to obtain quotes from various insurance companies for coverage during the specific weeks her son will be home.
Rental Car Insurance Coverage
In a case where you only need a vehicle for a limited time, you may want to consider renting a car and buying coverage from the rental agency.
Before doing so, read the terms and conditions carefully so that you understand exactly what you getting for the premium you are paying.
In some cases, the customer will be financially responsible for paying a fee for each day the vehicle is off the road after an accident occurs.
When you are only interested in arranging car insurance for part of the year, do consider all of your options before making a decision. Traveler’s insurance may also be an option if you are renting a car for less than a year.
Or you can arrange coverage for periods of one day to six months through a car insurance company.
If you are interested in this option, get quotes from several providers and compare rates before deciding to buy a policy.
Compare all these options by entering your zip code into the car insurance rates tool now!
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get car insurance for just part of the year?
Yes, you can get car insurance for part of the year. It is known as short-term car insurance or temporary car insurance. You can purchase it from most car insurance companies or rental car agencies. To compare temporary and short-term car insurance quotes online, you can use our free comparison tool by entering your ZIP code.
When should I consider getting short-term car insurance?
You may want to consider getting short-term car insurance if you are planning a trip and would like to have a vehicle available during that time. It can also be useful when you have visitors staying at your home or if you have a child who will be driving during breaks from college or university.
What does short-term car insurance cover?
Short-term car insurance policies typically cover bodily injury and property damage claims. They may also provide protection against damage caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers. Bodily injury coverage pays for the medical bills and other expenses incurred by the occupants of another vehicle after a car accident. Property damage liability insurance covers the cost of repairing the other driver’s vehicle and other objects damaged in the accident. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is also included in some policies.
How can I get temporary car insurance coverage?
If you are looking for temporary car insurance coverage, you have a couple of options. One option is to go online and get quotes for the time frame you have in mind. You can search for short-term or temporary car insurance in your area and visit the websites of different companies. Another option is to work with an insurance agent who can shop the market on your behalf and provide quotes from multiple providers. Insurance agents can also answer your questions and provide guidance on coverage options and policy terms.
Can I get car insurance when renting a car?
Yes, when renting a car for a limited time, you can consider buying coverage from the rental agency. However, it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully to understand what you’re getting for the premium you pay. Some rental agencies may hold you financially responsible for fees if the vehicle is off the road after an accident. Additionally, you can also explore other options such as traveler’s insurance or arranging coverage for shorter periods, from one day to six months, through a car insurance company. It’s recommended to compare quotes from several providers before making a decision.
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Daniel Walker
Licensed Insurance Agent
Daniel Walker graduated with a BS in Administrative Management in 2005 and has run his family’s insurance agency, FCI Agency, for over 15 years (BBB A+). He is licensed as an insurance agent to write property and casualty insurance, including home, life, auto, umbrella, and dwelling fire insurance. He’s also been featured on sites like Reviews.com and Safeco. To ensure our content is accura...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.