Temporary Car Insurance Overview

What is Temporary Car Insurance?

Temporary or short-term car insurance is a form of insurance that provides coverage for a driver for only a brief period of time; typically 1 week to 6 months.

The short-term coverage is offered to those individuals who only need coverage for a short time, such as when an individual rents a car or lends a personal vehicle to a friend or relative.

In most instances, short-term or temporary car insurance is kept separate from a long-term policy and will require a different application process that is held separate from the substantial coverage offered in a regular or fixed plan.

The most efficient way to obtain short-term or temporary car insurance is to apply to one’s existing insurance carrier. The existing insurance provider (in most cases) is able to expedite the obtainment of temporary insurance, as they typically hold all the records needed to obtain the coverage. Additionally, by going through the existing provider the individual in need of short-term insurance is typically offered a discount to purchase the substituted form of insurance.

Other options to obtain temporary insurance include conducting an online search. Numerous sites will offer comparisons of the different forms of short-term car insurance that are made available through different insurance companies; this feature enables a prospective buyer to choose a low-cost form of insurance as well as compare coverage details.

The majority of long-term insurance policies will cover rental cars, however, some do not. In instances where coverage is not provided for rental cars, short-term insurance is desirable. Additionally, temporary car insurance is beneficial for cars that are kept in storage; in these examples long-term insurance is not needed as a result of the vehicle’s limited use.

Temporary car insurance is also useful in those instances where adding a driver to a long-term policy may be difficult. The age of the driver as well as the driving record of the individual being added may complicate this process; if a driver has an accident while covered on a long-term policy, the inclusion of additional premiums and the loss of a discount will typically be realized. As a result of the separate status that a temporary car insurance policy represents, the same benefits in regards to coverage will be offered, however, any negative effects that arise due to an individual’s poor driving records will not alter the long-term plan.

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