Affordable One-Day Auto Insurance (2024)
Though one-day auto insurance isn’t all that common, many of the major auto insurance companies will offer one-day car insurance to drivers who have less than six points on their license.
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Justin Wright
Licensed Insurance Agent
Justin Wright has been a licensed insurance broker for over 9 years. After graduating from Southeastern Seminary with a Masters in Philosophy, Justin started his career as a professor, teaching Philosophy and Ethics. Later, Justin obtained both his Property & Casualty license and his Life and Health license and began working for State Farm and Allstate. In 2020, Justin began working as an i...
Licensed Insurance Agent
UPDATED: May 23, 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 auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page 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: May 23, 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 auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
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- One-day auto insurance is great for people who are borrowing or renting a car, taking a test drive, or taking their driver’s test
- Short-term car insurance is only cheaper if you are, in fact, keeping the coverage for a very short term
- One-day car insurance has the same coverage as a standard auto insurance policy, just for a shorter time
You may have never heard the term “one-day auto insurance.” On the surface, the concept might even seem silly — why would you want auto insurance for just one day?
There is actually a range of reasons why you might need insurance on your vehicle for just one day or just a few days. Most of the best auto insurance companies offer one-day insurance coverage, and it’s fairly easy to obtain.
Check out this guide to learn what one-day auto insurance is, why you might need it, and how to get it. Or, enter your ZIP code to start comparing one-day auto insurance rates today, for free.
Why would I need one-day auto insurance?
One of the most common reasons to purchase one-day insurance is if you don’t drive a lot. If you only drive your car once a month down to Costco and back, it will be much cheaper to pay for just those days individually, rather than getting full coverage.
You might also buy same day auto insurance coverage if, for example, you use a rental car on vacation or are using a truck you don’t normally drive to move your stuff from one place to another.
Another scenario for one day auto insurance is if you are taking your driver’s test and need car insurance for your learner’s permit. A one-day auto insurance policy can be used for new or young drivers to take their tests and give them time to shop around for coverage. It may be a good idea to get your 16 year old car insurance while they are learning how to drive.
Temporary insurance is also great if you want to test drive a vehicle or are planning to borrow a friend’s car, but don’t already have insurance. A non-owner policy will give you the car insurance coverage you want on a vehicle that you don’t own.
Some people will get short-term insurance from a car insurance company for a classic car they rarely drive (like a sports car they only take to show once or twice a year), so they aren’t paying insurance on the classic car while it’s sitting in the storage. Even if you have a clean driving record, it is still a good idea to get one day auto insurance in these instances.
Another option for people who rarely drive is usage-based auto insurance. That way, you only pay for the miles you drive.
Or you may be acting as the middleman in a vehicle title transfer and want to ensure you have auto insurance coverage while you’re driving a car that isn’t yours.
Read more: Is it worth buying moving truck insurance?
What does one-day auto insurance cost?
Since the kind of auto insurance coverage you need for just one day is the same as you would need year-round, we can look at the cost of annual coverage to give you an estimate.
This table shows you the average annual cost of auto insurance based on what type of coverage you choose.
Monthly Auto Insurance Rates by Coverage Level & Provider| Insurance Company | Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $386 | $429 |
| American Family | $281 | $295 |
| Farmers | $327 | $375 |
| Geico | $250 | $286 |
| Liberty Mutual | $484 | $530 |
| Nationwide | $283 | $292 |
| Progressive | $311 | $363 |
| State Farm | $255 | $288 |
| Travelers | $352 | $385 |
| USAA | $200 | $222 |
The daily average cost for liability-only car insurance is about $10.43 if you have a standard car insurance policy. One-day auto insurance averages $15 a day. You can see that if you need car insurance for more than just a few days, it can actually be much cheaper to purchase a standard policy.
Due to various state laws, the price of auto insurance varies from state to state, with some states being quite economical and others are not so much. Michigan, home of Motor City, ironically tops the list of the most expensive states for auto insurance.
Do I really need auto insurance for just one day?
It’s only a day. Is it really worth it?
It might seem like overkill to get insurance for a car you’re only planning to drive for one day, but the penalties for driving without auto insurance will cost you more than any one-day insurance policy.
