Can You Get Car Insurance for One Day?

If you want to borrow a friend’s car to run errands or you’re traveling and need to rent a vehicle, you might be wondering if you can get car insurance for a day. Unfortunately, most reputable car insurance companies don’t sell insurance for fewer than six months.

You might see some questionable companies advertise one-day insurance, but it’s best to proceed with caution and research a company that makes this kind of claim. Still, while it’s generally not possible to get car insurance for just one day, there are some short-term policies you can look into if you don’t want the standard 12-month coverage.

Here’s all the information you need to understand one-day car insurance and to determine the best options available for short-term coverage.

Key Takeaways:

• Nearly all insurance companies offer only six- or 12-month policy periods.
• Hugo offers insurance you can turn on and off and pay for as few as three days at a time.
• Alternatives to one-day car insurance include pay-as-you-go, pay-per-mile, non-owner, and temporary policies.

One-Day Car Insurance Explained

One-day car insurance, also known as temporary car insurance, is a form of short-term coverage. But unfortunately, outside of rare situations, you typically can’t get car insurance for just one day. Most large insurance companies don’t sell policies for less than six months, and the most common term is 12 months.

That said, Hugo is one of the few pay-as-you-go insurers that allows you to buy coverage in increments of as little as three days at a time. You only spend one day of coverage at a time and can reload money into your account when you need extra days. That said, Hugo is currently available in only 13 U.S. states, and it only offers basic liability coverage.

Why You Might Need Car Insurance for One Day

Anytime you operate a vehicle, you must meet your state’s minimum car insurance requirements. When storing your car, you also want to make sure you have the proper car insurance coverage, even though there’s no legal requirement.

While six- and 12-month insurance terms are standard in the insurance industry, they might not meet your needs. You might consider temporary coverage or an alternate form of car insurance if you find yourself in any of the following situations.

You don’t drive much

If you live in an area where you can walk or take public transit, or you work from home, you might not need to drive often. In this case, a standard policy might not make financial sense.

Instead, you can look into purchasing short-term insurance from a pay-as-you-go company like Hugo. If you only drive sporadically, you can likely save money while ensuring you have the coverage you need.

You’re borrowing someone else’s car

Planning to visit a friend or family member and want to borrow their car? The first step is to check with their insurance company to see if you have coverage. Most auto insurance companies will cover any driver who has permission from the owner, but there are exceptions.

If their policy doesn’t cover you, or you want extra protection, you can consider purchasing a pay-as-you-go policy or a non-owner insurance policy.

You want to insure a rental car

Most rental companies allow you to purchase rental insurance. If you don’t have your own insurance policy or want additional coverage, you can buy a rental policy through the rental car company or compare prices with companies like Hugo to see which is cheaper.

You’ll be putting a vehicle in storage

If you have a classic car or an extra vehicle you want to store, proper insurance coverage can ensure protection from theft, vandalism, or a falling tree. While insurers don’t offer storage insurance plans, you can consider getting a short-term comprehensive policy.

Comprehensive car insurance pays for damages to your car from something other than a collision — for example, if a natural disaster like an earthquake or hurricane damages your vehicle.

You need proof of insurance

Whether you’re buying a car, registering a vehicle at the DMV, or renewing your license, there are many situations when you’ll need proof of insurance. Proof of insurance shows you have the necessary insurance coverage to operate a vehicle. You can consider purchasing a short-term insurance policy to get the proof of insurance you need.

One-Day Car Insurance Alternatives

Since most large insurance companies don’t offer one-day auto insurance policies, you may want to know what alternative options are available. If you’re in this boat, consider the following options:

• Standard insurance with early cancellation: Many insurance companies allow you to cancel your auto insurance coverage any time you want. But before canceling, check with your insurer to see if it requires notice or if there’s a cancellation fee. If you’ve already paid some of your insurance in advance, you can also ask if you’ll receive a refund.
• Non-owner insurance: A non-owner insurance policy provides liability insurance when you drive a vehicle that isn’t registered in your name — if you borrow a friend’s car, use a car-sharing service, or rent a vehicle. With non-owner insurance, if you cause an accident, you have coverage for the other driver’s injuries or property damage.
• Pay-per-mile insurance: If you don’t drive often, a pay-per-mile policy might help you save more money than a traditional insurance policy. With this type of coverage, you typically pay a low daily or monthly base rate, plus you pay for every mile you drive.
• Pay-as-you-go insurance: With pay-as-you-go or usage-based insurance, you pay a daily insurance rate. Companies like Hugo allow you to purchase insurance in increments of three, seven, 14, or 30 days for up to six months.
• Rental car insurance: If you only need a car sporadically, you can rent a vehicle and purchase rental insurance from the company. Many credit cards also provide secondary coverage if your existing policy isn’t enough to cover damages.

Consequences of Driving Without Insurance

Car insurance is mandatory in every state except New Hampshire. But every state has financial responsibility laws that require you to prove you have sufficient assets to pay for medical bills or damages if you cause an accident.

If authorities catch you driving without insurance, you can expect to face consequences including license suspension, fines, and jail time.

For instance, in Connecticut, if you’re caught driving without insurance, you’ll face a fine of up to $1,000, and the state will suspend your license for one month for a first conviction and six months for subsequent convictions. Plus, the DMV won’t restore your license until you can provide proof of insurance — you’ll also have to pay a $175 restoration fee to get your license and insurance.

One Day Car Insurance FAQs

If you still have questions about one-day car insurance, check out these answers to some of the most common questions about short-term auto coverage.

Where can you get temporary car insurance?

For a temporary car insurance policy, you can look for insurers that offer pay-as-you-go, pay-per-mile, usage-based insurance, or non-owner car insurance policies. Hugo, Metromile, and Mile Auto are good places to start, but an insurance comparison site will let you compare multiple personalized quotes at once.

How much does short-term car insurance cost?

The cost of short-term coverage depends on a variety of factors, including the insurer and the type of policy you want. In addition, short-term policies consider variables like your age, gender, ZIP code, driving history, and vehicle type to determine the cost of insurance.

Can you insure a car for one day?

No. Most major auto insurance companies don’t offer one-day car insurance, but it’s possible to find insurance options shorter than the standard year-long policy. For example, Hugo offers pay-as-you-go insurance and gives you the option to purchase as little as three days of insurance at a time.

What’s the shortest time you can insure a car?

Hugo offers some of the shortest car insurance plans, starting at as little as three days. While some questionable companies advertise one-day insurance, it’s best to proceed with caution and buy a policy from a reputable insurer.

Data Methodology:

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources:

1. Insurance Information Institute, “Is it legal to drive without insurance?” accessed August 20, 2024.
2. Connecticut General Assembly, “Penalties for driving without auto insurance,” as of August 20, 2024.