Temporary Car Insurance in Ohio: The Cheapest Options and What You Need to Know
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Updated: 2/7/2023
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Car owners can get short-term coverage by purchasing a six-month policy then canceling it early. If you discontinue your insurance after three months and the insurer issues you a full refund, it’ll only cost you $201 on average.
Rental car insurance is an option for drivers visiting Ohio or those who don’t have cars but need to drive.
There are other ways you can get temporary car insurance in Ohio. MoneyGeek found additional solutions, such as buying non-owner or rideshare insurance.
Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance in Ohio
Temporary car insurance can mean different things in Ohio and other states. There are several ways to get it, and the best approach depends on your situation. For example, a car owner may want to get a standard car insurance policy then cancel it early. Alternately, those who don’t have vehicles may opt for non-owner car insurance or purchase a policy from their rental company.
There isn’t a single strategy to get temporary car insurance in Ohio. MoneyGeek explores the different approaches you can use to get short-term car insurance depending on your 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 Ohio Insurance Policy and Canceling It Early
Major car insurance companies in Ohio and other states only offer policies with a minimum term of six months. Luckily, you can purchase coverage and then cancel before the term ends. Not only will this give you the temporary coverage you need, but it also saves you money.
A six-month policy in Ohio costs an average of $401. In comparison, a 90-day policy only costs half as much at around $201.
This strategy is effective, but be careful of having a lapse in insurance coverage. MoneyGeek discourages this since it may cause you to pay hundreds of dollars more in car insurance premiums per year.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance in Ohio
MoneyGeek calculated the costs by company for six-month, three-month and one-month policies.
We found that, on average, the companies offering the cheapest insurance in Ohio for drivers looking for a 90-day policy are:
- GEICO: $143 per 90 days
- Erie: $155 per 90 days
These rates don’t include cancellation fees since insurers generally won’t charge these. Most major car insurance companies usually give a full refund for the remaining unused period in your policy.
Annual Cost of Car Insurance in Ohio by Policy Length
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Altering Ohio Car Insurance Temporarily Depending on Your Needs
If you already have insurance but need to add or remove specific coverages, canceling it and purchasing a new one with a shorter term may not be the best approach. Making adjustments to your existing policy could be a better option. This strategy is most applicable if you have teenagers going off to college, let someone borrow your car regularly or need to store your vehicle for a while.
When You Should Alter Your Policy Temporarily
If your child goes to school elsewhere in Ohio, you can temporarily take him off your policy or look for a distant student discount.
If you need to store your car, you can remove all coverage except for comprehensive coverage. You can also consider a car storage discount from USAA if you qualify.
If someone regularly drives your car, it may be a good idea to add them to your policy.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance for Students in Ohio
If you have a child who drives your car and shares a home with you, you’ll have to add them to your policy. This can be expensive. Based on MoneyGeek’s analysis, adding an 18-year-old to your existing policy increases your average annual premium by roughly $1,645.
There are several ways to adjust the cost of your policy. You can remove your child from your insurance while they are living more than 100 miles away, request a distant student discount from your insurer or keep them on your policy.
While adding a student to your policy for an entire year adds around $1,645 to your premium, your average car insurance cost increases by roughly $274 if you only add your student for two months during the summer.
If you want to use this strategy, Nationwide can give you the biggest savings in Ohio.
Annual Cost of Adding an 18-Year-Old to Car Insurance in Ohio
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If you can’t take your child off of your policy and don’t qualify for a discount, your best option is to shop around for quotes. Comparing rates from multiple insurers can help you determine which companies offer the cheapest car insurance for teens so you can save money.
What to Do About Car Insurance if You’re Storing Your Car in Ohio
You have two options for getting temporary car insurance in Ohio if you’re planning to store your car for a while.
First, you can modify your policy. Removing all other coverages except for comprehensive insurance gives you a lower rate since you don’t pay for liability insurance. In Ohio, you’ll spend an average of $228 for comprehensive and collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible. If you include liability insurance, your premium becomes $634 on average.
Second, find out if your insurer offers a vehicle storage discount. If you have a military background, USAA is a good option. Its policies cost $507 per year on average, which is more affordable than most companies. Applying a car storage discount can make your premium even lower.
What to Do If You Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
If someone else in your household drives your car, it’s a good idea to add them to your policy. However, if you give someone outside your home permission to drive your vehicle, you don’t need to modify your policy. Your existing car insurance will cover them.
Buying Rental Car Insurance in Ohio
Another way to get temporary car insurance in Ohio is by purchasing it from your car rental company. Rental car insurance policy prices in Ohio range from $50 to $60 a day, depending on the company you choose. These policies include coverages such as collision damage waiver, supplemental liability and personal accident insurance in addition to liability insurance. To save on the cost, you can purchase only the coverages you need.
Finding Cheap Rental Car Insurance in Ohio
MoneyGeek gathered data in Ohio from Columbus. We found that rental car insurance policies cost around $50 to $60 per day on average. Prices vary depending on the rental company. Enterprise offers rental insurance at an average of $50, Avis for $57 and Hertz for $60 per day. These include all protections, like collision damage coverage, personal accident and supplemental liability insurance.
If you already have auto insurance, you may already have enough protection. Credit card providers often have collision damage waiver coverage for rental cars. Knowing about your existing coverages from other sources may help you save on rental car insurance costs.
Cost per Day of Rental Car Insurance in Ohio
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Buying Non-Owner Car Insurance in Ohio
You need to show proof of insurance if your driver’s license gets suspended, whether you have a car or not. You also need to file for an SR-22 in Ohio to get it reinstated.
If you don’t own a vehicle, purchasing a standard policy may not make any sense. Non-owner car insurance is an affordable way to address this temporary need. It’s considerably cheaper at $341 per year on average.
How to Get Temporary Rideshare Car Insurance for Rideshare in Ohio
If you work for a rideshare company in Ohio, you know your coverage only takes effect once you’ve accepted a fare and when you’re in the process of transporting a passenger. You don’t have coverage at any other time. Purchasing rideshare insurance helps you avoid this temporary gap in coverage.
Though it may not be available in all states, MoneyGeek compared the companies offering the best rideshare insurance policies to help you find your best option in Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Car Insurance in Ohio
Different states define temporary car insurance in a variety of ways, which may confuse buyers. To help you better understand temporary car insurance in Ohio, here are some of the most frequently asked questions.
Most major car insurance companies sell policies for a minimum of six months, but there are ways to get temporary car insurance in Ohio. Buying a six-month policy and canceling it early is one way to get temporary car insurance in the state.
Most car insurance companies will provide a refund if you cancel a policy before your term is up. This is one way to get short-term coverage in Ohio.
Methodology
MoneyGeek collected car insurance and non-owner policies throughout Ohio in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. The profile we used to research insurance quotes was a 40-year old male with a full coverage policy as detailed on our methodology page. The premium for students represents the average cost of adding an 18-year-old driver to an existing policy.
We manually obtained the rental insurance costs of Avis, Enterprise and Hertz through their online tools. Additionally, we calculated the cost of one-month and three-month policies using a prorated basis and assumed the insurers would give a full refund after canceling the policy.
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.