Can You Purchase Temporary Auto Insurance?

Most auto insurance policies are set for a one year term. When you need coverage for less than 12 months, it's called temporary auto insurance or short term insurance and is most common in the United Kingdom. This type of policy is perfect for when you are traveling in Britain for by rental car or and when you are taking care of a vehicle for another person.

However short term or temporary auto insurance in the United States is a misnomer; most insurance policies here are written to protect the owner and whoever has permission to drive their vehicle. In addition, if you have your own vehicle, your own auto insurance policy most likely includes coverage for when you are driving another car.

The scenario in the United Kingdom provides drivers with the ability to purchase temporary auto insurance for less than 30 days with a third party or fully comprehensive option. With short term auto insurance you can drive your friend's car without the risk of having it confiscated by the authorities.

You should be aware that this type of coverage does not come cheap; the premium for temporary auto insurance is a specialty item and 30 days of coverage will cost you more than one month of coverage in a standard policy this is the trade off for being able to legally operate a vehicle in the United Kingdom without a long-term commitment to the auto insurance company.

In the United States new drivers may think that they can get temporary auto insurance when they purchase a new car and haven't decided on which company they want to make a long term commitment for their insurance. Before the advent of the Internet this approach may have made sense, but today many car dealerships are providing Internet access for their customers so that they can arrange their auto insurance coverage to take effect with the purchase of their new car and drive the vehicle off the lot fully insured.

Today drivers in the United States should be aware that there are auto insurance companies who may try to sell temporary auto insurance policies under one guise or another. But the reality is that they are taking advantage of the fact that many people do not realize how auto insurance law works in this country. Unless you will be driving in the United Kingdom temporary auto insurance is unavailable for purchase.