Short-Term Car Insurance in California

Most car insurance policies are six or 12 months long, but some drivers may want coverage for a shorter period of time — for example, if they’re renting or borrowing a car. While you generally can’t purchase a policy for less than six months, there are potential workarounds to getting short-term car insurance in California, as well as red flags to keep an eye out for.

What is temporary auto insurance?

For short-term or temporary car insurance in California, most reputable car insurance carriers offer policies with six- or 12-month terms. You should proceed carefully with any companies that claim to offer daily, weekly or monthly policies, as they may be misleading about the financial protection they provide or even be outright scams.

Having a shorter, six-month policy compared to an annual policy has some advantages as well as some drawbacks to consider. Depending on your situation, you may find it helpful to have your policy renewed (and your rate re-evaluated) more frequently. That said, 12-month policies mean you lock in rates for a longer period of time, which could also be helpful, depending on your circumstances.

Pros and cons of short-term insurance in California

How much is short-term car insurance in California?

True to California’s high cost of living, car insurance premiums are steep in the Golden State, running more than $200 above the national average for a 6-month full coverage policy, based on June 2025 data from Quadrant Information Services. Companies may adjust rates for shorter policy lengths, which means your short-term car insurance policy may not be exactly half the amount of an annual car insurance policy. Car insurance rates are personalized based on many factors, such as driving record and age, but it is important to note that the use of your credit-based insurance score and gender cannot be used to calculate your car insurance rate in California.

Car insurance rates also vary because each car insurance company has its own method for calculating rates. Below is a comparison of five major carriers within California, and the average cost of a full coverage policy for six months. Keep in mind that these are averages, and your premium could be higher or lower based on your personal factors, the coverage you choose and the individual company’s adjusted rates for a 6-month policy.

Temporary car insurance options

There are a couple of other temporary car insurance options available to California drivers aside from a six-month policy. The coverage types below may be beneficial for some drivers, depending on their circumstances. However, the availability, the amount of coverage offered and the duration of each will depend on the specific car insurance company.

Non-owner insurance policy

A non-owner insurance policy may be a good solution for drivers who do not own a vehicle and do not have regular access to a vehicle, but who still need to drive occasionally. It may be cheaper than standard car insurance, but that is likely because it only includes liability coverage. Non-owner policies usually provide coverage for at least six months. You can find non-owner insurance from car insurance companies in California that specialize in non-standard coverage.

Rental car insurance

If you plan to rent a car, you might consider purchasing additional rental car insurance. These are issued by the rental agency and only last for as long as you have the vehicle. While a standard auto policy may extend coverage to a rental vehicle, it may not have all the necessary coverage types or high enough limits to provide the financial protection you require. Speak with your existing car insurance company to learn which situations might warrant getting temporary insurance for a rental car to round out your financial protection.

Short-term insurance for stored vehicles

Some car insurance companies offer short-term auto insurance solutions for stored vehicles. If your car is not being driven at all, you may be able to drop all coverage types except comprehensive insurance, which covers potential storage risks like vandalism or weather damage. Your rate should be lower since you’re paying for less coverage and because your claim risk drops significantly when you’re not out on the road. However, there may be restrictions, such as where your car is kept during the storage period and who has access to it.

Rideshare insurance

If you drive for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft, it’s important to understand how car insurance for rideshare drivers works. As a driver, you have your own car insurance policy, which may only insure you while your app is turned off and you are making personal trips. If your app is turned on and you are dropping off and picking up passengers, then the rideshare company’s insurance is in effect.

Before relying on your rideshare company’s car insurance, make sure you review what it covers, as well as any applicable deductibles. You can also reach out to your personal car insurance company to inquire about rideshare endorsements that could give additional coverage to fill potential gaps while you are working, such as when you are waiting for a ride request.

How to get short-term car insurance

1. Review your personal situation: There are many reasons for needing short-term coverage. figuring out what coverage you need and for how long is a good first step to finding the right temporary coverage provider and policy type.  
2. Find carriers that offer the coverage you need: Not every carrier offers storage policies or rideshare endorsements. Do some research and find a list of carriers that offer the coverage you need. If you’re having trouble, a licensed agent or broker can help you with this process.
3. Compare providers and quotes: To find the cheapest rate, compare quotes and coverage offerings from your list of carriers. Consider that the best car insurance companies might not have the cheapest rates, but they may excel in customer service, digital tools and third-party ratings.
4. Purchase your policy: Once you’ve found a policy that meets your needs and budget, you can finalize your coverage. Keep in mind that most carriers allow you to cancel an insurance policy at any time (but sometimes with a fee), so even if you buy a 6- or 12-month policy, you can switch carriers down the line. It’s a good idea to check the carrier’s cancellation policy before buying coverage. 

