Insurance companies do not typically offer seasonal car insurance, car insurance pauses or suspensions, or temporary car insurance. Instead, you can opt for storage insurance, pay-per-mile insurance, or get a student away from home discount to lower your costs.

Having your own vehicle definitely has its perks, but there may be times when you don’t really need a car or you know you won’t have access to it for a few months.

For instance, if you have a high-end sports car you store during the winter, you may not want to pay a hefty full-coverage bill for your coupe throughout the snowy months. Or maybe you’re a college student who only drives a car when you’re home from school during the summer.

We’ve prepared this quick guide to alternatives to seasonal car insurance down below. Let’s take a look at how you can save money on your

car insurance

during the months you drive the least.

MORE: Eight ways to prepare your car for winter driving or storage

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Can you get seasonal car insurance for the summer?

Unfortunately, you cannot get seasonal car insurance for the summer. Many summer-car drivers and students look for summertime car insurance to cover them throughout the months they drive the most, but such insurance doesn’t typically exist.

Car insurance providers offer alternatives like storage insurance, which exclusively includes

comprehensive coverage

for drivers who store their summer vehicles during the winter. There is also

pay-per-mile insurance

, where you pay to insure your vehicle based on your monthly mileage rather than paying a flat monthly rate.

University students may be able to take advantage of a

student away at school discount

, which decreases the rate for drivers on their parents’ insurance who only operate the vehicle when they’re home during the summer.

If you only drive for part of the year and none of these options will work for you, you can opt for a six-month insurance policy and cancel your plan once the summer rolls around. Just be aware of the possible lapse in coverage you may experience from taking insurance off your vehicle, which could impact your rates going forward.

What kind of temporary car insurance can you get as a student?

Again, if you are a student who lives away from home during the school year and you really only drive during the summer, your family’s policy could be eligible for a student away at school discount.

Many insurance providers offer this discount to make up for the financial burden of covering a student throughout the whole year, even if they only drive during the summer.

Students cannot get temporary car insurance for the months that they are home, although it may be worth a shot to ask your provider, especially if said student is listed as a secondary driver on the car.

Students may also be added to their parents policy as a permissive driver, which would allow them to drive the car occasionally under

permissive use

conditions.

MORE:

Car insurance for college students

What kind of temporary car insurance can you get for a car you don’t own?

There are a number of ways you can save on care insurance, especially if you’re driving a car that you don’t own. Here are a few insurance types that could work for you:

Non-owner insurance: this type of insurance is available for drivers who do not own a car but drive a friend or family member’s car, a rental car, or a vehicle from a car share service. Non-owner insurance is typically cheaper than standard insurance and lasts six months to a year.

Permissive driver insurance: the primary driver of the vehicle can give you permission to drive their car, and their insurance will protect you if there is an accident. You can also be temporarily added to their policy, but you’ll need to pay a deductible.

Rental car insurance

: when you rent a vehicle, you can purchase additional insurance from the rental company. These policies are typically more expensive, but their lifespans are significantly shorter.

MORE:

Does GEICO sell non-owner car insurance?

How to get temporary car insurance

Getting temporary car insurance can be tricky and risky. Your best bet would be to purchase a six-month no-deposit policy, which you can pay in monthly installments until you cancel, or you can pay in full and receive a refund when you cancel.

The only thing about canceling your policy to avoid paying for the full year is that you’ll incur a lapse in coverage that will go on your driving record and lead to an increase in rates when you go to reinstate your insurance.

Your best bet would be to pay for the full year and keep your insurance going to avoid a dent on your driving record that may impact your insurance rate. You could also opt for storage insurance, a pay-per-mile policy, or non-owner insurance if you’re driving someone else’s vehicle.

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, I managed to find full comprehensive coverage on both vehicles and saved $150 a month!” —Channing Y.

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FAQs

Will my car insurance be cheaper if I drive less?

Yes, your car insurance can be cheaper if you have a low annual mileage range on a standard plan or drive less on a pay-per-mile plan.

If your annual mileage is fairly low, you could receive a discount on your overall standard insurance rate depending on your provider, where you live, and your driving record. Alternatively, if you opt for a pay-per-mile plan and you have low monthly mileage records, your premium can be a lot lower than the average insurance plan.

Can you temporarily pause car insurance?

Depending on your state and your car insurance provider, you may be able to pause or suspend your car insurance. Most providers do not offer this service, so you may need to opt for reducing your coverage or canceling it altogether.

Be aware that if you cancel your policy, you won’t be able to avoid a lapse in coverage that could negatively impact your rate for the future.

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