Temporary Car Insurance In New York 2024

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Updated: 29 September 2024
Written by Cara Carlone
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Have you ever needed car insurance for just a short time, like a weekend road trip in a friend’s car or a brief visit home from college? Year-long insurance policies can be excessive and complex for such situations. That’s where temporary car insurance comes in handy. While it’s not widely available from U.S. insurers, there are still options to consider.

With my years of experience in the insurance field, I’ll delve into why temporary coverage might be necessary and offer alternatives specifically for New York residents. If you’re worried about being uninsured or overspending on coverage, keep reading.

What Is Temporary Car Insurance?

Insurance companies usually provide policies spanning from six to twelve months. Temporary car insurance refers to coverage for periods shorter than six months. Since it’s not as common in the United States, drivers needing short-term coverage should consider alternatives, such as buying a standard six-month policy and ending it early if required.

Can You Get Temporary Car Insurance In New York?

In most states, like New York, temporary car insurance isn’t offered. Drivers should think about why they need short-term coverage and find better alternatives.

Alternatives To Temporary Car Insurance

When it comes to needing temporary car insurance, drivers have several alternatives to consider based on their specific situations.

New York Pay-Per-Mile Insurance

Those who don’t drive often might find pay-per-mile car insurance more suitable than temporary insurance. Unlike regular insurers who charge the same regardless of mileage, pay-per-mile policies calculate your costs based on how much you drive. This could result in savings over the long term while ensuring continuous coverage.

Non-Owner Car Insurance In New York

Non-owner car insurance caters to individuals who don’t own a car but drive frequently. It offers coverage for the driver, irrespective of the vehicle being driven, be it a rental or borrowed car.

Rideshare Car Insurance

New York has Uber drivers. This emphasizes the importance of rideshare insurance for New York drivers, as regular auto insurance won’t cover accidents that occur while they’re actively connected to a transportation network company. Hence, it’s critical for Uber and Lyft drivers to secure specialized insurance to ensure protection for themselves and their passengers. While some major insurers might offer partial coverage, it’s recommended to opt for insurance directly from the rideshare company.

Rental Car Insurance In New York

You don’t have to take out a personal auto policy for temporary coverage to rent a car. You can just get car insurance from the car rental company instead. Going this route is recommended, as personal insurance usually doesn’t cover loss of use for a rental car, which can be expensive.

Keep this tip handy: Non-owner car insurance is a wise choice for maintaining continuous coverage during car transitions, potentially lowering future insurance rates.

Buying A 6-month New York Auto Policy And Canceling It Early

Nearly all auto insurance companies offer coverage for either six or twelve months, with shorter terms being uncommon. However, there’s typically no restriction against purchasing a six-month policy and canceling it early if necessary.

 

Altering New York Car Insurance Temporarily Depending On Your Needs

Depending on why you need temporary car insurance, modifying your auto policy to suit your needs may be an option. If you don’t have existing auto insurance, you may be able to buy a standard six-month policy that caters to your specific needs. Let’s look at some situations where either of these approaches may apply.

Coverage For College Students

Over half (56%) of college students have a car while attending school. To have coverage, they can either stay on their parent’s car insurance policy or purchase their own auto insurance. If your child doesn’t have a vehicle at school, you’ll still want to keep them on your policy for various reasons.

For starters, they’ll need coverage for when they come home from college and drive your car. Second, your child will likely have access to “wheels” while away. If so, you want them to have liability coverage for damages or injuries they cause in an accident while driving someone else’ car. New York drivers must have 25/50/10 minimum liability coverage.

Last but not least, college years are some of the most popular times to experiment with alcohol. An estimated 1,519 college students die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including car accidents. You don’t want your child hesitating to take keys from a drunk friend due to concerns about not being insured.

If you decide not to remove your college student from your policy, there are ways you can save on your car insurance premiums, including a distant student discount.

Adding Your Child To Your Policy

Insurers typically require you to add your teenager to your auto insurance policy as soon as they get their driver’s license. However, given car insurance premiums for young drivers tend to be higher, it’s understandable why you may be reluctant to add them.

