Does GEICO have temporary car insurance?

GEICO doesn’t sell temporary car insurance policies, but you can get short-term coverage by purchasing a six-month policy and canceling early.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Pat Roache
The only way to get temporary auto insurance from GEICO is to purchase a six-month policy and cancel it early.
There are no reputable car insurance companies that offer temporary policies—but getting short-term coverage is pretty straightforward. Drivers who need
car insurance
for less than six months could buy a standard policy from an insurer that doesn’t charge cancellation fees and simply cancel that policy before the renewal date.
Thinking about purchasing car insurance from GEICO? Read on to learn more about how this nationwide provider handles short-term coverage, and the different options available to you.

Can you buy temporary car insurance coverage from GEICO?

GEICO doesn’t offer
temporary car insurance
policies—but that shouldn’t be surprising. The shortest policy you can get from any trustworthy insurance provider is six months. If you stumble upon a car insurance company that claims to offer shorter temporary coverage, there’s a good chance that they are trying to scam you

How to get short-term car insurance with GEICO

If you want short-term or temporary coverage from GEICO, your only option is to purchase a six-month or one-year policy and
cancel your car insurance
when you no longer need coverage. That said, doing this repeatedly could cause GEICO to refuse to write you a policy in the future.
If you need coverage for a very short period or will be exclusively driving a car you rented from a rental agency, then you might be better off with other coverage options like
non-owner car insurance
or
rental car insurance
.
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Buy a six-month policy and cancel early

Because GEICO offers a pro-rata cancellation policy in most states, you usually won’t be on the hook for any fees or hidden charges if you cancel your policy before your renewal date. Additionally, GEICO policyholders who chose to pay in advance will be refunded for the unused portion of their car insurance.
This type of cancellation policy makes it easy for short-term drivers to get car insurance without overpaying. Whether you opt for basic
liability coverage
or a
full-coverage
policy, canceling your GEICO auto insurance is as easy as calling 1-800-841-1587 and speaking to an insurance agent.

Buy a non-owner car insurance policy

If you need short-term auto insurance because you plan to borrow a friend’s car or rent one from a rental agency, then you might be interested in
GEICO’s non-owner car insurance
. These liability-only policies are usually inexpensive and don’t include a deductible—but because non-owner policies aren’t available with important insurance options like
collision
or
comprehensive coverage
, you might have to pay for costly car repairs after an accident if the vehicle isn’t adequately insured.
It’s also a good idea to remember that non-owner car insurance only covers cars you drive but do not own. If you have non-owner car insurance but eventually buy a new car, then you’ll have to upgrade to a standard policy. Regardless of how much (or how little) you drive, all personal vehicles must be covered by standard car insurance that meets
your state's requirements
.

Buy rental car insurance

Short-term drivers who exclusively drive rental cars acquired through a rental car agency may wish to purchase rental car insurance. Frequent renters are best served by purchasing a non-owner policy for liability and purchasing collision coverage through the retinal company or as a credit card benefit.
If you only plan to rent a car for a few days or weeks, then you might also be interested in other ways to get rental car coverage. One way to get
cheap car insurance
for a rental car is to pay for your rental using a travel rewards credit card like Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture X, or American Express Platinum. These cards all include rental car coverage that will pay to repair or replace your rental if it’s damaged in an accident, gets vandalized, or is stolen.
Additionally, most rental car agencies offer their own coverage. This might be the most straightforward way for uninsured motorists to get rental car insurance, but it’s usually the most expensive. If you’re uninsured, though, the rental company will require you to purchase coverage from them. Most rental car companies let you choose your coverage level from a collision damage waiver, personal accident coverage, and basic liability—but expect to pay higher auto insurance rates.
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How much does short-term car insurance cost?

On average, drivers who purchase a six-month policy from GEICO pay about $408 per term for their car insurance. The exact amount you’ll pay for short-term car insurance depends on several factors.
Personal risk metrics like your age, gender, driving record, and location might raise or lower your costs. Drivers who purchase a temporary, six-month policy but cancel it after one month will pay significantly less than drivers who cancel after four, five, or six months.
Non-owner car insurance policies are usually about 10% cheaper than traditional policies—but while this type of auto insurance has lower upfront prices, being limited to liability-only coverage means you could be on the hook for some seriously expensive car repair bills after an accident if the vehicle owner decides to pursue you in court.
Finally, rental car coverage is most affordable if you have a travel rewards credit card, but buying similar coverage through a rental car agency can increase costs significantly.
If you’re looking to find the best rate on short-term car insurance, gather quotes for six-month policies from providers such as GEICO, Allstate, and Progressive, and compare their coverage options and rates. You can do the work yourself, or simplify the process with a
trustworthy insurance shopping super app
.
Key Takeaway The best way to get affordable short-term coverage from GEICO (or any reputable insurance provider) is to buy traditional auto insurance and cancel your policy when you don’t need it anymore.

Do any car insurance companies offer temporary car insurance?

No! True temporary car insurance doesn’t exist, and any car insurance company that claims to offer it is probably untrustworthy. The only reliable way to get short-term coverage is to buy a six-month policy from a reputable company that doesn’t charge cancellation fees.
By using this method, drivers who need auto insurance for less than six months can get whatever type of coverage they want, without paying for the unused portion of their policy. Just make sure you remember to cancel in time!
Other forms of legitimate short-term insurance include rental car insurance, which covers vehicles rented from rental agencies, and non-owner car insurance, which provides liability-only protection for drivers who borrow vehicles from family members or friends.
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FAQs

Temporary car insurance does not exist. By purchasing a six-month policy and canceling it when you no longer need the coverage, you can get coverage for as little as a few days up to the full six-month duration.
Yes! If you regularly drive a car belonging to a family member or friend, they have the option of
adding you to their car insurance policy
. They might have to pay a higher insurance premium as a result, but both you (and the borrowed vehicle) will be covered in the event you get into an accident.
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