Does State Farm Offer Temporary Car Insurance?
State Farm does not offer temporary car insurance—but you can cancel your policy when you no longer need it.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by Amy Bobinger
If you only need a
car insurance
policy for a short period of time, you won’t be able to purchase a temporary car insurance policy from State Farm. However, if you’re really in a pinch, you could opt for a standard 6- or 12-month auto insurance policy and then cancel it early.- State Farm and other reputable insurance companies do not offer short-term insurance policies.
- If you really need a temporary policy, you could purchase a 6-month or one-year policy and cancel it once you no longer need coverage.
- State Farm does not charge a cancellation fee for ending your policy early, and you’ll be refunded for the unused portion of your policy term.
- This isn’t an option to rely on routinely, as it could lead insurers to refuse to cover you.
- If you don’t own a car but still borrow or rent cars frequently, you may benefit from a non-owner’s policy.
- State Farm and other reputable insurance companies do not offer short-term insurance policies.
- If you really need a temporary policy, you could purchase a 6-month or one-year policy and cancel it once you no longer need coverage.
- State Farm does not charge a cancellation fee for ending your policy early, and you’ll be refunded for the unused portion of your policy term.
- This isn’t an option to rely on routinely, as it could lead insurers to refuse to cover you.
- If you don’t own a car but still borrow or rent cars frequently, you may benefit from a non-owner’s policy.
Can you buy State Farm temporary car insurance coverage?
No—State Farm, like most legitimate car insurance companies, does not offer any temporary coverage options. Because most states require motorists to hold valid car insurance, reputable providers sell policies in six month and twelve month increments, to help drivers avoid a lapse in coverage. In fact, you should steer clear of any companies that claim to offer temporary coverage.
However, potential State Farm policyholders who only need coverage for a few months do have options.
How to get short-term car insurance with State Farm
Do you need coverage for just a month or two? Don’t worry—you won’t have to purchase a 6- or 12-month policy from State Farm and pay for the whole thing.
However, exactly how you should get short-term coverage from State Farm depends on your situation.
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Buy a 6-month policy
Perhaps you own and operate a vehicle right now but plan to sell it in the near future. In this case, you can simply purchase a standard car insurance policy. Depending on the state, State Farm offers both 6- and 12-month options, and you can feel free to choose the shortest one that meets your needs.
If you find that you no longer need coverage before the end of your policy term, you could contact your State Farm agent and cancel your coverage. State Farm generously doesn’t charge a cancellation fee, and if you’ve made advanced payments, you’ll be refunded a prorated amount for the coverage days you didn’t need.
However, be aware that insurers typically won’t write temporary policies, so this should only be done as a last resort. If you do this repeatedly, insurers may refuse to write you a policy in the future—and it could even be seen as a type of insurance fraud, depending on the circumstances.
If you’re specifically looking to save money, you might choose to pass up on
collision coverage
and comprehensive coverage
at this time. selecting just basic liability coverage
—as well as choosing a high-deductible policy—will keep your premiums as low as possible. Just be sure to drive extremely carefully! Buy a non-owner car insurance policy
But what if you don’t own a car? Well, if you don’t own a car and don’t drive very often, it’s perfectly legal and safe to be uninsured—even if you have a valid driver’s license. Just keep in mind that your insurance premiums may be a bit higher-than-average should you decide to purchase a new policy after a significant lapse.
But if you frequently borrow your family member’s car, or drive any vehicle that you don’t own, then you may benefit from a
non-owner car insurance
policy. (Keep in mind that this is not for people who live with the car owner—they should be added to the primary policy.)Non-owner policies are liability policies that cover drivers who do not own a car. It kicks in after the car owner’s primary insurance hits its coverage limits. It’s typically significantly cheaper than standard car insurance, and doesn’t include a deductible.
Buy rental car insurance
If you’re not an owner or a frequent borrower, but you find yourself needing to rent a vehicle, you can opt for rental car insurance.
Rental car companies offer this coverage to customers when they sign the rental agreement, and they may be required depending on what insurance you carry, as well as your age, credit score, and/or the vehicle you’re renting.
Keep in mind that rental car insurance can be quite expensive—especially since this type of insurance covers most of what might happen to your vehicle while you’re using it (from collisions to vandalism). However, without it, you’ll be completely financially responsible for any damage to the vehicle.
How much does short-term car insurance cost?
The cost of your short-term car insurance coverage will depend on the type of insurance you purchase. In general, rental car insurance tends to be quite expensive, while non-owner car insurance—which is a liability-only policy—costs measurably less than standard car insurance policies.
No matter what, your State Farm auto insurance rates depend on a variety of factors, such as:
- Your geographic location
- Your vehicle type (if applicable)
- Your driving history
- Your demographic information, such as age and gender
Do any car insurance companies offer temporary car insurance?
You may be wondering if you can purchase temporary car insurance from somewhere other than state farm. Unfortunately, no reputable car insurance company—such as
GEICO
, Nationwide
, or Allstate
—offers temporary coverage.“Amazing service!Jerryhelped me get insurance for the first time. Everything went smoothly without a hitch. I couldn’t ask for more!” —Tasha F.
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FAQs
How long does temporary car insurance coverage last?
Reputable car insurance companies do not offer temporary car insurance; instead, most offer coverage in 6- and 12-month increments. However, you can absolutely cancel your car insurance at any time, should you no longer need it. Just keep in mind that you may be assigned a cancellation fee.
If you opt for rental car insurance, the policy will last through the entire length of your rental agreement.
Can you be added to a car insurance policy temporarily?
It depends—the primary policyholder can add you to their policy, and then they may be able to remove you later. However, if you live in the same household as the person, and/or you have a troubled driving record, the insurer may not remove you from the policy unless you can provide proof of having other insurance.
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