Key Takeaways
It is extremely difficult to get a car insurance policy for a shorter period because most policies are for either six months or one year. Therefore, if you require short-term insurance, buying a six-month policy from a reputable provider is preferable, and canceling it early.
But remember that driving without insurance is a punishable misdemeanor in most American states. So, if you switch between policies too soon, you risk being uninsured and violating the law.
Many states, including Florida, have different definitions of temporary car insurance. If you own a car, you can choose to get a full coverage policy and then cancel it before the first six months have passed. Consider rental or non-owner car insurance if you don't own a car.
In most states, insurance companies only offer a six-month minimum term car insurance contract. For a temporary policy that lasts for six months, Florida drivers typically pay $1,116. This contract means you can only get short-term policies by closing your temporary insurance.
Usually, when you cancel insurance coverage, the remaining premium will be reimbursed to you. So you should pay about half the cost of the six months, or about $564, if you got temporary coverage for six months and then canceled after three.
When canceling your temporary policy, be careful to avoid having a coverage gap because it could lead to an increase in your annual premiums.
Way.com also calculated rates for policies with shorter durations, such as 90-day and 30-day policies, even though the minimum length for vehicle insurance is normally six months.
According to a study by Way.com, the following insurance companies in Florida offer the cheapest rates for a three-month policy:
$479/90 days from State Farm
Since most insurance companies don't charge cancellation fees, Way.com doesn't include their prices.
| Company | One month | Three months | Six months |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAA | $81 | $247 | $482 |
| State Farm | $168 | $479 | $946 |
| Met Life | $180 | $515 | $1019 |
| All State | $204 | $587 | $1161 |
| Travelers | $207 | $596 | $1180 |
| Allied | $209 | $603 | $1194 |
| Mercury | $239 | $692 | $1372 |
| Progressive | $239 | $694 | $1376 |
| Location | Average 6-Month Rate | Average Monthly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $1135 | $199 |
| Miami | $1550 | $268 |
| Tampa | $1507 | $261 |
| St. Petersburg | $1364 | $191 |
| Orlando | $1163 | $204 |
Your prices might not coincide with those shown above because several factors drive insurance premiums.
Consider spending a minute comparing quotes if your existing costs don't line up with those mentioned above. But, again, the brief life of a vehicle insurance policy increases the significance of staying alert and willing to shop.
When a driver's teen leaves for college, when they park their car, or if someone borrows their car, they frequently inquire about short-term auto insurance.
You can alter your policy temporarily if:
In Florida, parents who live with their kids must include them in their auto insurance coverage. Higher premiums could come from this. For example, adding an 18-year-old to your coverage in Florida will set you back about $4,413. However, if a child attends a school more than 100 miles away, parents may be able to reduce their insurance costs by removing the student from the coverage. Additionally, they might ask for reductions for distant learners or retain their child on their policy.
According to our analysis, adding a student to a policy for two months costs $749 on average in Florida. So, it adds about $3,681 extra to have them for a year.
If you temporarily remove a student from your insurance in Florida, it will save you the most money. Parents who use this insurer save about $7,510.
| Company | Adding 18-year-old for two out of 12 months |
Adding 18-year-old for the full year |
|---|---|---|
| Allstate | $3439 | $583 |
| State Farm | $4146 | $701 |
| Progressive | $4214 | $712 |
| Allied | $9010 | $1512 |
Asking your insurer for a car storage discount or changing your coverage to comprehensive-only are two ways to save money if you want to store your car in Florida.
The average cost of comprehensive and collision insurance with a $1,000 deductible in Florida is $337. That is less expensive than the $1,206 average yearly premium for liability-only insurance
Military veterans and active service members should consider purchasing insurance from USAA, which notes the state's most affordable premiums but also gives discounts on car storage. The average cost of a USAA policy is $944 per year.
In Florida, if you let someone drive your car you don't live with, you don't need to add them to your coverage because they are already protected. However, if family members plan to use your car frequently, it should be a part of your insurance coverage.