Read more: Cheap North Dakota Auto Insurance
Penalties for Driving Without Auto Insurance by State| States | Penalties |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Up to $500, Registration suspension with $200 reinstatement fee |
| Alaska | License suspension for 90 days |
| Arizona | $500 (or more), License/registration/license plate suspension for three months |
| Arkansas | $50 to $250, Suspended registration/no plates until proof of car insurance coverage plus $20 reinstatement fee; court may order impoundment |
| California | $100-$200 plus penalty assessments, Court may order impoundment |
| Colorado | $500 minimum fine, 4 points against your license; license suspension until you can show proof to the DMV that you are insured. Courts may add up to 40 hours community service |
| Connecticut | $100-$1000, Suspended registration/license for one month (show proof of insurance) with $175 reinstatement fee |
| Delaware | $1,500 minimum fine, License/privilege suspension for six months |
| Florida | Suspension of license and registration until reinstatement fee is paid and non-cancelable coverage is secured; $150 fee for first reinstatement |
| Georgia | Suspended registration with $25 lapse fee and $60 reinstatement fee. Pay any other registration fees and vehicle ad valorem taxes due |
| Hawaii | $500 fine or community service granted by judge, Either license suspension for three months or a required nonrefundable car insurance policy in force for six months |
| Idaho | $75, License suspension until financial proof. No reinstatement fee. |
| Illinois | $500 minimum, License plate suspension until $100 reinstatement fee and insurance proof |
| Indiana | License/registration suspension for 90 days to one year |
| Iowa | $500 if in accident; Otherwise, fine: $250, Community service in lieu of fine. Possible citation/warning if pulled over plus removal of plates and registration possible when pulled over without insurance and reissued upon payment of fine or completed community service, proof of insurance, and $15 fee; possible impoundment when pulled over |
| Kansas | $300 to $1,000, Fine and/or confinement in jail up to six months; license/registration suspension; reinstatement fee: $100 |
| Kentucky | $500 to $1,000, Fine and/or sentenced up to 90 days in jail; license plates and registration revoked for one year or until proof of insurance is shown |
| Louisiana | $500 to $1,000, If in car accident, fine plus registration revoked and driving privileges suspended for 180 days |
| Maine | $100 to $500, Suspension of license and registration until proof of insurance |
| Maryland | Lose license plates and motor vehicle registration privileges; pay uninsured motorist penalty fees for each lapse of insurance — $150 for the first 30 days, $7 for each day thereafter; Pay a restoration fee of up to $25 for a vehicle's registration |
| Massachusetts | $500 to $5,000, Fine and/or imprisonment for one year or less |
| Michigan | $200 to $500, Fine and/or imprisonment for one year or less; license suspension for 30 days or until proof of insurance; $25 service fee to Secretary of State |
| Minnesota | $200 to $1,000, Fine (or community service) and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days; License and registration revoked for no more than 12 months |
| Mississippi | $1,000, Driving privileges suspended for one year or until proof of insurance |
| Missouri | Four points against driving record; driver may be supervised; suspended until proof of insurance with $20 reinstatement fee |
| Montana | $250 to $500, Fine and/or imprisonment for no more than 10 days |
| Nebraska | License and registration suspension; reinstatement fee of $50 for each; proof of insurance to remain on file for three years |
| Nevada | $250 to $1,000, Registration suspension — until payment of reinstatement fee and, depending on circumstances, an SR-22 (proof of financial responsibility) if lapsed more than 90 days; reinstatement fee: $250 |
| New Hampshire | Not a mandatory insurance state. Proof of insurance may be required as the result of a conviction, crash involvement, or administrative action. If you are required to file proof of insurance and vehicles are registered in your name, you will be required to file an Owner’s SR-22 Certificate of Insurance. |
| New Jersey | $300 to $1,000, License suspension for one year; pay surcharges for three years in the amount of $250 per year |
| New Mexico | Up to $300, Fine and/or imprisoned for 90 days; license suspension |
| New York | Up to $1,500 if involved in accident plus $750 civil penalty, "License and registration suspension – revoked for one year; suspension of license if without insurance for 90 days; suspension lasts as long as registration suspension; Suspension of registration: equal to time without insurance or pays $8/day up to thirty days for which financial security was not in effect, $10/day from the thirty-first to the sixtieth day $12/day from the sixtieth to the ninetieth day and proof of security is provided. Or for the same time as the motor vehicle was operated without insurance. " |
