Temporary Car Insurance in Nevada: The Cheapest Options and What You Need to Know
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Updated: 2/8/2023
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You can get temporary car insurance in Nevada by buying a six-month policy and canceling it early. If you end your policy after three months, you’ll spend roughly $475 for coverage. Most insurers will refund you for the remainder of your term.
You can get rental car insurance if you’re visiting Nevada or if you don’t own a car but you need to drive.
MoneyGeek identified other scenarios that may require you to have short-term coverage, like purchasing non-owner insurance to get your license reinstated or driving for a rideshare company.
Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance in Nevada
In Nevada and other states, the term “temporary car insurance” can take on different meanings. For example, if you don’t own a car, rental car insurance or non-owner car insurance are some options you can consider. If you have a vehicle, purchasing a full car insurance policy and canceling it early could be a better choice.
There are multiple ways to get temporary car insurance in Nevada. MoneyGeek explores various situations that may lead you to need short-term coverage.
- 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 Nevada Insurance Policy and Canceling It Early
In Nevada and other states, the shortest policy most major car insurance companies offer is six months. If you need coverage for a shorter period, you can cancel your policy early. Most companies will refund you for the unused policy period.
In Nevada, a six-month policy costs an average of $950. If you choose to cancel it after three months, you’ll only spend half of this, which is around $475.
Using this strategy could result in a lapse in insurance coverage, which MoneyGeek strongly discourages. If it happens, it may cause your premium to increase by hundreds of dollars in the future.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance in Nevada
MoneyGeek calculated the cost for a policy lasting for six months, three months and one month from different insurers.
The following companies offer the cheapest car insurance in Nevada on average for drivers looking for coverage for 90 days:
- GEICO: $271 per 90 days
- Travelers: $347 per 90 days
The rates mentioned don’t include cancellation fees since insurers usually won’t charge those. Most reputable car insurance companies provide a full refund of your premium for the unused policy period.
Annual Cost of Car Insurance in Nevada by Policy Length
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Altering Nevada Car Insurance Temporarily Depending on Your Needs
The best way to get temporary car insurance in Nevada may vary depending on your situation. If you already have an existing policy and need to add or remove coverages, altering your insurance policy could be the best option. Most people want to know about short-term car insurance when they have a teenager going off to college, are storing their vehicle for several months or let someone drive their car regularly.
When You Should Alter Your Policy Temporarily
When your child goes to school elsewhere in Nevada, you can temporarily remove them from your policy or request a discount.
When you’re storing your car, you can choose to remove all coverages except comprehensive insurance. You can also utilize car storage discounts from USAA if you're from the military.
When other people drive your car, add them to your policy only if they do so regularly.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance for Students in Nevada
If your child shares a home with you in Nevada, you must add them to your policy. This can be pricey. MoneyGeek found that you’ll pay $3,346 per year more on average after adding an 18-year-old to your policy in Nevada.
You can save money by taking them off your policy if they live more than 100 miles away from home, using distant student discounts or keeping your child on your policy.
If you only add your child to your policy for the two months they are home during the summer, it costs an average of $558. This is more affordable compared to the average of $3,346 if you add them for the entire year.
You can get the biggest savings from State Farm if you use this strategy.
Annual Cost of Adding an 18-Year-Old to Car Insurance in Nevada
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If your child lives close to your home, you may not be eligible for a distant student discount or to remove them from your policy. In this case, comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help you find companies offering cheap insurance for teens, resulting in savings.
What to Do About Car Insurance if You’re Storing Your Car in Nevada
If you put your car in storage in Nevada, find out if your insurer offers a vehicle storage discount. You can also switch to a comprehensive-only policy, which could help you save on premiums.
You pay around $359 annually for comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible, while a policy that includes liability insurance costs $1,189 yearly on average.
USAA is a good option if you have a military background. This insurer’s car insurance policy costs $939 per year on average, one of the lowest rates in Nevada. If you apply the storage discount, it’s even cheaper.
What to Do If You Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
If you let another person in your household drive your car, you should include them in your policy. If you give someone outside your home permission to drive your vehicle, you don’t need to modify your insurance. Your policy will cover them in case of an accident.
Buying Rental Car Insurance in Nevada
You can purchase an insurance policy from your car rental company instead of a traditional car insurer if you’re renting a car in Nevada. Their policies include basic liability insurance, but you can choose to add other coverages like collision damage waivers, personal accident and supplementary liability insurance. Rates between rental companies vary. A policy with all these coverages costs around $53 to $81 daily. You can mix and match inclusions depending on your needs.
Finding Cheap Rental Car Insurance in Nevada
MoneyGeek collected rental car insurance rates in Nevada from Las Vegas. Rental car insurance can cost anywhere from $53 to $81 per day, depending on the company you choose.
On average, you can get a policy with collision damage waiver, supplemental liability and personal accident insurance from Avis for $53, Hertz for $55 or Enterprise for $81 per day.
If you already have car insurance, the coverages may already provide adequate protection. Some credit card providers also have collision damage waiver coverage for rental cars. Declining these coverages when they are offered by a rental company can help you save money.
Cost per Day of Rental Car Insurance in Nevada
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Buying Non-Owner Car Insurance in Nevada
If you need to have your license reinstated in Nevada, you’ll need to show proof of insurance when filing an SR-22. This applies even if you don’t own a car. Non-owner car insurance is a more affordable way to secure the necessary coverage.
A non-owner car insurance policy costs $853 per year on average. It’s the cheapest way to secure an SR-22 in Nevada for drivers who don’t own a car.
How to Get Temporary Rideshare Car Insurance for Rideshare in Nevada
Coverage for rideshare drivers is limited to when they accept a fare or are in the process of transporting a passenger. While they’re waiting to accept a fare, their insurance isn’t in effect. This creates a temporary coverage gap. You can avoid this by purchasing rideshare insurance.
Although it may not be available in all states, MoneyGeek compared companies offering this type of insurance to help you find the best rideshare insurance in Nevada.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Car Insurance in Nevada
The concept of temporary car insurance in Nevada may be confusing since it has various definitions. To help you understand it better, here are the most commonly asked questions about short-term car insurance.
Yes, it is possible to create temporary car insurance in Nevada, and MoneyGeek determined several ways to do so. These may vary depending on your situation. Keep in mind that the shortest policy offered by reputable car insurance companies is six months.
Most car insurance companies refund your premium in full for the remaining unused period in your policy. This is helpful if you’re planning on buying insurance for six months and canceling early.
Methodology
MoneyGeek gathered car insurance and non-owner car insurance quotes across Nevada in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. All policies were for a 40-year-old male driver with full car insurance coverage, as detailed on MoneyGeek’s methodology page.
To determine rates for three-month and one-month policies, we calculated premiums on a prorated basis and assumed the insurer issued the customer a full refund. Additionally, MoneyGeek manually collected rental car insurance costs from Avis, Enterprise and Hertz through their respective online tools.
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.