If you plan to rent automobiles in Florida, you do not need to buy short-term auto insurance. Instead, you can consider acquiring rental car insurance that includes regular liability insurance and the option to purchase extra protection like collision damage insurance, supplemental liability insurance, and personal accident insurance.
Florida car rental firms charge between $46 and $57 per day for insurance. Choosing less expensive coverage alternatives can allow you to save money.
Data from Jacksonville collected by Money Geek shows that daily insurance costs for rental cars range from around $46 to $57. Enterprise is the least expensive provider in the state, charging about $46 a year, while Avis and Hertz both price about $57 annually. This cost includes extra coverage like personal accident insurance, supplemental liability, collision damage waiver, and liability insurance.
You might not need to get rental car insurance if you already have auto insurance because your plan should pay for the expenses if you are involved in an accident.
Several credit card issuers also provide collision damage waiver insurance for rental cars. Again, it may help you to save money.
| Rental Company | Total insurance Cost |
Supplemental Liability cost | Collision Damage Waiver cost | Personal Accident Insurance Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | $58 | $25 | $38 | $18 |
| Avis | $69 | $28 | $43 | $22 |
| Hertz | $69 | $28 | $46 | $19 |
Non-owner car insurance is possibly the best choice in Florida if you don't own a car but require evidence of insurance before you restore your license. In the state, non-owner auto insurance typically costs $999 a year.
The least expensive option for drivers who don't own cars but still need to submit an SR-22 to Florida is non-owner insurance.
Various states, including Florida, have different definitions of temporary auto insurance. If you own a car, you can choose to get a full-coverage policy and then cancel it before the first six months have passed. Consider rental or non-owner car insurance if you don't own a car.
Once a Florida driver accepts a fare or begins transporting a passenger, it covers the temporary insurance. This acceptance results in a gap in coverage between fares, which rideshare insurance may fill very well.
Other choices for temporary insurance can be available based on your specific situation. Depending on your circumstances, non-owner and rental car insurance are two relatively inexpensive insurance options that can be beneficial.
Car rental insurance
A rental car can be a smart alternative if you're looking for a short-term way to move around without breaking Florida's minimum coverage law. In addition, you have the choice to sign a collision damage waiver (CDW) when you rent a car, giving you the best level of insurance.
Sadly, the opinion among specialists is that CDWs are costly. Other options for reasonably priced short-term coverage, such as rental car liability insurance and personal auto accident insurance, are probably also offered by the rental agency. The majority of standard credit card providers also provide complimentary rental collision insurance.
Auto insurance for non-owners
Non-owner car insurance can be a good fit for you if you frequently borrow or rent a car and don't own one. Thanks to this insurance, you will comply with the state's mandatory liability coverage. This policy covers whatever car you drive because it connects to you rather than your car. Additionally, it often costs 10% less than regular insurance.
Once a Florida driver accepts a fare or begins transporting a passenger, they get coverage from their insurance. This fare results in a gap in coverage between fees, which rideshare insurance may fill very well.
You can choose the ideal rideshare provider for your needs in Florida using Way's comparison, as insurance policies differ between the states.
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Way.com’s Insurance Broker Quote Data
In most cases, if you cancel your auto insurance before the first six months, your insurer will repay your payment. You will have to end the policy early, though.
In Florida, you risk receiving harsh punishments if you drive without insurance. Until you provide proof of insurance and pay the $150 reinstatement fee—and that's just for a first offense—you can get a license suspension.
You cannot purchase day-by-day auto insurance because most contracts are for a minimum of six months. You are already protected if the car you borrow or rent requires one day's insurance.
A company is almost always a scam if it guarantees to cover your car for just one month. Your best option is to buy a six-month policy and cancel it early because reputable organizations don't offer coverage for less than that time.
Access your digital insurance card through the app. You no longer need to carry your physical insurance card with you.
Receive reminders before your renewal. Way.com will also send new quotes from up to 45 insurance companies with your renewal reminder.
Keep everyone on your policy up to date by sharing your insurance information.
Make changes to your policy right from the app (coming soon) and ask for expert advice.
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