Can I Get Car Insurance for One Day?

Car insurance is an important safety net to have anytime you’re on the road. However, we usually work with auto insurers to find the policy that best suits our driving habits. If you don’t spend a lot of time on the road, you may look for a more minimized policy. If your job or routine has you behind the wheel most of the day, you’ll look for more comprehensive insurance coverage. If you very rarely get in the driver’s seat, you can actually purchase car insurance for the day.

24-Hour Auto Insurance

It may surprise you, and you’re probably asking yourself right now, “Can I get car insurance for one day?” It’s true. Some auto insurance companies offer 24-hour policies to accommodate certain situations where you need coverage for just the day. On average, these policies cost $15 across the United States and meet the minimum requirements needed within those states to legally get behind the wheel and hit the road.

24-hour car insurance coverage is usually acquired as an option for people who are looking to borrow a friend’s car or looking to insure a rental car.

However, one-day auto insurance is also used by some classic car owners for the sake of transporting their vehicles to shows or for the rare times that the car actually hits the road. This is also seen as a way of self-insuring rather than relying on a higher monthly premium from a variety of coverage options.

How To Get Same-Day Insurance

There are really no special requirements to get same-day car insurance. All it takes is a quick search online for car insurance quotes to get an idea of some of the rates that are available through these insurance providers, as well as the terms and conditions of an insurance policy. It’s important to provide the most accurate information possible to get a good rate to accommodate your situation, whether you’re driving a borrowed car or going through a rental agency.

By offering up transparency, insurance companies will offer adjusted rates to fit your profile based on your needs for short-term auto insurance. Factors they consider include:

  • Vehicle ownership information
  • Make, model, and mileage
  • Vehicle identification number (VIN) 
  • Address where the vehicle will be parked
  • Name, birthdate, and driver’s license number
  • Information on your current insurance policy
  • Driving history of who will operate the vehicle

Car insurance coverage companies will offer 24-hour policies with certain discounts if you operate electronically, handling the billing online with your debit or credit card. It’s considered paperless billing for a new policy, even if the policy is in effect for a single day.

Other Short-Term Insurance Options

While a 24-hour policy may seem sufficient for your situation, there are auto insurance policies available that satisfy other needs that have been accommodated by

daily coverage. Non-owner car insurance is recommended in the event that the person from whom you’re borrowing a vehicle may not be able to accommodate you behind the wheel. Temporary auto insurance for young drivers is common for parents who are preparing their children for their driver’s licenses and might be testing out their abilities under a short-term policy.

Usage-based car insurance is another option. This auto policy charges you only for the miles you drive, in addition to a monthly base fee. Insurance companies will use an app or plug-in device to record mileage each month and bill you accordingly. This leaves higher premiums in the hands of the vehicle owner based on when they get in the driver’s seat. However, if you need to move some boxes around or just have to rent a car for a getaway, 24-hour auto coverage may be the way to go.