Temporary Car Insurance In Arizona 2024

Do you ever find yourself needing auto insurance for short periods, like a weekend getaway in a borrowed car or a quick trip home from college? Annual insurance might seem excessive and complicated for these situations.

That’s where temporary car insurance comes in handy. While it’s not widely offered by U.S. insurers, there are still options available. Drawing on my extensive experience in the insurance industry, I’ll explain why temporary coverage might be necessary and offer alternatives tailored to Arizona residents. If you want to avoid being uninsured or paying for unnecessary coverage, read on.

What Is Temporary Car Insurance?

Typically, insurance companies provide policies ranging from six to twelve months. Anything shorter than six months is termed temporary car insurance. While not common in the United States, drivers requiring short-term coverage can explore other avenues, like buying a regular six-month policy and ending it early.

Alternatives To Temporary Car Insurance

If you’re a driver in need of short-term car insurance, you’ve got choices. Different situations call for different solutions when it comes to getting insured on the road.

Non-Owner Car Insurance in Arizona

If you frequently use a car but don’t have your own, you might find a non-owner car insurance policy in Arizona useful. It covers you as a driver rather than a specific vehicle. So, whether you’re renting or borrowing a car, you’re still insured.

Arizona Pay-Per-Mile Insurance

If you’re not behind the wheel much, considering pay-per-mile car insurance could be smarter than opting for temporary coverage. Unlike regular insurers who charge a flat rate no matter your mileage, pay-per-mile policies let you pay according to how much you drive. It’s a money-saver in the long haul while ensuring you’re covered.

Rental Car Insurance In Arizona

Many drivers consider getting temporary car insurance, especially when they’re renting a vehicle. Yet, you can opt for insurance directly from the rental company, avoiding the need for your own policy. It’s advisable to get some coverage from the rental company, as most personal auto policies may not cover the rental car’s loss of use, which can incur significant expenses.

Rideshare Car Insurance

Drivers in Arizona require rideshare insurance since regular auto insurance won’t cover accidents that occur while they’re working for a transportation network company. Therefore, it’s crucial for Uber and Lyft drivers to get specialized insurance to ensure protection for themselves and their passengers. While some big insurance companies offer partial coverage, it’s advisable to get insurance directly from the rideshare company.

Altering Arizona Car Insurance Temporarily Depending On Your Needs

If you find yourself in a situation where temporary car insurance is necessary, you might have the option to tweak your current insurance plan to fit your needs. Alternatively, if you’re currently uninsured, you could consider getting a six-month policy with the right coverage. Let’s explore when these options might come in handy.

College Student Away At School

About 56% of college students who are undergraduates bring a car along when they head to campus. For these students, sorting out car insurance is pretty straightforward. They can either stick with their parents’ car insurance plan or get their own standard policy. But what about the other students who don’t have cars?

You might think they don’t need insurance. However, consider this: every year, about 1,519 college-aged students die due to alcohol-related injuries, including car accidents. If your child is ever in a situation where they need to take the keys from a friend who’s had too much to drink, you don’t want them to hesitate because of insurance concerns.

While insurance usually goes with the car, if there’s an accident that goes beyond the policy limits, the driver could end up responsible for the extra costs. In Arizona, the liability requirement is $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for injuries and $15,000 for property damage.

It’s easy for even a minor accident to surpass these limits. Keeping your child on your regular policy or getting them a non-owner policy can help prevent these kinds of problems.

Storing Your Car

If you have a car that you only use seasonally or leave unused for a while, storage insurance can be a smart choice. By putting your car in storage, you essentially pause the liability coverage, only insuring it for potential risks while it’s parked. This typically includes protection against fire, theft, vandalism, and similar incidents.

Most regular car insurance companies offer storage insurance without needing a special policy. When you’re storing your car, you just need to contact your insurer to temporarily suspend the coverage. When you’re ready to drive again, they can reactivate the coverage quickly.

Letting Someone Else Drive Your Car

Occasionally, you might have to allow another person to drive your vehicle. Depending on their usage frequency, you might need to include them in your insurance policy as an authorized driver. If their usage is infrequent, they’re probably covered under the permissive use clause.

Most insurance providers extend coverage to permitted drivers under this provision, which proves handy in emergencies or when lending your car. It’s crucial to inform your insurer about individuals residing with you or regularly accessing your car, as they’ll likely need to be added to your policy, irrespective of their driving frequency.

Adding Your Child To Your Policy

When your kid gets their driver’s license, you might pause before putting them on your auto insurance plan due to expenses. But should you include them even if they won’t drive often? Absolutely. Your insurer might mandate revealing all licensed drivers at your residence, neglecting to do so could lead to complications during a claim or even termination of your policy. If they truly won’t be driving, you could potentially exclude them from your coverage.

International Drivers

International visitors have different choices for insurance based on their duration of stay. Short-term visitors renting cars can get insurance from rental companies. But for longer stays, buying a regular auto policy or a non-owner policy might be more suitable. Remember, certain insurers may ask for an International Driving Permit (IDP) or a US driver’s license. It’s wise to research beforehand to ensure you have the right documents for driving.

Being An Infrequent Driver

People who don’t drive often might not require their personal insurance plan, depending on their driving frequency. Keep in mind that insurance providers typically mandate listing most licensed household members on car policies, regardless of their driving frequency.

However, many policies include a permissive use clause, permitting occasional car usage with the owner’s consent. If you regularly drive other people’s cars, a non-owner policy could be a suitable option, ensuring coverage for yourself irrespective of the vehicle you’re driving.

Buying A Six-Month Arizona Insurance Policy And Canceling It Early

Most auto insurance companies provide coverage for either six or twelve months, with few offering shorter terms. Although it’s uncommon, there’s typically no prohibition against buying a six-month policy and ending it early if necessary.

Average Cost Of Short-Term Car Insurance For Good Drivers

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

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

Temporary Car Insurance Rates In Arizona- By Policy Length

The Arizona market share report states that American Family dominates the auto insurance market. Our findings show it’s also pricier for short-term car insurance. Conversely, GEICO offers a cheaper alternative market share.

Temporary Car Insurance Rates In Arizona – By Insurance Company

Short-Term Auto Insurance Rates In Arizona – By City

Consequently, Phoenix boasts the highest car insurance premiums in the state. Conversely, Chandler results in the lowest insurance rates there based on our findings.