Temporary Car Insurance in Missouri: The Cheapest Options and What You Need to Know
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Updated: 2/8/2023
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If you own a car, you may be able to acquire temporary car insurance by purchasing a policy and canceling it early. If you cancel it before the six-month period expires, you could receive a full refund for your unused premiums. In Missouri, the average cost of three-month temporary car insurance is $326.
If you're visiting Missouri or don’t own a car but need to drive, a car insurance policy may be the best option for you.
MoneyGeek also explored several cases where temporary vehicle insurance may be necessary, such as obtaining non-owner coverage to reinstate your license and working for a ridesharing company.
Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance in Missouri
Temporary car insurance has a range of meanings in many jurisdictions, including Missouri. If you own a car, you can obtain full coverage insurance and then cancel it early to get temporary coverage. If you do not own a car, you can either acquire rental car insurance or non-owner auto insurance.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for short-term auto insurance in Missouri, MoneyGeek explored all available options depending on the driver’s needs.
- 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 Missouri Insurance Policy and Canceling It Early
It is not possible to purchase insurance on a month-to-month basis from any of the major insurance companies in Missouri. Reputable providers only sell policies with a minimum duration of six months, but you may be able to cancel your coverage before the six-month term expires. Major insurance companies will refund the balance of your policy's unused term.
In Missouri, a six-month policy costs around $653, while creating a three-month policy costs about half of that at $326.
If you use this strategy, MoneyGeek suggests that you avoid having any lapses in your insurance coverage since this might result in hundreds of dollars in additional charges annually.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance in Missouri
MoneyGeek calculated the cost of Missouri vehicle insurance policies for a six-month, three-month and one-month policy.
On average, the following insurers in Missouri offer the most affordable auto insurance for a 90-day policy:
- Allstate: $223 per 90 days
- State Farm: $227 per 90 days
These estimates do not include cancellation costs since most major insurance providers do not impose cancellation fees and provide full refunds for the unused term.
Annual Cost of Car Insurance in Missouri by Policy Length
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Altering Missouri Car Insurance Temporarily Depending on Your Needs
If you currently have vehicle insurance in Missouri but plan to temporarily add or remove coverage, the best approach would be to modify your existing policy. Short-term car insurance is a common concern for parents with children who are going away for college, drivers who want to temporarily store their cars and individuals who often lend their vehicle to others.
When You Should Alter Your Policy Temporarily
If your child attends school elsewhere in Missouri, you can either temporarily remove them from your policy or ask for a discount.
If you're storing your car, it might be a good idea to switch to a comprehensive-only policy. If you're a military member, you can also take advantage of USAA's auto storage discounts.
If you allow another person to drive your car, you should only add them to your insurance policy if they drive it regularly.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance for Students in Missouri
Adding your child to your auto insurance coverage can be expensive, but it is required in Missouri if they live with you. In Missouri, the average annual cost of adding an 18-year-old to an existing insurance policy is $2,073.
If your young student lives more than 100 miles away, you can temporarily take them off your policy for a portion of the year. Additionally, you can also save money by taking advantage of remote student discounts or simply leaving them on your insurance.
In Missouri, adding a student for two months of the year during the summer costs an average of $346, or approximately $1,728 less than keeping them on the policy for a full year. Progressive offers the most significant savings in Missouri for temporarily taking a student off a policy.
Annual Cost of Adding an 18-Year-Old to Car Insurance in Missouri
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If your child attends school in Missouri and lives close enough that you do not qualify for a discount, it's still possible to save money by shopping around. MoneyGeek's comparison tool can help you identify the cheapest insurance companies for teens.
What to Do About Car Insurance if You’re Storing Your Car in Missouri
If you’re temporarily storing your vehicle in Missouri, you can save money by either switching to a comprehensive-only policy or looking for a car storage discount.
If you're storing your vehicle, opting for comprehensive-only coverage and removing liability insurance is a good way to save some money. Comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible costs an average of $459 per year in Missouri. An insurance policy that includes minimum liability insurance costs an average of $1,070 a year.
Active-duty military members might find USAA to be a good option. The company offers car storage discounts and the lowest insurance costs in the state at an average of $485 per year.
What to Do If You Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
According to the Missouri Department of Insurance, all private car insurance policies are required to cover a particular car as well as the driver named in the policy, family members or a spouse residing in the same home and any other driver who has the policy holder’s permission to drive the vehicle.
Buying Rental Car Insurance in Missouri
Auto insurance is not necessary when temporarily renting a vehicle in Missouri since car insurance from the rental company is already sufficient. Most rental companies offer basic liability insurance, as well as the option to add collision damage waivers and personal accident insurance.
In Missouri, the cost of adding all these coverages ranges from $44 to $58 per day, depending on the insurance company. However, you may be able to save money by mixing and matching coverages.
Finding Cheap Rental Car Insurance in Missouri
MoneyGeek collected data from Kansas City, Missouri, and found that insurance costs for rental cars typically range from $44 to $58 per day depending on the company. Enterprise costs roughly $44 per day, Avis approximately $57 and Hertz about $58 per day.
Rental car insurance often includes additional liability coverage, a collision damage waiver and personal injury protection. If you already have your own car insurance policy, your liability, accident and medical expenses coverages might be sufficient.
Additionally, credit card companies often provide collision damage waiver coverage for rental cars. You could save money if you can have this insurance via your credit card provider.
Cost per Day of Rental Car Insurance in Missouri
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Buying Non-Owner Car Insurance in Missouri
Non-owner auto insurance is an excellent alternative for folks who do not own a vehicle but need proof of insurance coverage and an SR-22 to reinstate their license. The average cost of non-owner car insurance in Missouri is $364 per year. Non-owner insurance is the cheapest option for drivers who do not own a vehicle and need to acquire an SR-22 in Missouri.
How to Get Temporary Rideshare Car Insurance for Rideshare in Missouri
Missouri rideshare drivers are insured when they accept fares or transport passengers. However, there is a temporary coverage gap in-between trips. This is where ridesharing insurance coverage comes in. Unfortunately, it is not available in all states.
If you're searching for the best rideshare insurance in Missouri, MoneyGeek compared the leading insurers that provide this coverage to help you find the best deal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Car Insurance in Missouri
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about temporary car insurance in Missouri.
Missouri's largest car insurance companies offer a minimum of six months of coverage for their policies. However, depending on your needs, there are a couple of ways to acquire temporary car insurance in Missouri. For example, you can cancel your policy early to get a refund for the unused portion of your coverage.
Most major insurers will typically provide a full refund for the unused coverage months if you buy a policy and then cancel it before the six-month term expires.
Methodology
MoneyGeek collected car insurance and non-owner car insurance quotes across Missouri in partnership with Quadrant Information Services. As indicated on our methodology page, the insurance was for a 40-year-old driver with full coverage. Costs for a student driver represent the cost of adding an 18-year-old driver to an existing policy.
MoneyGeek calculated the costs of one-month and three-month policies on a prorated basis under the assumption that the insurance companies give full refunds for the unused period. Rental car insurance costs in Missouri were manually collected using the online resources of 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.
sources
- Missouri Department of Insurance. "Who is covered under an auto insurance policy?." Accessed December 20, 2021.