Temporary Auto Insurance: Quick And Easy

Temporary car insurance is a short-term insurance option that covers you for a limited period, typically ranging from one hour to 28 days. It is ideal for situations where you need to borrow a friend's car, move to a new home, or test drive a new vehicle. While some companies advertise short-term policies, reputable insurers typically don't offer temporary car insurance as a specific type of policy. The shortest policy you can expect to find from a major insurance company is usually a six-month policy. However, you can still obtain temporary coverage by purchasing a six-month policy and cancelling it when you no longer need it. Additionally, options like non-owner insurance, rental car insurance, and permissive use clauses can provide alternative solutions for short-term coverage.

Temporary insurance for a rental car

Temporary auto insurance doesn't exist from major insurers, but there are a few options for those who need short-term coverage for a rental car.

Relying on the Rental Company's Insurance

Rental car companies typically offer multiple insurance options, including collision damage waivers, liability insurance, and personal accident coverage. These can be purchased when reserving or picking up your rental car. However, your existing auto insurance policy may already provide some level of coverage for rental vehicles, so it's worth checking with your insurer before purchasing additional coverage from the rental agency.

Buying a Standard Policy and Cancelling Early

If you need short-term coverage for a rental car, you can purchase a standard six-month or 12-month policy and then cancel it once you're done. Most car insurance companies allow you to cancel a policy at any time, and you'll typically receive a refund for any unused portion of the policy. However, some companies may charge a cancellation fee.

Buying Non-Owner Insurance

Non-owner car insurance is designed for people who don't own a car but frequently rent or borrow cars. It provides liability coverage, which protects you if you cause harm to others or damage another person's property. It can also include personal injury protection, medical payments, and uninsured motorist coverage. Non-owner insurance can be purchased in increments of six months or a year and is generally cheaper than standard car insurance.

Adding Yourself to Someone Else's Policy

If you're planning to rent a car and already know someone with an existing auto insurance policy, you can ask them to add you to their policy temporarily. This option may provide you with temporary coverage without needing a separate insurance policy. However, some insurance companies and states have restrictions on adding drivers who aren't family members or don't live together.

Pay-Per-Mile Insurance

If you only plan to use the rental car occasionally, you could consider enrolling in a pay-per-mile insurance plan. These plans charge you based on the distance you drive, so if you don't drive much, you can save money on insurance costs.

Short-term insurance for a non-US resident

Short-Term Insurance for Non-US Residents

If you are a non-US resident and planning to visit the USA, it is important to consider purchasing short-term health insurance to protect yourself financially in case of unexpected medical emergencies. The cost of healthcare in the US is extremely high and you may have to pay thousands of dollars, even for a routine medical check-up. Here is a guide to help you choose the right short-term insurance plan for your needs:

Understanding Short-Term Health Insurance

Short-term health insurance, also known as temporary health insurance or visitor insurance, is designed for individuals who are visiting or travelling outside of their home country, including non-US residents travelling to the USA. These plans typically provide coverage for accidents, sicknesses, and emergency evacuations during your trip. It is important to note that short-term health insurance is not a substitute for long-term domestic health insurance and is only meant to provide temporary coverage.

Choosing the Right Plan

When choosing a short-term health insurance plan as a non-US resident, there are several factors to consider:

• Duration of Stay: If you are planning to stay in the US for less than a year, a travel medical plan may be sufficient. However, if you are planning to stay for a longer period, an international health insurance plan may be more appropriate.
• Coverage Amount: The amount of coverage you need will depend on the length of your stay, your age, and your health status. For example, if you are staying for a short period (5 days to 1 month), a coverage amount of $50,000 to $100,000 may be sufficient. For longer stays or if you have pre-existing health conditions, you may need a higher coverage amount.
• Provider Network: When choosing a short-term insurance plan, consider the provider network. Look for plans that offer a wide network of hospitals and doctors, such as GeoBlue Xplorer, which is partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of America.
• Pre-existing Conditions: Most short-term health insurance plans do not cover pre-existing conditions. However, some plans may offer limited coverage for acute onset of pre-existing conditions, such as IMG's Visitors Protect plan.
• Cost: The cost of short-term health insurance can vary depending on your age, the length of coverage, and the coverage amount. It is important to compare prices and coverage options from different providers to find the best plan for your budget.

Recommended Insurance Providers

• IMG (International Medical Group): IMG offers a range of short-term health insurance plans, including the Patriot Travel Series and Visitors Protect Insurance. These plans provide coverage for new medical expenses, multilingual customer service, and emergency evacuations.
• Insubuy: Insubuy offers worldwide medical insurance plans suitable for individuals who live outside the US for more than 6 months per year. Their plans include Global Medical Insurance® and Worldwide Medical Insurance.
• NRIOL: NRIOL is a global insurance company providing health insurance for non-US citizens, including those visiting the USA. They offer flexible insurance options with coverage for hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription drugs, and acute onset of pre-existing conditions.
• Good Neighbor Insurance: Good Neighbor Insurance specializes in helping US citizens and foreign nationals find affordable medical insurance. They offer short-term medical insurance plans such as Pivot Short Term Health Insurance and Petersen Health (Bridge) Plan.

When travelling to the USA as a non-US resident, it is important to have adequate health insurance coverage to protect yourself financially. By considering your specific needs and choosing a reputable insurance provider, you can find a short-term insurance plan that offers the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget.

Temporary insurance for a learner driver

Temporary insurance for learner drivers is a great way to get extra practice without the expense of driving lessons. It is a legal requirement to have insurance when driving on UK roads, even if you are a provisional licence holder.

