Temporary Car Insurance in Utah: The Cheapest Options and What You Need to Know
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Updated: 2/8/2023
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In Utah, car owners may secure temporary car insurance by buying a six-month insurance policy and canceling it before the six-month period elapses. If you cancel your policy early, you can get a full refund for the unused months. For example, you will pay an average of $289 for a three-month car insurance policy in Utah.
If you’re visiting Utah or live in Utah and don’t have a car but need to drive, purchasing rental car insurance could be the best option for you.
MoneyGeek outlined how to buy temporary car insurance in Utah and examined the situations that would require this type of coverage, such as when you need to file an SR-22 or if you work for rideshare companies.
Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance in Utah
In Utah and in other states, the meaning of temporary car insurance varies. Car owners may acquire temporary coverage by canceling their full coverage policy before the six-month period ends. On the other hand, non-car owners can get temporary coverage by buying rental car insurance or non-owner car insurance.
While there are no specific ways to get temporary car insurance in Utah, MoneyGeek’s analysis can help you understand the different ways to purchase the right temporary coverage for your situation.
- 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 Utah Insurance Policy and Canceling It Early
Like most states, car insurance policies in Utah have a six-month minimum term. A six-month car insurance policy in Utah costs an average of $577. However, you can get coverage for a shorter term by canceling your policy early. Most major insurers will give you a refund for your unused premiums.
For instance, you will only pay an average of $289 if you cancel your policy after three months. This is about half the cost of a six-month policy.
Make sure that you do not have a lapse in your coverage if you use this strategy so that you don’t get hit with hundreds of dollars of extra costs in the future.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance in Utah
MoneyGeek determined the cost of temporary car insurance in Utah for a six-month policy, which is the standard duration. We also calculated the prices of a three-month and one-month policy.
We found that, on average, the most affordable insurers in Utah for a 90-day policy are:
- GEICO: $169 per 90 days
- Esurance & Nationwide: $248 per 90 days
The prices quoted above exclude cancellation fees because the majority of insurers in Utah provide full refunds for unused premiums and do not charge cancellation fees.
Annual Cost of Car Insurance in Utah by Policy Length
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Altering Utah Car Insurance Temporarily Depending on Your Needs
If you already have car insurance in Utah but need to temporarily add or remove coverage, you can do so by making changes to your existing policy. Most drivers typically want to know more about temporary car insurance in Utah if they need to store their car, have a teenager who’s going to college or if someone is borrowing their car.
When You Should Alter Your Policy Temporarily
If you have a teenage student who is going to college elsewhere in Utah, you can temporarily remove them from your policy or ask your insurer for a distant student discount.
If you wish to store your car, you can remove every coverage option except comprehensive insurance. If you’re military, you can take advantage of car storage discounts from USAA.
If someone else drives your car on a regular basis, it may be best to add them to your policy.
Cheap Temporary Car Insurance for Students in Utah
If you live with your child in Utah, you are required to add them to your car insurance policy. This can be expensive. According to MoneyGeek, insurers in Utah will charge you an average of $2,809 per year to add an 18-year-old driver to your policy.
Parents have the option of temporarily removing their young student from their policy for part of the year if the student lives more than 100 miles away, requesting a distant student discount or just keeping the student on the policy to save money.
MoneyGeek’s research found that in Utah, adding a student to a policy for two months over the summer costs an average of $468 compared to roughly $2,809 for an entire year.
State Farm provides the highest savings in Utah if you choose a two-month policy over a one-year policy for your student driver.
Annual Cost of Adding an 18-Year-Old to Car Insurance in Utah
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If your child goes to school less than 100 miles away, you might still be able to save on premiums by comparing quotes from different insurance companies. MoneyGeek’s analysis provides a detailed comparison of the most affordable car insurance for teenagers in Utah.
What to Do About Car Insurance if You’re Storing Your Car in Utah
If you are planning to temporarily store your car in Utah, you can save on premiums by switching to a comprehensive-only policy or asking for a car storage discount.
If your car is in storage, removing liability insurance and switching to comprehensive-only coverage is a good way to save money. In Utah, comprehensive and collision coverage with a deductible of $1,000 costs an average of $258 per year. Policies that include liability insurance cost an average of $911 annually.
USAA is a good option for military members on active duty. The company provides the cheapest coverage in the state plus vehicle storage discounts to policyholders. On average, you will pay $644 annually for a USAA policy.
What to Do If You Let Someone Else Drive Your Car
If you allow a person from outside your household to drive your car, they will automatically be covered by your policy and you won’t need to make any adjustments to your existing coverage. On the other hand, if a member of your household drives your car regularly, they will need to be insured on your policy.
Buying Rental Car Insurance in Utah
If you’re temporarily renting a car in Utah, rental car insurance from the rental company is sufficient.
Most rental companies offer standard liability insurance as well as the option to add supplementary liability insurance, collision damage waivers and personal accident coverage. On average, the cost of rental car insurance in Utah ranges from $55 to $60 per day depending on the company. You can mix and match coverages to save money.
Finding Cheap Rental Car Insurance in Utah
MoneyGeek collected data from Salt Lake City and found that the cost of rental car insurance in Utah ranges from $55 to $60 per day depending on the company. On average, Enterprise provides the cheapest daily coverage at $55, followed by Avis at $57 and Hertz at $60. These costs represent liability coverage plus add-on coverages like collision damage waiver and personal accident coverage.
If you already have your own car insurance policy, you may not need to buy all these additional coverages since you might already be covered by your own policy’s liability, collision and medical payments coverage. Additionally, most credit card providers also offer collision damage waivers on rental cars, which can be another way to help you save money.
Cost per Day of Rental Car Insurance in Utah
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Buying Non-Owner Car Insurance in Utah
Non-owner car insurance is the best option for drivers in Utah who do not own cars but temporarily need proof of insurance coverage when filing an SR-22 to get their license reinstated. In Utah, non-owner car insurance costs an average of $660 per year. It is the cheapest option for drivers who do not own a car but need to file an SR-22.
How to Get Temporary Rideshare Car Insurance for Rideshare in Utah
Drivers in Utah who work for rideshare companies are covered by insurance when they accept a fare or transport passengers. However, there is a temporary coverage gap in between fares. Rideshare insurance can help fill this gap.
Rideshare insurance varies in availability among states, so MoneyGeek compared the various providers with this policy in the state to help you secure the best rideshare coverage for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Temporary Car Insurance in Utah
In Utah, temporary car insurance can provide coverage for drivers who own a car and those who don’t own cars. Below are answers to some of the frequently asked questions about temporary car insurance in Utah.
There are several ways to get temporary car insurance in Utah depending on your needs. For example, most car insurance providers have a six-month minimum duration for their policies, but you can shorten this period by canceling your policy early.
If you cancel your car insurance policy before six months, your insurer will typically give you a refund for the unused premiums.
Methodology
MoneyGeek collected temporary and non-owner car insurance quotes across Utah in partnership with Quadrant Information Services. The policies used in this study belong to a 40-year-old driver with a full coverage policy that has limits outlined in MoneyGeek’s methodology page. The costs for student drivers represent the average rates for adding an 18-year-old driver to an existing policy.
The average costs for the one-month and three-month policies were calculated on a prorated basis and were based on the assumption of a full refund for the unused months from the insurers. Rental car insurance prices were obtained manually using the online tools of Avis, Hertz and Enterprise.
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.