Temporary Car Insurance in New York (2025)
Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive are the best insurers for New York drivers looking for temporary coverage.
Excellent
Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.
A standard car insurance policy term lasts for six months or one year, and the average cost of car insurance in New York state is $183 per month. But plenty of drivers only need occasional coverage or want a shorter term.
Be wary of companies advertising one-day or weeklong policies. While these short-term plans are becoming more common, they’re still rare. Always research the company before choosing a policy.
In New York, you must have a valid insurance policy when behind the wheel, so it’s important to maintain coverage no matter how much you drive.1 Here’s what you should know about temporary car insurance in New York.
Quick Facts
New York drivers pay an average liability premium of $178 per month.
Not all insurers offer short-term or temporary car insurance policies, so it’s important to check before securing a policy.
You can cancel your auto insurance if you only need it for a short term, but you may have to pay cancellation fees, and your rates may increase with your next insurer.
Best temporary car insurance in New York
To help drivers find the best temporary car insurance in New York, Insurify data scientists compared auto insurance companies that offer affordable rates and quality service. Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and Progressive are top picks, and comparing coverage from these three is a good place to start.
Travelers: Best for non-owner policies
Liberty Mutual: Best for same-day coverage
Progressive: Best for usage-based insurance
To find the best car insurance in New York for short-term policies, our team evaluated a handful of major car insurance companies in the state. The goal of our research was to find auto insurance companies that offer affordable rates and a wide variety of coverage types. We also took customer reviews, Insurify Quality (IQ) Score, J.D. Power score, AM Best rating, potential discounts, and other factors into consideration.
Cheapest short-term car insurance in New York
While many different factors can influence the cost of car insurance premiums — such as driver age, vehicle type, and driving record — understanding what average costs look like can help you while shopping for short-term car insurance.2 On average, car insurance costs $183 per month in New York state.
The following table highlights the average monthly rate of some popular car insurance companies in New York.
Options for temporary car insurance
If you need temporary car insurance, you have to find the right policy for your unique situation. You have a few popular options to choose from if you need a short-term policy.
Pay-as-you-go car insurance: Best for telecommuters
Pay-as-you-go car insurance calculates premiums based on miles driven. These policies typically adjust per-mile rates according to the driver’s risk factors, like age, driving record, and location. This model offers benefits for low-mileage drivers, allowing them to save compared to traditional flat-rate policies. It also provides an incentive to drive less, which can lower accident risk and emissions.
But this auto insurance policy type has drawbacks, including limited availability in some regions and higher costs for people who drive frequently. Tracking mileage can also require telematics devices or apps, which make some consumers uncomfortable due to privacy concerns.
Pay-as-you-go insurance is becoming increasingly popular as large numbers of workers ditch their long commutes in favor of remote work.
Non-owner car insurance: Best for drivers with borrowed cars
Non-owner car insurance makes it possible to drive a car you don’t own but still maintain coverage. This type of policy covers bodily injury and property damage that the driver might cause, but it doesn’t typically include coverage for vehicle repairs or injuries to the policyholder. It’s especially useful for people who frequently rent cars, borrow friends’ or family members’ vehicles, or drive for work-related purposes.
This form of short-term insurance can be beneficial if the car owner’s policy has low liability coverage limits or if the driver’s use of the car falls outside the owner’s policy conditions. Liberty Mutual, Progressive, USAA, and Travelers all offer this type of coverage in New York.
Non-owner insurance policies are typically more affordable than a standard liability or full-coverage policy.
Pay-per-mile car insurance: Best for homebodies
A pay-per-mile car insurance policy adjusts your car insurance rate based on how many miles you drive. If you work from home or live in a walkable neighborhood, you may still want to have a car on hand but might not need to drive it very often.
These policies are similar to pay-as-you-go policies without driving behavior tracking, and they’re more difficult to find in New York. A pay-per-mile auto insurance policy may suit you well and allow you to save when you keep your mileage low.
But if you decide to drive your car more often, be prepared for an increased car insurance bill.
Rental car insurance: Best for travelers
If your preferred method of travel is to hit the open road, rental car insurance might be the right fit for your auto insurance needs. You have a few options available to you when it comes time to buy a rental car insurance policy. This policy type is available through rental car companies, car-sharing programs, and peer-to-peer car services.
Before you buy a rental car insurance policy, double-check with your current car insurance company or credit card issuer to see if you already have coverage.3
Pros and cons of temporary car insurance
When deciding whether or not a temporary car insurance policy is the right move, consider both the pros and cons of this policy type.
Pros
Flexible coverage
More affordable
Easy enrollment
Cons
Limited availability with insurers
May cause a coverage lapse
Not comprehensive coverage
Temporary car insurance in New York FAQs
To help you find the perfect fit, here’s some additional information that can shed more light on how temporary car insurance in New York state works.
Can you get temporary insurance in New York?
Sort of. Drivers in New York state must have a valid form of car insurance that meets state coverage standards to drive legally — whether that be a more traditional policy or a temporary policy.
If you’re looking for car insurance that will last less than six months (most policy terms range from six months to one year), a non-owner, pay-per-mile, or pay-as-you-go car insurance policy may be a good solution.
How long can you go without car insurance in New York?
You can’t legally drive in New York without an active auto insurance policy that meets the state’s minimum-coverage requirements. You can run into big trouble with the law and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if you’re caught driving without car insurance. The DMV may suspend your vehicle registration or driver’s license. If you only need car insurance for a shorter period of time, consider a temporary car insurance policy instead of a more comprehensive plan.
Is temporary insurance legit?
If you purchase a temporary car insurance policy from a legitimate car insurance company, your policy is likely safe and reliable. But be wary of companies advertising one-day or weeklong policies. While these services are becoming more popular in the U.S., it’s still not a common product, so it’s important to research the company before binding a policy.
It’s always a good idea to consider customer reviews and complaints on the Better Business Bureau or Trustpilot website to learn more about the customer experience.
What is an example of temporary insurance?
An example of temporary insurance is a non-owner car insurance policy. Non-owner car insurance offers liability insurance protection for accidents you cause while driving a car you don’t own. It can help if the owner’s insurance doesn’t fully cover damages or if their coverage is denied.
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)