But it’s important your child has enough coverage before they get behind the wheel, even if they won’t be driving your car very often. Besides, not notifying your insurance provider of all licensed drivers in your home may result in them denying future claims or canceling your policy altogether. If you’re certain your child won’t be driving, you could look into excluding them from your policy.

If You Are An Infrequent Driver

If you are an infrequent driver, you may not require your own auto insurance. Insurance carriers generally require policyholders to list all licensed drivers in their household on their car insurance policy regardless of how regularly they drive. Additionally, the permissive use clause discussed above allows occasional vehicle use by an unlisted driver, as long as they have permission from the car owner.

If you regularly drive but don’t own a car, consider getting non-owner car insurance. As the name suggests,  the policy covers you when driving an automobile you don’t own.

When Your Car Is In Storage

If you plan on placing your car in storage for an extended period, car storage insurance may be a good option. However, this isn’t an existing insurance policy and typically refers to comprehensive-only coverage. So basically, you drop your liability and collision coverages and hold on to comprehensive coverage since a car in storage is still at risk of damage or loss from falling objects, fire, theft, and vandalism.

When it’s time to get your car back on the road, notify your insurer beforehand so they can reinstate all suspended coverages. However, not all insurance companies allow policyholders to suspend some of their car insurance coverage. Additionally, if your vehicle is leased or financed, your lender may require you to hold on to comprehensive and collision coverages.

Note: If car storage insurance isn’t an option, consider temporarily reducing your car insurance coverage, which will reduce your auto insurance costs for the time your car is in storage. But be warned, this option isn’t ideal if you have a single policy for multiple vehicles, as it risks you being underinsured.

When Someone Else Drives Your Car

You will sometimes let other people borrow your car for whatever reason. If a particular person regularly operates your vehicle, your insurance provider will typically require you to list them on your auto policy. As for anyone else who occasionally borrows your vehicle, most policies include a permissive use clause that covers unlisted drivers when they have explicit permission to use your car.

Note: Permissive use does not apply to people in the same household as you.

Driving In A Foreign Country

International drivers visiting the country and planning on driving themselves have several car insurance coverage options available. If it’s a short visit and they rent a car, they can purchase insurance through the car rental company. If staying longer than a month, it would be better to buy a standard six-month or non-owner auto policy, which they can cancel once they’re back home,

Note: International drivers may be required to have an international driving permit (IDP), a United States driver’s license, or a valid driver’s license from their home country to buy a car insurance policy. Your travel preparations should include finding out what documentation you need to drive in the state(s) you plan on visiting.

In case your insurance doesn’t cover storage, you can switch to the state minimum to save money, but this is most effective for single-car policies.

Top New York Short-Term Car Insurance Companies


Cheapest For Good Drivers

Overall Rating
4.8

Key Statistics

10/10 Affordability
7/10 Customer Satisfaction
7/10 Claims
8/10 Coverage Level

Why We Like Them

Based on my research, it seems that Wawanesa Insurance offers the most economical short-term car insurance for experienced drivers with clean records. Their rates are below the average in New York, which is $941 for six months. Wawanesa caters to those in need of temporary coverage, providing great value.

Wawanesa Insurance focuses on the New York market and understands its unique risks. With almost 50 years of operation in the US, they have a strong financial foundation. However, while Wawanesa is the most affordable option for short-term insurance, it may lack certain features. For example, it doesn’t offer pay-per-mile or telematics options for New York customers, and its customer service ratings are lower compared to some competitors. Potential customers should weigh the low price against these potential drawbacks.

Benefits & Drawbacks

Benefits
  • Solely available in New York
  • Affordable prices
  • Many great deals available.
Drawbacks
  • Our financial stability rating is not as strong as our competitors'.
  • Unfortunately, there's no choice to pay based on the distance traveled.

