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8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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Updated
Non-owner car insurance in California provides liability coverage for people who drive regularly but don’t own a car. You might need a policy if you borrow someone else’s car, rent vehicles, or need SR-22 insurance. It also helps you avoid coverage gaps if you temporarily don’t own a car.
This coverage is 37% cheaper than liability-only insurance and 69% less than full-coverage insurance, Insurify data shows.
As you shop for the best non-owner car insurance policy, consider the cost, limits, and customer experience. Here’s how to find the right fit.
The average cost of a non-owner car insurance policy is $66 per month.
Non-owner coverage meets the minimum requirements for the state and ensures you have protection if you cause an accident.
Most major insurance companies offer non-owner insurance.
Non-owner coverage is car insurance for drivers without a car. It provides protection when you drive someone else’s vehicle. The coverage is more limited than other policies since it covers only liability for property damage and injuries. The car owner’s coverage kicks in after an accident, so you don’t need extra coverage as a non-owner.
For example, let’s say you borrow a friend’s car regularly. Your friend’s insurance policy has a $30,000 limit for property damage. While you’re driving, you cause an accident that results in $50,000 of damages to the other driver’s car. Your friend’s insurance would cover $30,000 of the damage, and your non-owner policy would cover the remaining $20,000.
Drivers must have insurance coverage in California, and in most cases, non-owner insurance is one way to meet the legal requirement.[1] But it isn’t optional when you need SR-22 insurance and don’t own a car, since non-owner insurance is the only way to make sure you have continuous coverage.
The cost of car insurance depends on various factors, including your driving record, age, location, and insurer.[2] Similarly, the best car insurer in California for you depends on your priorities. Some drivers prioritize cost, while others want an outstanding customer experience. Considering your priorities can help you find the right fit.
Here are the top insurers in the state for non-owner car insurance for different types of drivers.
| User Reviews | 4.3 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.1 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $65/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $143/mo |
USAA's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.2 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.2 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.9 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.1 | 3.1 |
| Value | 4.0 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s reliable customer service and claim handling but express concerns about high rates and frequent price increases. Some also find the insurer’s security protocols and communication methods frustrating.
USAA offers the lowest rates for non-owner car insurance, according to Insurify data. The company’s excellent customer service, solid coverage options, and annual policyholder dividends also help it stand out as a top choice for California drivers. USAA earns one of the highest IQ Scores for overall customer experience, financial strength, and availability.
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in California
Cheapest insurer for non-owner car insurance
Extensive discounts can lower costs even more
Available only for active-duty military, veterans, and immediate family members
Live customer service isn’t available 24/7
New California customers can’t bundle home and auto policies
| User Reviews | NR |
|---|
Auto Club of Southern CA earned one of the highest J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings in California, indicating excellent customer satisfaction and a solid user experience. As one of AAA’s regional insurance partners, Auto Club of Southern CA offers customers the standard AAA perks, including free roadside assistance and members-only DMV locations.
Unique members-only perks
AAA membership includes roadside assistance coverage
High J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in California
Must pay AAA membership fee to be eligible for coverage
Rates might be higher than other companies
Might have to change regional insurer if you move states
| User Reviews | 4.2 |
|---|---|
| IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. | 9.2 /10 |
| Liability Only Liability-only insurance, sometimes called minimum-coverage insurance, pays for bodily injury and property damage to others in an accident the policyholder causes. It does not pay for the insured’s own damages. | $71/mo |
| Full Coverage Full-coverage car insurance generally includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, and may include other optional coverages such as uninsured motorist coverage. Collision covers a policyholder’s repair or replacement costs in case of an accident. Comprehensive covers damages caused by non-accident events. The average quote displayed here reflects policies with the following coverage limits: $50,000 bodily injury liability per person; $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident; $50,00 property damage liability per accident; $1,000 collision deductible; and a $1,000 comprehensive deductible. | $143/mo |
GEICO's score | Industry average | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage options | 4.0 | 3.2 |
| Customer service | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| Discounts | 3.8 | 2.9 |
| Policy transparency | 4.0 | 3.1 |
| Value | 3.9 | 2.9 |
Customers appreciate the reliability and customer service but find the rates to be high and increase frequently, even without claims or accidents. The app has improved, but some find the claims process lacking.