| North Carolina | $50, Registration suspension until proof of financial responsibility but 30-day suspension if in car accident or knowingly driving without insurance; $50 restoration fee plus license plate fee |
| North Dakota | Up to $1,500, "Fine and/or 30 days in prison; 14 points against license plus suspension; Proof of insurance must be provided for one year; license with a notation requiring that person keep proof of liability insurance on file with the department. The fee for this license is $50, and the fee to remove this notation is $50." |
| Ohio | License/plates/registration suspension until requirements are met and $100 reinstatement fee is paid; maintain special high-risk coverage on file with the BMV for three to five years; If involved in accident without insurance: all above penalties and a security suspension for two plus years and an indefinite judgment suspension (until all damages are satisfied) |
| Oklahoma | $250, Jail time up to 30 days; license suspension with $275 reinstatement fee. Police can seize license plates and assign temporary plates and liability insurance — in effect for 10 days and can also impound the vehicle. The cost of the temporary coverage is added to the administrative fee and any fines paid for plates to be returned. If the car isimpounded, the owner must also pay towing and storage fees. |
| Oregon | $130-$1000 ($260 is the presumptive fine), If involved in accident — at least a one year license suspension; proof of financial responsibility required for three years |
| Pennsylvania | Registration suspended for three months (unless lapse was for less than 31 days and vehicle not operated during that time); $88 restoration fee plus proof of insurance required to get it back; $500 civil penalty fee is optional in lieu of registration suspension plus $88 restoration fee — can only use this option once within a 12-month period |
| Rhode Island | $100 to $500, License and registration suspension up to three months; reinstatement fee: $30 to $50 |
| South Carolina | $100-$200, Fine or 30-day imprisonment; failure to surrender registration and plates when insurance lapses; license/registration suspended until proof of insurance plus $200 reinstatement fee |
| South Dakota | $100, Fine and/or 30 days imprisonment; license suspension for 30 days to one year; filing proof of insurance (SR-22) with the state for three years from date of conviction. Failure to file proof will result in suspension of vehicle registration, license plates, and driver license. |
| Tennessee | Pay $25 coverage failure fee within 30 days of notice; if not paid, then an additional $100 coverage failure fee with suspension or revocation of registration plus reinstatement fee of no more than $25 |
| Texas | $175 to $350, Pay up to a $250 surcharge every year for three years (may be reduced with certain requirements) |
| Utah | $400, License suspension until proof of insurance (maintained for three years) and $100 reinstatement fee |
| Vermont | Up to $500, License suspended until proof of insurance |
| Virginia | May pay $500, Uninsured Motorists Vehicle fee to drive without insurance at your own risk. If this fee is not paid in lieu of insurance, all driving and vehicle registration privileges will be suspended until a $500 statutory fee is paid, proof of insurance is filed for three years, and a reinstatement fee (if applicable) is paid |
| Washington, D.C. | Up to $250 or more |
| West Virginia | $200 to $5,000, License suspended for 30 days with reinstatement fees, unless there's proof of insurance and $200 penalty fee |
| Wisconsin | Up to $500 |
| Wyoming | Up to $750, Up to six months in jail |
Read more: How many points can you get on your license before it’s suspended?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, one in eight drivers are uninsured. Consequences for driving without insurance include fines, driver’s license suspension, and possible jail time.
Read more:
- Cheap Hawaii Auto Insurance
- Cheap Indiana Auto Insurance
- Cheap Kansas Auto Insurance
- Cheap Idaho Auto Insurance
- Cheap Kentucky Auto Insurance
- Cheap Maryland Auto Insurance
- Cheap Michigan Auto Insurance
- Cheap Minnesota Auto Insurance
- Cheap Missouri Auto Insurance
- Cheap Montana Auto Insurance
- Cheap Nebraska Auto Insurance
- Cheap New Jersey Auto Insurance
- Cheap North Carolina Auto Insurance
- Cheap Arizona Auto Insurance
- Cheap Arkansas Auto Insurance
- Cheap Iowa Auto Insurance
- Cheap Oregon Auto Insurance
- Cheap Pennsylvania Auto Insurance
- Cheap South Dakota Auto Insurance
- Cheap Tennessee Auto Insurance
- Cheap Texas Auto Insurance
- Cheap Washington Auto Insurance
What if I already have auto insurance?
Typically, the people who buy one-day car insurance policies are people who do not currently have auto insurance. If you own your own vehicle and have auto insurance, you are probably already covered.
In fact, you could be doubly covered: auto insurance follows the car, which means you should be covered when driving someone else’s vehicle (assuming that person has insurance on their car).
In this situation, your personal insurance could act as secondary insurance, giving you an extra layer of protection.