Average Cost Of Short-Term Car Insurance For Good Drivers

Company Six-Month Premium for Full Coverage
Allstate $1,000
State Farm $1,130
Travelers $1,100
Nationwide $1,460
Farmers $1,160
Wawanesa $680

Cheapest For Young Drivers

Overall Rating
4.7

Key Statistics

10/10 Affordability
9/10 Customer Satisfaction
6/10 Claims
9/10 Coverage Level

Why We Like Them

Progressive has the cheapest temporary car insurance average rates for young drivers with little to no driving experience. The insurer also offers discounts, such as an occasional operator discount, which can help make your premiums even cheaper. Additionally, customers can conveniently access their policy documents, make payments, and file claims through the Progressive app.

Progressive’s mobile app appeals to younger drivers due to the digital accessibility and convenience it brings. But their claims handling process isn’t fast, which can be inconvenient when you need your car repaired. That said, Progressive has been in business for several decades and has the financial strength to pay policyholders’ claims.

Benefits & Drawbacks

Benefits
  • Auto policies can be bought online or through a broker/agent
  • Affordable prices
  • User-friendly mobile app
Drawbacks
  • Higher-than-average rates for most driver profiles

Average Cost Of Short-Term Car Insurance For Young Drivers

Company Six-Month Premium for Full Coverage
Progressive $654
National General $741
Wawanesa $955
Mercury $933
GEICO $900

Cheapest For Drivers With An Accident

Overall Rating
4.5

Key Statistics

9/10 Affordability
10/10 Customer Satisfaction
9/10 Claims
9/10 Coverage Level

Why We Like Them

Your car insurance premiums are likely to increase following an accident. However, the extent of the increase will mainly depend on the insurance company. USAA has the best rates for drivers with a single accident on their driving record.

The average cost of a six-month auto policy from USAA after an accident is $1,043, less than the statewide average of $1,455. Aside from affordable prices, USAA has an outstanding claims process and customer service.

USAA exclusively serves active-duty military members, veterans, and eligible family members. Regardless, it has among the most loyal customers in the industry, so if you qualify for an auto policy with them, you can expect quality customer service.

Benefits & Drawbacks

Benefits
  • Specializes in coverage for military members and their families
  • Excellent customer service and claims resolution
  • Offers banking products
Drawbacks
  • Coverage is limited to the military community
  • USAA doesn’t use local agents

Average Rates In New York After An Accident

Company Six-Month Premium for Full Coverage
USAA $1,043
GEICO $1,103
State Farm $1,560
Travelers $1,658
Allstate $1,771

New York Short-Term Auto Insurance Rates By City

New York City sees car accidents per year. My research also showed NYC has the highest average rate for car insurance in New York compared to other major cities in the state.

City Average Monthly Premium Average Six-Month Policy Premium
New York City $223 $1,335
Mount Vernon $195 $1,172
Yonkers $180 $1,081
New Rochelle $164 $981
Buffalo $157 $943
Syracuse $156 $933
Utica $152 $911

Temporary Car Insurance Rates In New York By Policy Length

By analyzing quotes from different insurance providers, I found State Farm to have the most expensive rates for temporary car insurance in New York State and Farmers the most affordable rates.

Company One Month Premium Three Month Premium Six Month Premium
State Farm $221 $663 $1,326
Travelers $129 $387 $774
Geico $113 $340 $679
Allstate $108 $323 $648
Farmers $101 $304 $609

Temporary Car Insurance Rates In New York By Insurance Company

Company Average Annual Premium Average Monthly Premium
Progressive $1,380 $115
Safeco $1,308 $109
Clearcover $1,236 $103
Sun Coast $1,080 $90
Farmers $1,032 $86

FAQs

What is a temporary car insurance policy?

A temporary car insurance policy is an auto policy with a term of less than six months.

Is temporary car insurance real?

Yes. In some countries, insurers offer temporary car insurance policies that provide hourly,  daily, weekly, or monthly coverage.

Is it possible to use temporary car insurance permanently?

Temporary car insurance covers you for a short time—​​less than six months. If you need more permanent coverage, you should purchase a traditional six- or 12-month auto policy or long-term car insurance.

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