Temporary Car Insurance in Arizona: The Cheapest Options and What You Need to Know
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Updated: 2/8/2023
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To get temporary auto insurance, you might be able to purchase and cancel a policy before the six-month period is over and get a full refund. Temporary car insurance in Arizona costs an average of $321 for a three-month policy.
If you're planning a trip to Arizona and don't have your own car, car insurance from a rental company may be your best bet. MoneyGeek also explored other situations in which you could require temporary auto insurance, including purchasing non-owner coverage to get your license reinstated and working for a ridesharing service.
Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance in Arizona
Different meanings might be applied to "temporary car insurance" in various states, including Arizona. If you own a vehicle, you could buy full coverage insurance and cancel it early. If you don't own a car, you can get rental car insurance or non-owner auto insurance.
There's no one-size-fits-all solution for short-term vehicle insurance in Arizona, but MoneyGeek researched all the potential options.
- Need a full car insurance policy temporarily? Buy and cancel
- Want to add or remove a driver? Alter your policy
- Renting a car? Buy from the rental company or use your own policy
- Don’t own a car? Look into non-owner Insurance
- Working for a rideshare company? Buy rideshare insurance
Buying a Six-Month Arizona Insurance Policy and Canceling It Early
In Arizona, if you want to maintain auto insurance for a short amount of time, you will need to get coverage that lasts at least six months. You won't be able to buy month-to-month insurance coverage from any of the reputable insurance companies, but you may be able to cancel your policy before the end of the six-month term. The majority of large insurance companies will refund your insurance for the balance of the term’s payment.
In Arizona, a six-month policy costs roughly $642, while a three-month policy costs half of that at around $321.
Keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid having any lapse in your insurance coverage while using this strategy since it might cost you hundreds of dollars a year in additional premiums.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance in Arizona
MoneyGeek calculated the cost of Arizona car insurance for six months, three months and one month of coverage.
On average, here are the least expensive car insurance companies in Arizona for a 90-day policy:
- GEICO: $192 per 90 days
- Progressive: $252 per 90 days
Cancellation costs are not included in these results since there are typically no cancellation fees for the months of coverage that you haven't utilized with most major insurance carriers.
Annual Cost of Car Insurance in Arizona by Policy Length
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Altering Arizona Car Insurance Temporarily Depending on Your Needs
If you currently have Arizona auto insurance but need to add or remove coverage, the best approach is to modify your existing policy. Short-term car insurance is a common concern for parents whose teenagers are away at college, those who need to store their vehicle or those who let others borrow their car.
When You Should Alter Your Policy Temporarily
You may be able to get a discount or have your child temporarily removed from your policy if they are attending school elsewhere in Arizona.
Removing everything except for your comprehensive insurance or using USAA's car storage savings if you're in the military may make sense if you're storing your car.
Anyone who drives your car should only be added to your insurance coverage if they do so on a regular basis.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance for Students in Arizona
Adding a child to your auto insurance coverage is expensive, but they must be on your policy if they live with you in Arizona. MoneyGeek calculated that the average annual cost of adding an 18-year-old to your policy in Arizona is $2,786.
To save money, consider removing your student from your policy if they reside more than 100 miles away. Other options to save include taking advantage of distant student discounts or just leaving them on your policy.
Adding a student for two months of the year during the summer will cost an average of $464, which is roughly $2,332 less than a full-year policy. You can save the most using GEICO’s insurance, which reduces costs by an average of $1,393 for temporarily taking a student off your policy.
Annual Cost of Adding an 18-Year-Old to Car Insurance in Arizona
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It's possible that the best way to save money if your child attends school in Arizona is to shop around for insurance policies. Using Moneygeek's comparison tool, you can locate the lowest insurance companies for teens.
What to Do About Car Insurance if You’re Storing Your Car in Arizona
To save money on auto insurance in Arizona when storing your vehicle, you could maintain your current coverage but convert to comprehensive-only or look for a car storage discount.
If your car is in storage, choosing comprehensive-only coverage lets you save money by eliminating liability insurance. In Arizona, comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible costs roughly $308 per year, compared to around $828 for a policy including comprehensive and collision insurance plus minimum liability insurance.
USAA may be a suitable alternative if you're an active-duty military member. Before a discount, this policy costs an average of $790 per year.
What to Do If You Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
If you let a family member or friend use your car, they must be covered under your insurance policy. However, as long as the person driving your vehicle doesn’t live with you, you don't have to worry about making any changes to your policy.
Buying Rental Car Insurance in Arizona
Auto insurance isn't necessary while renting a car in Arizona for a short period of time since you can purchase it from the rental company. In addition to supplemental liability insurance, almost all rental car companies provide collision damage waivers and personal accident insurance as add-on options. The typical cost of adding all of these coverages is between $57 to $81 on average per day, depending on the insurance company. However, you may be able to mix and match options for less expensive coverage.
Finding Cheap Rental Car Insurance in Arizona
MoneyGeek gathered data in Phoenix, Arizona. Rental car insurance costs between $57 to $81 per day on average, depending on the company. Per day, Avis costs roughly $57, Hertz costs around $60 and Enterprise costs about $81.
Rental car insurance generally includes additional liability, a collision damage waiver and personal injury protection. If you currently have car insurance, your liability, accident and medical payments coverages could be sufficient.
Additionally, credit card companies provide rental vehicle collision damage waiver coverage. You might be able to save money by declining the rental vehicle company's insurance if you have it through your credit card provider.
Cost per Day of Rental Car Insurance in Arizona
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Buying Non-Owner Car Insurance in Arizona
Non-owner car insurance is an excellent choice for people who do not own a vehicle but want proof of insurance coverage or need an SR-22 file in order to restore their license. The average cost of non-owner car insurance in Arizona is roughly $639. Non-owner insurance is the least expensive option for drivers who do not own a vehicle and must file an SR-22 in Arizona.
How to Get Temporary Rideshare Car Insurance for Rideshare in Arizona
Rideshare drivers in Arizona should be aware that although they are covered by insurance while accepting fares or carrying passengers, they aren't protected if they are between fares. This is where rideshare insurance coverage comes in, but it is not available in all states.
If you're searching for the best rideshare insurance in Arizona, MoneyGeek evaluated the insurers that provide great coverage to help you get the best deal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Car Insurance in Arizona
Here are some frequently asked questions about temporary vehicle insurance in Arizona.
Arizona's major insurance companies offer a minimum policy period of six months. However, you can get creative to access temporary car insurance in Arizona.
To get temporary vehicle insurance, you may be able to buy a policy and cancel it prior to the six-month term expiring to receive a full refund.
Methodology
In partnership with Quadrant Information Services, car insurance and non-owner car insurance rates were gathered across Arizona. As indicated on our methodology page, the policies were for a 40-year-old driver with full coverage. The costs associated with a student driver are the average cost of adding an 18-year-old driver to an existing policy.
MoneyGeek computed the costs of one-month and three-month plans on a prorated basis, assuming complete reimbursement from the insurance carrier. MoneyGeek personally compiled the rental vehicle insurance prices in Arizona by using the web resources provided by Avis, Enterprise and Hertz.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's Head of Insurance. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research and creating personalized content for every kind of buyer. He has been quoted in several insurance-related publications, including CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick earned a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He is passionate about using his knowledge of economics and insurance to bring transparency around financial topics and help others feel confident in their money moves.