Check with your insurance company to determine if you already have coverage. If you’re not covered, or if you don’t have auto insurance at all, you might wish to buy a one-day insurance policy for certain situations.
Who qualifies for one-day auto insurance?
You should be able to get one-day car insurance if you are between 21 and 75 years old with a relatively clean driving record.
Typically, insurance companies will refuse to provide one-day insurance to young drivers, drivers with multiple at-fault incidents, and drivers with previous license suspensions.
As long as you meet the basic requirements, you should be able to get one-day car insurance:
- You are between 21 and 75 years of age
- You have no more than six penalty points on your license within the past three years (or, learn how to get points removed from your license)
- You have not had your license suspended in the past five years
- You have had no more than one at-fault insurance claim in the past three years
Keep reading to learn how to go about getting one-day auto insurance.
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How do I get one-day auto insurance?
Applying for auto insurance for one day is pretty straightforward. Here’s what you should do to find the right policy:
Step 1) Gather your information, including your vehicle information (year, model, and mileage), your own driving history, your license number, and other personal information.
Step 2) Compare insurance quotes online. Most major insurance companies in the United States offer one-day auto insurance policies, and you should be able to choose that option easily when filling out the auto insurance application.
Step 3) Call local insurance agents. Sometimes, local insurance companies have better deals than nationwide providers on one-day car insurance rates. Consider calling a few local providers.
Step 4) Pay your rate. Most one-day insurance policies can be paid online using a credit card or a debit card. You might also be able to pay with a check or cash, although it may take longer.
Step 5) Get proof of insurance. After making your payment, the insurance company should allow you to print off your proof of insurance card (or, if the date is in the future, they might mail the card to your address). Hold onto this proof of insurance. You’ll need it if you get pulled over.
Some auto insurance companies also offer short-term policies – like auto insurance that lasts a week or a month. Look for these policies – including one-day policies – under the short-term coverage or temporary auto insurance section of an insurance provider’s website.
That’s it. If you’d like to check out affordable one-day car insurance rates today, you can enter your ZIP code and compare one-day auto insurance quotes for free. You’ll be able to easily select the date on which you want your temporary car insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is affordable one-day auto insurance?
Affordable one-day auto insurance refers to a type of short-term insurance coverage that provides protection for your vehicle for a single day. It offers temporary coverage, allowing you to insure your car for a specific period when you don’t require a full annual policy.
When would I need affordable one-day auto insurance?
There are several situations where you might need affordable one-day auto insurance. Some common examples include:
- Borrowing or lending a car for a day: If you’re borrowing a friend’s car or lending your own vehicle to someone for a specific day, one-day auto insurance can provide coverage during that period.
- Renting a car: When renting a car for a day, the rental agency may offer their own insurance, but one-day auto insurance can serve as an alternative or supplement.
- Test driving a vehicle: If you’re considering purchasing a car and want to take it for a test drive, one-day auto insurance can provide the necessary coverage.
- Moving a vehicle: When transporting a vehicle for a short distance or moving it to a new location, one-day auto insurance can offer protection during the move.
How much does affordable one-day auto insurance cost?
The cost of affordable one-day auto insurance varies depending on several factors, including your location, the make and model of your vehicle, your driving history, and the coverage options you choose. Generally, the cost of one-day insurance is lower compared to an annual policy since it only provides coverage for a short duration. To get an accurate quote, it’s recommended to contact insurance providers or use online quote comparison tools.
Can I buy affordable one-day auto insurance online?
Yes, many insurance providers offer the convenience of purchasing one-day auto insurance online. You can visit their websites, provide the necessary information, select your coverage options, and receive a quote. If you’re satisfied with the quote, you can proceed to purchase the policy online. Be sure to review the policy details carefully before making a purchase.
Can I extend a one-day auto insurance policy if I need coverage for longer?
In most cases, affordable one-day auto insurance policies are designed to provide coverage for a single day only. If you require coverage for a longer period, such as multiple days or weeks, it’s usually more cost-effective to explore other insurance options, such as short-term or annual policies. However, it’s best to contact your insurance provider directly to inquire about any available extensions or alternatives for your specific situation.
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Justin Wright
Licensed Insurance Agent
Justin Wright has been a licensed insurance broker for over 9 years. After graduating from Southeastern Seminary with a Masters in Philosophy, Justin started his career as a professor, teaching Philosophy and Ethics. Later, Justin obtained both his Property & Casualty license and his Life and Health license and began working for State Farm and Allstate. In 2020, Justin began working as an i...
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.