Frequently asked questions

• Can I get temporary car insurance in California?
  

  You can get temporary car insurance in California, but for a personal policy, the shortest duration is typically six months. Other types of short-term car insurance in California include rental car insurance, non-owners insurance and stored vehicle coverage.

• Can I get one-month car insurance?
  

  In general, you won’t find a personal car insurance policy for shorter than a six-month duration. However, there may be some potential workarounds. You might consider taking out a personal policy but then canceling it after you have gotten the amount of use out of it you need. However, you may face cancellation fees. If you’re renting a vehicle on a temporary basis, you may be able to get coverage through the rental company or your credit card company.

• Can I drive a car without insurance if I just bought it in California?
  

  No, you cannot drive a car in California without a car insurance policy in place or providing proof of financial responsibility to the state DMV. California does allow for a 30-day grace period after purchasing a vehicle, which is how long you have to purchase an insurance policy for your new car. However, this grace period is for vehicle registration purposes: you have 30 days to register your vehicle (which includes getting an insurance policy), not 30 days to drive around without insurance. The first offense for driving without insurance in California will result in a fine between $100 and $200. If you are caught again within three years, you face a fine up to $500 and your vehicle may be impounded.

• Can I cancel my car insurance policy at any time?
  

  Yes, you can generally cancel your car insurance policy at any time. In most cases, if you paid for your policy upfront, you’ll receive a prorated refund based on the portion of your policy term that remains. However, it’s still important to check your policy’s fine print to see if there are any cancellation fees or other contractual obligations — especially if you’re buying the policy with the intent of canceling it early.

• My car insurance carrier will only offer me a 6-month policy. Is that normal?
  

  Carriers are increasingly defaulting to 6-month policies rather than year-long contract. However, you may be able to get a 12-month policy by requesting it. Some carriers only offer longer policy lengths for policies purchased through agents, rather than online. Contract length is one factor to keep in mind when choosing an insurance company. A carrier that is slightly more expensive but will renew your policy less often may be cheaper in the long run.

Methodology

Bankrate utilizes Quadrant Information Services to analyze June 2025 rates for all ZIP codes and carriers in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Rates are weighted based on the population density in each geographic region. Quoted rates are based on a single, 40-year-old male and female driver with a clean driving record, good credit and the following full coverage limits:

• $100,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $300,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $50,000 property damage liability per accident
• $100,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per person
• $300,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury per accident
• $500 collision deductible
• $500 comprehensive deductible

To determine minimum coverage limits, Bankrate used minimum coverage that meets each state’s requirements. Our base profile drivers own a 2023 Toyota Camry, commute five days a week and drive 12,000 miles annually. Bundling and paperless billing discounts are applied. 

These are sample rates and should only be used for comparative purposes. Your quotes will differ.

If otherwise specified, the base profile has been modified with the following driver characteristics: 

• Credit-based insurance scores:
  

  Rates were calculated based on the following insurance credit tiers assigned to our drivers: “poor, average, good (base) and excellent.” Insurance credit tiers factor in your official credit scores but are not dependent on that variable alone. Four states prohibit or limit the use of credit as a rating factor in determining auto insurance rates: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Michigan.

• Incidents:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following incidents applied: clean record (base), at-fault accident, single speeding ticket, single DUI conviction and lapse in coverage.

• Mileage:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the following differences in mileage: 2K, 5K, 12K (base), 15K and 20K.

• Model:
  

  Unless otherwise stated, rates are for 2023 vehicle models. For new vs used vehicles, we included the following year in our calculations: 2013.

• Age:
  

  Rates were calculated by evaluating our base profile with the ages 18-70 (base: 40 years) applied. Depending on age, drivers may be a renter or homeowner. Age is not a contributing rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts due to state regulations. For teen drivers, rates were determined by adding a 16- or 17-year-old teen to their 40-year-old married parents’ policy. The rates displayed reflect the total cost of a driver this age added to their parents’ policy.

• Gender:
  

  The following states do not use gender as a determining factor in calculating premiums: California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania.

• Status:
  

  Rates were evaluated based on the following marital/family status: single (base), married, 40-year-old married man and woman. Marital status is not a rating factor in Hawaii and Massachusetts.