Temporary Car Insurance in Delaware

If you need temporary car insurance in Delaware, you may consider purchasing a six-month policy and then canceling it early to get a full refund. A three-month policy in Delaware costs an average of $371.

If you’re traveling to Delaware or don’t own a car in the state but need to drive, rental car insurance might be your best option.

MoneyGeek considered other scenarios where you need rental car insurance, such as if you have a suspended license or you’re a rideshare driver.

Temporary car insurance policies take on different meanings across different states. There are ways to buy temporary car insurance in Delaware, like getting full car insurance and canceling it early. Additionally, those who don’t own cars can get non-owner car insurance or rental car insurance.

Local insurance companies in Delaware only sell car insurance policies for a minimum of six months, which usually cost around $741. You can purchase a six-month insurance policy and cancel it early to get a shorter policy. Most car insurance companies in Delaware will refund you your premium for the rest of the term.

For example, you can get 90-day car insurance in Delaware and pay roughly $371 when you cancel a six-month policy three months early.

If you use this strategy, make sure there’s no lapse in your insurance coverage. Otherwise, you may end up paying hundreds of dollars extra per year.

MoneyGeek conducted an analysis of minimum car insurance coverage by a company in Delaware for a typical six-month, 90-day and one-month or policy.

On average, the cheapest car insurance in Delaware for 90 days of coverage comes from:

• State Farm: $307 per 90 days
• GEICO: $333 per 90 days

Our calculations do not include cancellation fees. Nevertheless, most major car insurance companies do not charge cancellation fees but will refund you your premiums for the policy duration you don’t use.

There might be instances where you have Delaware car insurance but you need to temporarily add or remove coverage. In this case, we recommend making adjustments to your existing policy. Some of the common situations that may prompt the need for adjustments include a teenager going to college, needing to store your vehicle or someone borrowing your car.

MoneyGeek collected data in Wilmington, Delaware. We found that the average cost of Delaware rental car insurance that includes all protection, such as supplemental liability, collision damage waiver and personal accident insurance, costs $47 to $57 depending on the company. Enterprise charges around $47 per day, while Hertz and Avis charge roughly $57 daily.

If you already have existing car insurance, you might be able to skip the other coverages. You may also skip certain coverages if you already have collision damage waiver coverage for rental cars from your credit card company. These strategies can save you money.

Drivers who want to store their car in Delaware temporarily can save money by getting discounts or switching to a comprehensive-only policy. If your vehicle is in storage, the comprehensive-only coverage will save you money by removing liability insurance coverage. Comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible costs around $372 per year in Delaware, compared to a cost of roughly $1,195 for a policy with comprehensive and collision and minimum liability insurance included.

Active, USAA provides a discount for car storage. It also has one of the cheaper policies in the state before that discount, at an average of $641 per year.

If you let someone who does not live in your house drive your car, you do not have to add the temporary driver to your car insurance in Delaware. However, if you and the car borrower live under one roof, they will have to be insured on your policy.

Rental car insurance is available for individuals who rent a car in Delaware. Almost all rental companies in the state offer basic liability insurance. You can also add personal accident insurance, collision damage waivers and supplemental liability insurance. If you add all these coverages, it will cost you $47 to $57 per day on average. To save money, you can try mixing and matching the coverages.

MoneyGeek collected data in Wilmington, Delaware. We found that the average cost of Delaware rental car insurance that includes all protection, such as supplemental liability, collision damage waiver and personal accident insurance, costs $47 to $57 depending on the company. Enterprise charges around $47 per day, while Hertz and Avis charge roughly $57 daily.

If you already have existing car insurance, you might be able to skip the other coverages. You may also skip certain coverages if you already have collision damage waiver coverage for rental cars from your credit card company. These strategies can save you money.

A non-owner insurance policy is the most affordable way to get coverage if you don’t have a car but drive regularly in Delaware. The average cost of this type of insurance in Delaware is $882 annually.

Rideshare drivers are covered by insurance once they transport a passenger or receive a fare. If you haven't accepted a fare, there will be a temporary gap in your coverage. This is where rideshare insurance can be helpful.

Not all states have rideshare insurance policies. To help you find the best rideshare car insurance in Delaware, MoneyGeek compared companies that offer this type of policy.

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about temporary car insurance in Delaware.

MoneyGeek collected car insurance and non-owner car insurance quotes from different insurers across Delaware with the help of Quadrant Information Services. Rental car insurance costs in Delaware were collected manually by MoneyGeek using the online tools of Avis, Enterprise and Hertz. The policies were for a 40-year-old driver and full coverage as described on our methodology page. Costs for a student represent the average cost of adding an 18-year-old driver to a policy. Note that numbers for the cost of one-month and three-month policies were calculated by MoneyGeek on a prorated basis, assuming a full refund from the insurance company.