Temporary Car Insurance In Illinois For 2024 - Find Short-Term Cover

Ever found yourself in need of car insurance for a short duration, like a weekend road trip in a friend’s car or a quick visit home from college? Year-long policies might seem like too much trouble and expense for these situations.

That’s where temporary auto insurance comes in handy. Though it’s not widely offered by U.S. insurers, there are still alternatives to consider. Leveraging my extensive experience in the insurance industry, I’ll explain why temporary coverage could be crucial and present tailored solutions for Illinois residents. If you’re concerned about being uninsured or overspending on coverage, continue reading.

What Is Temporary Car Insurance?

The norm among insurers is to offer policies with durations ranging from six to twelve months. Temporary car insurance is for periods shorter than six months. Because this option isn’t as prevalent in the United States, drivers in need of short-term coverage should consider alternatives, like obtaining a standard six-month policy and terminating it early if necessary.

Alternatives To Temporary Car Insurance

If you’re a driver looking for temporary car insurance, there are alternatives to consider depending on why you need coverage.

Illinois Pay-Per-Mile Insurance

Opting for pay-per-mile car insurance could be a smarter move for those who don’t drive often compared to getting temporary coverage. Unlike regular insurance companies that charge a flat rate no matter how much you drive, pay-per-mile policies allow you to pay based on your mileage. This can result in savings in the future while ensuring you remain insured.

Non-Owner Car Insurance In Illinois

For individuals who use cars but don’t own them, non-owner car insurance offers peace of mind. It covers you as a driver, no matter whose car you’re driving, whether it’s a rental or borrowed.

Illinois Rideshare Car Insurance

In Illinois , there are Uber drivers. This indicates the necessity for rideshare insurance among Illinois drivers because standard auto insurance doesn’t provide coverage when drivers are actively connected to a transportation network company.

Therefore, it’s crucial for Uber and Lyft drivers to obtain specialized insurance to safeguard themselves and their passengers. While certain major insurers offer limited coverage, it’s preferable to secure insurance through the rideshare company.

Rental Car Insurance In Illinois

When drivers rent a car, they often consider temporary car insurance. However, you have the option to purchase insurance directly from the rental car company, removing the need for your own policy. It’s a good idea to get some coverage from the rental company, as most personal auto policies won’t cover the loss of use of the rental car, which can result in significant expenses.

Buying A Standard Insurance Policy And Canceling It Early

Most car insurance companies offer policies for six or twelve months, with shorter terms being rare. Nevertheless, there’s usually no restriction on buying a six-month policy and canceling it early if needed.

Temporary Car Insurance Rates In Illinois – By Policy Length

Of the insurance companies I analyzed, I found Farmers to be the most economical for temporary car insurance and State Farm the most expensive.

Short-Term Auto Insurance Rates In Illinois – By City

Illinois sees car accidents yearly, with approximately 13% happening in Chicago, driving up insurance rates in the city. Conversely, Elgin car accidents represent only about 0.9% of the state total, resulting in the lowest insurance costs based on our analysis.

Temporary Car Insurance Rates In Illinois – By Insurance Company

Altering Illinois Car Insurance Temporarily Depending On Your Needs

It may be possible to amend your existing policy to suit your temporary insurance needs, depending on your reason for wanting to make changes. Here are some of the situations where this can apply.

Allowing Someone Else To Drive Your Car

Circumstances can arise that require you to let someone else use your car. If this becomes a regular arrangement, it would be in your best interest to add the person to your policy as a driver. If a one-off or infrequent, your insurance will likely cover them under the permissive use clause.

Most auto insurance policies have a provision that allows unlisted drivers to occasionally drive the policyholder’s car provided they have the car owner’s permission. Permissive use is useful in emergencies or when you lend someone your car for a short period.

College Student Away At School

56% of undergraduate college students have a car with them while at school. If your child is among these students, they can simply remain on your car insurance policy, if allowed, or buy their own standard policy.

As for licensed students without a car while attending college, having auto coverage is also crucial. So before you remove them from your policy, consider what would happen if they borrowed a friend’s car and caused damage and injuries exceeding the friend’s policy liability limits. They could be held liable for the difference.

In Illinois, the state-mandated minimum amounts for auto insurance coverage are $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $20,000 for property damage. Low liability limits can easily be exhausted by a minor incident.

Did you know that 1,519 college-aged students die from alcohol-related injuries every year, including car crashes? If your child knows they’re insured, it can encourage them to step up and be the designated driver when they go out with friends. You may have the option of dropping your child to an occasional driver on your policy, or you could look into getting them a non-owner policy.

Adding Your Child To Your Policy

If your child has recently gotten their driver’s license and doesn’t plan on driving regularly, you may have second thoughts about adding them to your car insurance policy because of the extra expense. However, you may not even have a choice in the matter.

Your insurance company will likely require that you notify them of any licensed drivers in your household. Failing to comply may result in issues when you file a claim in the future or even the cancellation of your policy. If you’re confident your child won’t drive your car, you can have them explicitly excluded from your policy.

Are An International Driver

There are several insurance options for international drivers, depending on the length of their stay. Those visiting for a few days or weeks can purchase car insurance through the rental car company if they rent a car. Those planning on staying longer may be better off buying a standard or non-owner auto insurance, and then canceling the policy once they return to their home country.

Note: Insurers may require that international drivers produce an international driving permit (IDP) or a United States driver’s license. So I’d advise anyone planning a trip to Illinois—or any other U.S. state—to find out beforehand which documents they will require to drive legally while there.

Keeping Your Car In Storage

For car owners who go for lengthened periods without using their cars or own several cars for different seasons, you can purchase storage insurance for when your car is in storage. However, you won’t find a policy dedicated to storage insurance, as there’s no such thing.

Instead, you request your insurer to suspend your liability and collision coverages, and you only maintain comprehensive coverage. This way, any loss or damage resulting from a non-collision incident like theft or fire while you’re car is in storage will be covered. When it nears time to take your car out on the road again, just let your insurance company know so they can reinstate the coverages.

Note: If your insurer doesn’t offer car storage insurance, you can still save on your car insurance by reducing your coverage amounts to the state-mandated minimum. If your policy covers multiple cars, not just the one in storage, refrain from this approach to avoid putting your other vehicles at risk of underinsurance.

Don’t Drive Regularly

If you seldom drive and don’t own a car, you might not need your own insurance policy, depending on how much you drive. You could have someone in your household with a personal auto policy add you as an occasional driver to their policy, or you could take advantage of the permissive use clause found in most car insurance policies.

For people who frequently borrow or rent cars, a non-owner policy will offer you liability protection regardless of whose car you’re driving.

Average Cost Of Short-Term Car Insurance In Illinois For Young Drivers

Average Cost Of Short-Term Car Insurance In Illinois After An Accident

Average Cost Of Short-Term Car Insurance For Good Drivers