Learner driver insurance, also known as provisional insurance, is a specialised policy that helps learners get behind the wheel. It covers you while you practice your driving skills in a friend or family member's car, and it can also provide cover during your driving test. It is important to note that learner driver insurance is not the same as dual insurance, which covers the same risk across multiple insurance policies.

Who needs learner driver insurance?

If you are a learner driver practising in your own car, or in a friend or family member's car, you need to have insurance in place. If you are taking lessons with a professional driving school or instructor, their insurance is generally included in the cost. However, if you are practising outside of lessons, you need to ensure you have valid insurance.

Benefits of learner driver insurance:

• It is flexible, allowing you to choose the duration of cover that suits your needs, from daily to monthly options.
• It is affordable, with prices starting from as little as £1.04 per day.
• It protects the car owner's No Claims Discount. Even if you need to make a claim, the car owner's No Claims Discount will not be affected.
• It allows you to build your own No Claims Discount. With some policies, you can start building your No Claims Discount by having 10 months of uninterrupted, claim-free cover.
• It covers you for your driving test. You can take your test in your own car or a friend/family member's car with learner driver insurance, as long as the car meets the necessary criteria.

What you need to take out a learner driver insurance policy:

• The registration of the car you want to insure.
• A suitable person to supervise you, who is also insured on the vehicle with an annual or short-term policy.
• Your license details, including your provisional driver's licence number.
• Personal details such as your name, date of birth, and address.

Eligibility for learner driver insurance:

The eligibility criteria may vary depending on the insurance provider, but here are some general requirements:

• You must hold a UK provisional driver's licence.
• You must be between the ages of 17 and 75.
• You must be a permanent UK resident with a valid UK address on your licence.
• You should not have any claims, penalty points, or motoring offences/convictions.
• The car you are insuring must meet certain criteria, such as having a current MOT, being registered in the UK, and having a value below a certain threshold.

How to get a quote for learner driver insurance:

You can get a quote for learner driver insurance by providing some basic information, such as your personal details, licence information, and details about the vehicle you will be using.

Examples of learner driver insurance providers:

• Veygo by Admiral
• RAC
• GoShorty
• Marmalade
• Collingwood

Remember to compare the features, benefits, and eligibility criteria of different learner driver insurance policies before choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Temporary insurance for a friend's car

Temporary car insurance, also known as short-term car insurance, is a flexible option that allows you to get fast, comprehensive cover for driving your friend's car. This type of insurance can be purchased for a duration that suits your needs, ranging from as little as one hour to 28 or 30 days. It is ideal if you need to use your friend's car for a short period, such as during a move, a road trip, or while your car is being repaired.

To obtain temporary insurance for a friend's car, you will need to meet certain eligibility criteria set by the insurer. These requirements may vary, but generally, you must:

• Be aged between 17 or 18 and 75 or 78, and hold a full UK, EU, NI, or EEC driving licence.
• Have held a driving licence for at least six months or 12 months if it is an EU licence.
• Not have been disqualified from driving or had your licence cancelled in the last two years.
• Not have more than 7-9 penalty points on your licence, and have no disqualifications or convictions in the past 18 months to three years.
• Not have had more than two accidents, claims, or losses in the last three years, regardless of blame.

The car you wish to insure must also meet specific criteria, including:

• Being registered in the UK and less than 40 years old (some insurers may have a 15-year limit).
• Having a valid MOT, unless you are using the policy to attend a pre-booked MOT, and not being declared as SORN.
• Being taxed, unless you are using the policy to buy car tax immediately afterward.
• Being worth more than £1,500 and in roadworthy condition.
• Having no more than eight seats and being right-hand drive.
• Not being modified, except for adaptations to aid disabled drivers.

When purchasing temporary insurance for a friend's car, you will need to provide personal details such as your name, address, date of birth, and driving licence number. You will also need to provide information about the car, including its registration and owner details.

It is important to note that temporary insurance is separate from your friend's annual policy and will not affect their no-claims bonus. Additionally, temporary insurance is not a substitute for continuous insurance and should only be used for short-term needs.

Temporary insurance for a new car

Temporary car insurance is not a product offered by major insurance companies. Typically, insurers require a minimum six-month or 12-month commitment. However, there are still ways to get temporary insurance for a new car. Here are some options:

Buy a Standard Policy and Cancel Early

You can purchase a standard six-month or 12-month policy and cancel it once you no longer need it. Most insurers will refund you for the remaining months, although some may charge a cancellation fee. This option is useful if you own a car but only drive it occasionally or seasonally.

Non-Owner Car Insurance

If you don't own the car but frequently borrow or rent cars, non-owner car insurance can be a good option. It provides bodily injury and property damage liability coverages, which are required in most states. Non-owner insurance can also be useful if you need to satisfy an SR-22 insurance form requirement. However, it usually serves as secondary coverage, kicking in only if the primary insurance policy is insufficient.

Rental Car Insurance

If you're renting a car, you can take advantage of the insurance offerings provided by the rental company. This is a good option for foreign drivers visiting the U.S. for a short time. However, the minimum insurance included in rental agreements may not be sufficient, and purchasing additional coverage can be costly. Some credit cards also provide rental car insurance.

Usage-Based Car Insurance

Usage-based insurance is priced based on your driving behaviour. While these policies are typically offered in standard six-month increments, they can be a great alternative if you're a safe and infrequent driver.

Student Away from Home Discount

If you have a child who is a student away at school and doesn't need a car for most of the year, you can ask your insurer about a "student away from home" discount. This discount applies when the student is only driving during breaks and can help you save money on your insurance premiums.

Add a Driver Temporarily to Your Policy

If you want to insure someone else to drive your car for a short period, you can add them to your existing policy and then remove them when they no longer need to be covered. This option depends on the cost of adding the driver, the amount of time they need to be covered, and their risk profile.

Frequently asked questions