Standard car insurance lasts for six or 12 months, depending on the insurance company. However, you may need car insurance for a while, such as renting, borrowing, or storing your vehicle. Short-term policies can be covered for a day, week, month or more. We will dig deep into temporary car insurance in New York (pros, cons, costs, and what it might be best) to help you determine if it’s right for you.
Short-term car insurance in New York
Temporary New York car insurance offers a shorter coverage period than the standard six- or 12-month policy. Normally you can cancel your car insurance at any time, but if you are on the move, you can opt for a shorter policy if you don’t need vehicle rental, car sharing, or simply coverage for more than six months. Not all insurance companies offer policies that are shorter than six months, so you may need to purchase a six-month policy and cancel it when it is no longer needed.
Is temporary car insurance in New York right for me?
Temporary car insurance in New York may be a good option for some drivers. Below are some reasons why someone might choose to buy short-term car insurance in New York.
- Auto insurance costs are expensive: Auto insurance premiums are expensive depending on your insurance company, age, credit-based insurance score and driving record. The average cost of car insurance in New York as of March 2025 for the 12-month policy is $4,093 with full coverage. So, if you only need compensation for a short period of time, a temporary policy can save you money.
- You are renting a vehicle for personal use: If you don’t own a car and rent a vehicle for personal use, whether it’s days, weeks, or months, or if you’re renting it for personal use, short-term insurance can be beneficial.
- You rent someone else’s car: If you frequently rent someone else’s car, you will need to add it as a driver in the policy. However, if you borrow from occasional borrowing, you can benefit from non-owner policies. These car insurance are usually sold on six months terms and offer liability coverage only.
- You are traveling: You’re finally doing that road trip that you’ve always wanted to continue, but you don’t want to buy an RV for one trip. You can usually get a temporary policy to cover the length of your trip.
- Place your vehicle in the store: If you are not planning to drive a car for a while, you are eligible for temporary car insurance.
Pros and cons of temporary car insurance
While short-term car insurance in New York may help you get through you for a short period of time, it also comes with potential drawbacks. Below are some of the key perks and shortcomings identified in our short term policy:
If you only need car insurance for a short period of time, temporary car insurance may be the most affordable option.
Temporary car insurance options in New York
If you are considering purchasing temporary car insurance, there are several options depending on your needs, some of which are available from New York Auto Insurance companies.
- Non-owner policy: Non-owner car insurance may be best for drivers who occasionally rent vehicles but don’t have their own registered vehicle. This insurance is generally inexpensive, but only offers liability insurance. When you retrieve a non-owner’s policy, you will receive your own proof of insurance.
- Auto insurance for travel abroad: If you are planning to travel to another country and rent a vehicle, you may need temporary car insurance. In this case, you can probably get travel car insurance from your car rental provider. Most US auto insurance is valid in Canada for less than 30 days of travel, but if you want coverage in Mexico, you may need another temporary insurance.
- Car rental coverage through car rental: Many car rental agencies include temporary insurance on their rental packages to protect against accidents and damages. Some standard car insurance covers rentals, but differs from one insurance company to another, so check your policy for specific details.
- Credit card rental car compensation: Some credit cards include short-term car rental insurance when you pay the entire card rental agreement.
- Comprehensive coverage: For vehicles that are stored in New York for more than 30 days without being driven, some insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage for animal damage, theft, vandalism, fire and weather. However, this insurance does not meet the minimum insurance requirements for New York. To avoid penalties, return the tag before canceling the standard automatic policy. After that, you will re-register your vehicle and reinsurance it before driving. Alternatively, the insurance company may only be able to comprehensively adjust existing policies and revert them if necessary.
How much is temporary car insurance in New York?
Using data from Quadrant Information Services, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team determined the average monthly fee for fully covered auto insurance provided by some of New York’s most popular insurance companies. The average monthly cost of New York’s full compensation policy is $341. However, please note that prices are likely to vary based on factors such as age, gender, where you live, and the make and model of the car.
Temporary car insurance providers also have other factors to consider, such as the type of vehicle they insured, the amount of time they need to cover, and the number of miles they drive. To find the lowest rate for your needs, ask for estimates from various insurance companies and consider the discounts available in the quote.
The table below includes the average car insurance premiums for the best car insurance companies in the state.
FAQ
Methodology
Using Quadrant Information Services, Bankrate analyzes all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states March 2025 rates, with Washington DC rates being weighted based on population density for each geographical region. The cited fees are based on 40-year-old male and female drivers with clean driving records, good credits and the following full coverage limits:
- $100,000 per person physical injury liability
- $300,000 for each accident
- Liability for property damages of $50,000 per accident
- Uninsured driver physical injury for $100,000 per person
- Uninsured driver’s physical injury for $300,000 per accident
- $500 collision deduction possible
- Comprehensive $500 deduction
To determine the minimum coverage limit, bank rates used minimum coverage to meet the requirements of each state. Our base profile driver owns a 2023 Toyota Camry, commutes five days a week and drives 12,000 miles a year.
These are sample rates and should be used for comparison purposes only.
