What Is Weekend Car Insurance and How Can You Get It?
Sometimes, you might only need car insurance for a weekend, but regular insurance companies don’t really do short-term plans. Instead, you can think about getting rental insurance if you’re just borrowing a car for a bit. Normal car insurance usually makes you pay for a whole month upfront, but if you cancel early, they might give you back the money for the days you didn’t use.
Now, there are some places that say they offer insurance for just one or two days, but be careful. MoneyGeek says it might be a bit sketchy. Usually, the shortest real insurance you can get is for six months.
Remember, the insurance goes with the car, not the person driving it. So, if you’re driving your friend’s car with their okay, their insurance might cover you.
But if you’re in a situation where you really need insurance, even for a short time, you have a couple of options. You can get a regular policy and cancel it early, or you can look into rental car insurance instead of the usual one. Easy enough, right?
Can you get car insurance for the weekend only?
So the quick answer is no, it’s not a good idea to turn your insurance on and off right away. But hey, there are some other ways to save money on insurance if you only use your car on the weekends. You can check out plans that look at how much you actually drive, or ones for people who share cars. Simple enough, right?
It might sound nice to only have and pay for car insurance when you actually use it. But, here’s the thing—most car insurance companies don’t let you turn it on and off whenever you want. But don’t worry, with more people working from home these days, there are some flexible options for drivers who don’t use their cars a lot. Keep reading to find out the best and money-saving choices for folks who don’t drive a whole bunch.
Insuring a car for weekends only: what options do you have?
So even though there’s no specific weekend-only insurance, there are ways to save money on car insurance if you mostly drive on weekends. Check out these options:
Pay-per-mile car insurance:
If you don’t drive a lot, there’s a cool thing called pay-as-you-go insurance. It uses devices to see how much and how well you drive. The less and safer you drive, the less you pay. Some companies that do this are Progressive SnapShot, State Farm Drive Safe & Save, Esurance DriveSense, Nationwide SmartRide, and others.
Telematic car insurance:
This type of insurance uses your mileage and how you drive to set your price. The less and safer you drive, the cheaper it is. Some companies that offer this are Progressive SnapShot, State Farm Drive Safe & Save, Esurance DriveSense, Nationwide SmartRide, and more.
Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber:
If you only need a ride here and there, using services like Lyft or Uber for occasional trips can be a good option.
So, there are ways to save money even if there’s no specific weekend-only insurance.
Why Buy Weekend Car Insurance?
Sometimes, people might need car insurance just for a weekend. Here are some reasons why:
- Vacation Rental: If you’re going on a short vacation and need to rent a car.
- Errands and Borrowing: When you have stuff to do but need to borrow a friend or family member’s car.
- Road Trip with a Borrowed Car: If you’re using someone else’s car for a road trip.
- Car Sharing at Home: If someone at your place often borrows your car.
- Rideshare Work: If you work for a rideshare company like Lyft or Uber.
Temporary car insurance helps make sure you’re protected in these situations.
The Downside Of Insuring Your Car For The Weekend Only
Even if insurance companies offered insurance just for weekends or short periods, there are some issues to think about. If you keep turning your insurance on and off, it could make getting a new policy more expensive in the future.
Another reason why weekend-only insurance is rare is because state laws have a big say in how insurance works. In most states, you’re required to have coverage for injuries or damage you might cause to others. If you only use insurance on weekends, you might be breaking the law and could even have your car registration taken away.
Using insurance only on weekends also means your car won’t have protection for things like theft or damage when it’s parked. Even if it’s just sitting in your driveway, you could still be responsible for any damage or injuries it causes to others.
If you’re leasing a car, the agreement might say you need to have specific types of insurance, like gap insurance and coverage for things like collisions, theft, and uninsured drivers. So, weekend-only insurance might not give you enough protection, especially if you’re leasing a car.
When would you need weekend only car insurance?
Temporary car insurance might not be the best for people who own a car all the time, but there are some cases where it could be useful. Here are a few situations:
- Away for a While: If you’re a college student, in the military, or away from your car for several months.
- Renting or Borrowing: When you’re renting or borrowing a car for a short time.
- Using Someone Else’s Car: If you’re staying with a friend or family and will sometimes use their car.
- Short-Term Driving: When you’re only driving for a little while, maybe because you’re from another country or have good public transportation.
- Car in Storage: If you put your car away for some months.
- Planning to Sell: If you’re getting ready to sell your car.
In these situations, it’s a good idea to talk to an insurance expert to find the right policy. Regular insurance companies usually don’t sell policies just for a short time or weekends. They can help figure out what works best for you.
FAQs
It’s a kind of temporary car insurance, but it’s not a regular thing that insurance companies usually offer. If someone offers it to you, be careful—it might be a scam.
Yep, it’s legal as long as you have an active policy while you’re driving. But remember, if you drive without any coverage, even for a short time, it’s against the law. Always check that you meet at least your state’s minimum car insurance requirements before hitting the road.
You can actually get insurance on the same day. Big insurance companies can give you quotes instantly and activate your coverage as soon as you pay.
It’s a good move if you only need a car for a short time or work for a rideshare company. It gives you protection without going for a regular, long-term policy.
For a weekend, it can be between $62 to $361 on average. The price depends on where you live and what coverage you want. Before you agree to anything, check with your provider if there are any fees for canceling the insurance. Easy, right?
About The Author
Andy Walker is a freelance content writer who specializes in writing for insurance and finance related niches. He has years of experience in this field and has written extensively on a variety of topics. Andy’s work is always highly polished and well-researched, ensuring that his clients are always happy with the results.