Temporary Car Insurance in Colorado: The Cheapest Options and What You Need to Know
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Updated: 2/8/2023
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Temporary auto insurance plans often last six months. If you do not intend to drive for an extended period of time, you may purchase a policy and cancel it before it expires for a refund. A three-month vehicle policy in Colorado costs an average of $362.
Rental vehicle insurance is an excellent option for travelers visiting Colorado who do not own a car but need to drive.
MoneyGeek examines various situations that may require temporary vehicle insurance, such as getting your license renewed with non-owner insurance or working for a ridesharing company.
Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance in Colorado
Temporary auto insurance might mean different things in different states. Automobile owners have the option of purchasing full coverage and canceling it early, while those who do not own a car have the option of purchasing rental car insurance or non-owner car insurance.
There isn’t one solitary way to get temporary car insurance in Colorado, but MoneyGeek researched all the possible ways to get short-term auto insurance.
- 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 Colorado Insurance Policy and Canceling It Early
Most major auto insurers in Colorado and other states will not offer policies for less than six months. A six-month auto insurance policy in Colorado costs $725 on average. While most insurers require that you get auto insurance for at least six months, you may be able to obtain coverage for a shorter term by canceling early. Most insurance providers will refund your balance for the unused coverage months.
A driver in Colorado might spend roughly $362 for 90-day insurance. This is half the price of a six-month policy.
Keep in mind that this strategy only works if you don't have lapses in your auto insurance coverage. MoneyGeek advises against having auto insurance lapses since this might cost you extra money each year later on.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance in Colorado
MoneyGeek calculated the cost of auto insurance for a six-month policy as well as a three-month and one-month coverage from a provider in Colorado. MoneyGeek found that the cheapest auto insurance providers on average in Colorado for a 90-day policy are:
- GEICO: $218 per 90 days
- Travelers: $260 per 90 days
MoneyGeek calculations exclude cancellation fees. Most auto insurance providers do not charge cancellation fees and often provide refunds for the coverage months you haven’t used prior to the cancellation of your premium.
Annual Cost of Car Insurance in Colorado by Policy Length
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Altering Colorado Car Insurance Temporarily Depending on Your Needs
If you have existing auto insurance with a provider in Colorado and want to add or remove your coverage, there is no need to obtain new temporary auto insurance. Instead, you can alter your current car insurance policy. The most frequently asked questions drivers have about short-term car insurance involve if a family’s teen goes to college, storing a vehicle or if someone is borrowing your car.
When You Should Alter Your Policy Temporarily
If your child is attending school elsewhere in Colorado, you can either remove them from the coverage or negotiate a discount.
If you plan to store your automobile, you can cancel everything except for your comprehensive insurance to save money. Additionally, military members can take advantage of USAA's car storage discount.
Auto insurance coverage through your policy should be extended to those who drive your vehicle on a regular basis.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance for Students in Colorado
Children living with their parents can be included as additional insured on their parents' auto insurance policy, which can be quite costly. MoneyGeek found that the average cost of adding an 18-year-old to a policy in Colorado is $3,207 per year.
If you are looking to temporarily modify your auto insurance cost, you may either remove your young student from the policy if they reside more than 100 miles away, use distant student discounts or keep them on your policy.
MoneyGeek found the additional cost of car insurance in Colorado for adding a student for two months of the year during the summer is approximately $535 per year. For temporarily removing your young student from your vehicle insurance coverage, Progressive provides the most savings in Colorado, at up to $3,720.
Annual Cost of Adding an 18-Year-Old to Car Insurance in Colorado
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You are not eligible for a distant student discount if your child goes to school within 100 miles of where you live, so you might want to shop around for an insurance provider that helps you save more. To help you save money, MoneyGeek compared the cheapest insurance providers for teens.
What to Do About Car Insurance if You’re Storing Your Car in Colorado
If you want to temporarily store your car in Colorado while keeping your car insurance coverage, you can switch to comprehensive-only coverage or request a car storage discount.
Switch to comprehensive-only coverage when storing your car saves you money on your insurance by removing liability insurance coverage. Comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible costs $468 per year on average, compared to a cost of roughly $1,116 for a policy with these coverages.
If you are a member of the military, USAA may be an excellent alternative for you. The insurer offers a discount for automobile storage and has one of the state's cheapest premiums before the discount, at roughly $695 per year.
What to Do If You Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
If you have someone else in your family who uses your car on a regular basis, they must be covered under the same car insurance policy. A non-family member driving your car is covered by your current insurance and you do not need to adjust your coverage.
Buying Rental Car Insurance in Colorado
If you're renting a car in Colorado, you can obtain insurance through the car rental company. It is common for rental companies to provide basic liability insurance with options for collision damage waivers, supplementary liability and personal accident insurance. Adding all of these coverages costs an average of $48 and $60 per day, but you mix and match your coverages to lower your costs.
Finding Cheap Rental Car Insurance in Colorado
MoneyGeek gathered rental car insurance data in Denver. The rental automobile insurance ranges from $48 to $60 per day depending on your insurer. On average, Enterprise charges $48 per day, Avis charges $57 daily and Hertz charges $60 each day.
If you have automobile insurance, you may not need to purchase additional coverage. Rental vehicles are also sometimes covered by the accident damage waiver from credit card issuers. You may be able to save money by declining the rental car company's insurance if you have coverage through your credit card provider.
Cost per Day of Rental Car Insurance in Colorado
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Buying Non-Owner Car Insurance in Colorado
People who do not own a car but need to provide proof of insurance coverage or need insurance to get their license reinstated can use non-owner auto insurance. In Colorado, a non-vehicle owner's insurance policy could cost you an average of $715 annually.
Non-owner insurance is the cheapest alternative if you don't own a car but need to file an SR-22 to get your license reinstated.
How to Get Temporary Rideshare Car Insurance for Rideshare in Colorado
Rideshare insurance covers drivers when they take a fare or ride with passengers in Colorado. When the driver hasn't taken a fare, there will be a temporary gap in coverage. This is where rideshare insurance comes in. However, rideshare insurance policies are not available in all states.
If you're looking for the best rideshare insurance in Colorado, MoneyGeek evaluated the policies offered by several insurance providers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Car Insurance in Colorado
Temporary car insurance in Colorado is a great option for a wide variety of reasons. Not only does it offer affordable coverage that's easy to use, but it also gives you peace of mind while you're on the go.
You can get temporary car insurance in Colorado but, keep in mind that most insurers won't cover you for less than six months.
Yes, you can get a refund for the unused coverage months when you cancel your auto insurance before six months. However, be aware that there might be cancellation fees.
Methodology
The insurance quotes for automobile owners and non-owners were acquired in Colorado in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. The typical auto insurance prices are based on specified parameters for a 40-year-old average male driver with a clean driving record having comprehensive and collision coverage of 100/300/100 with a $1,000 deductible. The sample driver owns a 2010 Toyota Camry LE and drives 12,000 miles per year. The cost for a student is the average cost of adding an 18-year-old driver to an insurance policy.
MoneyGeek computed the prorated cost of one-month and three-month premiums, assuming a full refund from the insurance carrier. MoneyGeek also manually obtained Colorado rental vehicle insurance costs by using Avis, Enterprise and Hertz's online tools.
For more information about our analysis, take a look at our complete methodology page.
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.