Non-Owner Car Insurance: How to Get Car Insurance Without a Car

Non-owner car insurance is a liability-only policy that covers you as the driver, not a specific vehicle. It protects you financially if you cause and injury or property damage to other people while driving a car you don't own.  Damages to the car you are driving will are not included in a non owners policy, and that is covered by the owner's policy.

Can you get car insurance without a car? Yes. If you don't own a car, non-owners car insurance is the product you need. You can drive multiple cars under the same non-owners policy.  Learn how how to get car insurance without a car and what it covers.

You purchase a non owners car insurance policy in your name, which follows you to any car you drive. If you cause an accident, your insurer handles the claim. You submit accident details and damages, and your policy pays for the other party's medical bills, lost wages, and property damage up to your coverage limits. No deductible applies because non-owner insurance only covers liability, not physical damage to the vehicle you're driving.

Non-owner policies are built around liability coverage, which protects you financially if you're at fault in an accident. It covers damage you cause to others including:

1. Bodily Injury Liability:  This covers medical expenses for other people if you're at fault in an accident. This includes hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and legal fees if you're sued.
2. Property Damage Liability: This pays for damage to someone else's car, property, or belongings when you're at fault. This covers repair costs or replacement value up to your chosen limit.
3. Optional Add-Ons: Medical Payments (MedPay) covers your own medical bills after an accident, regardless of fault. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers your medical expenses and lost wages. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage protects you if hit by a driver with little or no insurance

Non-owner policies have important limitations and it doesn't cover:

1. Damage to the vehicle you're driving: If you wreck your friend's car or a rental, their owner's insurance covers it first. Your non-owner policy won't pay for repairs or replacement.
2. Comprehensive or collision coverage: You're not covered for theft, vandalism, fire, weather damage, or accidents where you're not at fault. The owner's policy would cover this.
3. Your own injuries: Unless you add optional medical payments coverage, your policy won't cover your medical bills if you're injured.
4. Frequent use of the same vehicle: If you borrow the same car regularly, you should be added to that owner's policy instead.
5. Household member's car: If you live with someone and drive their car often, you need to be added to their policy.
6. Business or commercial use: Non-owner policies don't cover you when driving for work or any business purpose.

Non-owner car insurance is much cheaper than standard coverage because you're not insuring a specific vehicle. On average, non-owner liability-only policies cost $500 per year, or about $42 per month, for an average age driver with a clean driving record. Find the average cost of car insurance in your state for non-owner coverage to get an idea of how much you should pay below:

Non-owner insurance costs about 49% less than standard liability-only insurance and 84% less than full coverage. These are the primary factors that will increase or decrease the cost of non owners car insurance: 

1. Age: Younger drivers typically pay more
2. Driving history: Accidents and violations increase rates
3. Credit score: Poor credit can raise your premium by 25% to 50%
4. Location: Urban areas and high-traffic states cost more
5. Coverage limits: Choosing limits above state minimums increases cost

Not all insurance companies offer non-owner policies, and availability varies by state. Here are the major insurers that typically offer non-owner coverage:

Companies that offer non-owner policies nationwide:

• GEICO
• State Farm
• Progressive
• Travelers
• Nationwide
• Allstate

Availability note: Some states have limited non-owner policy availability, particularly California, New York, and a few others.

We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help clarify what specialized non-owner coverage entails.