You must have continuous coverage if you need SR-22 insurance, even if you don’t own a vehicle. GEICO has extensive experience filing SR-22 forms and offers the option to e-file, making it a top pick for non-owner SR-22 insurance in California. Drivers can also benefit from unique discounts and low prices.
E-file option for SR-22 insurance
Low rates for non-owner car insurance
Various discounts, including those for military members and federal employees
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating in California
Limited options to work with a local agent
Inconsistent claims-handling process
Data scientists at Insurify analyzed more than 40 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partner providers across the United States to compile the car insurance quotes, statistics, and data visualizations displayed on this page. The car insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, and demographic information. Quotes for USAA, Auto Club of Southern CA, and GEICO are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
In addition to rates, we considered the reported customer satisfaction metrics, IQ Score, and financial strength ratings to select the companies above.
Non-owner car insurance in California includes coverage that meets the minimum requirements for the state, including bodily injury liability and property damage liability.
It’s similar to liability-only insurance, but coverage isn’t tied to any one vehicle. Some policies include additional coverage beyond liability, like personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Non-owner car insurance in California usually includes the following coverages:[3]
Coverage includes payment for the medical expenses of the other driver when you cause an accident.
Your policy covers vehicle repairs for the other driver when you cause an accident or damage someone else’s property while driving.
Some non-owner policies include medical payments coverage, which covers your and your passengers’ medical costs related to an accident.
If an uninsured or underinsured driver causes an accident, your policy might include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage for your medical expenses and the repairs to the car.
Non-owner car insurance doesn’t typically cover damage to the vehicle you’re driving. For example, let’s say you’re in an accident and damage a rental car. Your non-owner policy won’t cover the cost of vehicle repairs.
Non-owner policies exclude the following:
Collision insurance pays for your vehicle’s repairs when you cause an accident or hit an object. Non-owner insurance doesn’t include collision coverage.
You won’t have comprehensive coverage for vehicle damage due to non-collision events, like natural disasters, theft, or vandalism.
Non-owner insurance doesn’t usually include optional coverages, like roadside assistance or gap insurance.
Check quotes from 120+ top insurance companies
Non-owner car insurance doesn’t cover the cost of vehicle repairs if you damage the car you’re driving. Because of that, it’s usually less expensive than liability-only or full-coverage policies.
A non-owner policy in California is about 37% cheaper than liability-only coverage and 69% less than full coverage.
The average cost of non-owner car insurance is $66 per month. Your ZIP code, driving record, vehicle type, and age can affect costs. Comparing quotes from multiple insurers can help you find the best deal.
Non-owner auto insurance in California can be a good idea if you need coverage but don’t own a car. Here’s some additional information that can help as you search for a policy.
Yes. You can get car insurance on a car you don’t own in California. With non-owner auto insurance, the coverage follows the driver, not the car. So you’ll have coverage no matter what vehicle you drive.
You must have car insurance coverage to rent a vehicle in California. You can get a non-owner auto insurance policy or set up coverage through the rental car company. Both options provide adequate protection.
You don’t typically need car insurance to drive a friend’s car in California since you have coverage under “permissive use.” As long as your friend permits you to use the car, you have a driver’s license, and it’s not a regular occurrence, your friend’s insurance policy will likely cover you. But you might be responsible for some of the costs if you cause an accident and the damage exceeds the coverage amount.
You can buy non-owner auto insurance from almost any insurance company. Some of the most popular insurance companies for non-owner coverage include State Farm, Progressive, and Allstate.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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8+ years writing for major outlets, including MarketWatch and Business Insider
Master’s in Education
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.
We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.
