How to Get One-Week Car Insurance

Getting a one-week policy can be challenging, but temporary car insurance hacks can help ensure short-term coverage. Below are some steps you can take to get car insurance for a week.

Short-term car insurance, often called temporary car insurance, isn’t a standard product. Most insurers offer policies with six or 12-month terms, making one-week coverage difficult to find. Start by checking if you qualify for one-week insurance. Contact providers directly to request quotes for short-term options.

When requesting quotes, ask providers about all available options. Even if one-week coverage isn’t offered, they may have policies that suit your needs. You might also come across ads for car insurance lasting as short as one day, one week or one month.

Non-owner insurance is for licensed drivers who don’t own a car but occasionally borrow or rent vehicles. It focuses on minimum coverage, paying for bodily injury or property damage if you're at fault in an accident.

Unlike standard car insurance, which includes comprehensive and collision coverage, non-owner policies are often more affordable. Non-owner insurance typically lasts six or 12 months, similar to standard policies. The average annual cost of non-owner insurance is $448, compared to $490 for a traditional policy with similar coverage.

Planning to use your roommate's car for a week? You can temporarily join their insurance policy, but only for personal use. If you’re driving for business purposes, you’ll need commercial auto insurance to cover additional drivers not living with the policyholder.

Permissive use allows someone not listed on your policy to drive your car and still be covered by your insurance. It’s like an "unlisted driver" benefit.

Here’s how it works:

• Getting permission: You should get the car owner’s consent, which can be verbal or written.
• Usage limits: Permissive use typically applies to occasional driving. For example, if a friend borrows your car once a month, they’re usually covered. However, if a family member drives your car daily after moving out, it may not qualify.
• Accidents and coverage: If an accident occurs while a permissive user is driving, your insurance generally covers the damage, but always check your policy for details.

If you're renting a vehicle for the weekend, many rental agencies offer weekend car insurance as an add-on. While convenient, it’s often more expensive than policies from independent insurers.

These weekend insurance options usually match your rental duration. Whether you choose a basic or extended plan, make sure it meets your needs and provides good value.

Purchase the shortest term — typically six months — and choose to pay monthly. After a month or once you’re done driving, call your insurance provider to cancel your policy. You've paid for only one month, so there's no refund wait. However, choose an insurance company that doesn't charge a cancellation fee.

When you buy car insurance, you're typically required to pay for the first month before your policy is activated. If you need insurance only for a week, you can cancel your policy once you're done driving.

Car insurance companies calculate premiums in various ways. Some may offer lower rates than others. Below, you can compare the cost of one-week car insurance with monthly and annual rates. Use the dropdown to filter by age range and desired coverage level.

Whether you're borrowing someone else's car, renting one for a week, traveling to another state or temporarily relocating, make sure you have the right coverage for that time. 

Below, you'll find a comparison of one-week car insurance costs by state, along with monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual rates. You can also see the cheapest company in each state. Use the drop-down menu to filter results by age group and preferred coverage level.

Comparing quotes from multiple companies gives you an idea of how much your policy might cost. Use MoneyGeek's calculator below to get quick estimates from different providers.

Insurers prefer long-term customers since short-term ones may not cover administrative costs. While you can cancel, whether you get a refund for unused premium depends on the insurer's policies and state regulations.

Most car insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period before you can file a claim. This means you can't claim for damage that occurs within the first 30 days of your policy. Read your policy carefully to decide if short-term insurance is right for you.

While one-week car insurance policies don’t exist, you can get temporary coverage through rental car insurance, non-owner policies or short-term add-ons. This guide helps you explore these options and choose the best solution for your needs.

Many drivers seeking short-term coverage wonder if one-week car insurance is possible. MoneyGeek answers common questions to help you find temporary coverage that fits your driving needs and budget.

Study Overview

MoneyGeek analyzed car insurance quotes for a sample driver profile to determine national and state averages. We focused on minimum insurance prices, the rate difference between minimum and full coverage, and how at-fault accidents and speeding tickets affect rates.

Data Sources and Depth

We collected data from state insurance departments and Quadrant Information Services, studying 83,056 quotes from 46 companies across 473 ZIP codes.

Driver Profile

We used a sample driver with the following characteristics to calculate the average annual car insurance cost:

• 40-year-old male
• Toyota Camry LE
• Clean driving record
• 12,000 miles driven annually

We adjusted the profile by location, coverage type and coverage amount to estimate insurance costs across the U.S. for different needs.

Coverage Levels and Deductibles Explained

Minimum coverage doesn't have a deductible. Full coverage, which includes comprehensive and collision insurance, has a deductible for each type. The amount can be the same or different for each. It’s what you pay out of pocket before your insurer covers repair or replacement costs in a claim. Full coverage provides the best protection since it covers damage and injuries to others, as well as damage to your vehicle.

Liability limits are explained as:

• 100/300/100 means:
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $100,000 property damage liability per accident
• 50/100/50 means:
  • $50,000 bodily injury liability per person
  • $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident
  • $50,000 property damage liability per accident

For national averages, we used a full coverage policy with 100/300/100 liability limits and a $1,000 deductible for comprehensive and collision. For state-specific quotes, we used a full coverage policy with 50/100/50 liability limits and the same $1,000 deductible for both coverage types.

Learn more about MoneyGeek's methodology.