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Table of contents
If you need car insurance fast, you’re in luck — most major auto insurance companies offer same-day car insurance. Purchasing same-day car insurance online is convenient if you need coverage unexpectedly or if you need proof of insurance to buy a car from a dealership.
Purchasing car insurance online takes only a few minutes if you use a comparison site to find the best policy for you. Learn how same-day car insurance works, how to get it, and which companies offer the best same-day car insurance.
Same-day car insurance is a legitimate way to get coverage quickly.
If you purchase same-day car insurance, it won’t provide retroactive coverage.
You might not qualify for same-day coverage if you have a poor driving record or want to insure a rare car.
The best same-day car insurance companies
Many car insurance companies offer same-day coverage. But some insurers are better than others. To find the best car insurance companies for same-day insurance, Insurify reviewed some of the top insurers based on important features like customer satisfaction ratings, coverage options, discounts, and availability.
As you begin your search, keep the insurers included in this table in mind.
Insurance Company | Liability Only | Full Coverage | 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. |
---|---|---|---|
Hugo | $207 | N/A | 7.0 |
State Farm | $55 | $117 | 9.3 |
American Family | $71 | $150 | 9.1 |
Auto-Owners | $34 | $68 | 8.5 |
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.
We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 55,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.
Best for infrequent drivers: Hugo
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
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. | 7 /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. | $207/mo |
Drivers appreciate the pay-as-you-go option and affordability but dislike the lack of full coverage and poor customer service.
Drivers appreciate the pay-as-you-go option and affordability but dislike the lack of full coverage and poor customer service.
Andrea
April 15, 2025
Excellent
Donna
April 2, 2025
No Thanks
Rebekah
March 18, 2025
Never Able to Speak with Customer Service, So I Switched!
Hugo launched in 2021 and is currently the only insurance company offering on-demand car insurance. Drivers can open a Hugo account without paying a down payment up front. Drivers can choose a policy term of three, seven, 14, or 30 days, or six months, and policyholders can pay smaller amounts more frequently instead of all at once. Drivers also receive instant proof of insurance. Hugo currently only offers state-minimum liability coverage in 13 states. J.D. Power and AM Best have not yet evaluated Hugo’s customer satisfaction or financial strength.
Short-term policies
No up-front down payment required
Flexible, pay-as-you-go insurance
Only available in 13 states
Doesn’t offer collision or comprehensive coverage
No discounts available
Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm
User Reviews | 4.1 |
---|---|
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. | 9.3 /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. | $55/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. | $117/mo |
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
Customers appreciate the insurer’s excellent customer service and personal attention but dislike the high prices and frequent rate increases. They also express frustration with the claims process.
Jim
June 11, 2025
Question answered
Jessica
June 9, 2025
No Money Saved
Vicki
June 9, 2025
State Farm
State Farm is the largest car insurance company on the market, and it’s a great option for drivers who need same-day coverage and want to work with an insurer that has solid customer satisfaction scores from J.D. Power.[1] The company also offers a great selection of discounts, including special savings for young drivers and teens. If you want to bundle your car insurance with another policy, like homeowners, renters, or life insurance, State Farm offers some of the best deals.
Excellent customer satisfaction ratings
Good selection of car insurance discounts
Great policy bundling deals
Few endorsement options
Doesn’t offer gap insurance to most drivers
Doesn’t offer car insurance in Massachusetts or Rhode Island
Best for discounts: American Family
User Reviews | 4.5 |
---|---|
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. | $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. | $150/mo |
Drivers appreciate the fast claims processing and good initial rates but dislike the consistent rate increases and poor communication from agents.
Drivers appreciate the fast claims processing and good initial rates but dislike the consistent rate increases and poor communication from agents.
Richard
May 8, 2025
American Family Insurance
Scott
May 5, 2025
Check the Fine Details
Matt
April 26, 2025
Pricing Themselves Out of Customers!
American Family is the best same-day car insurance company for discounts. The company offers more than a dozen car insurance discounts, with savings for safe drivers, young drivers, taking a defensive driving course, bundling, paying in full, low-mileage drivers, young volunteers, and more. The company also offers a free mobile app that allows you to make payments, file claims, view ID cards, and request roadside assistance.
Great selection of car insurance discounts
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction ratings in some regions[1]
Mobile app for policy management, payments, and claims
Few ways to customize your policy
Operates in only 19 states
Lower AM Best financial strength rating than some competitors[2]
Best for coverage options: Auto-Owners
User Reviews | 3.9 |
---|---|
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. | 8.5 /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. | $34/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. | $68/mo |
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
Customers appreciate the friendly service and quick claims process but dislike the constant rate increases and perceived inflexibility in pricing.
Roy
June 5, 2025
I don't have anything to add
Ann
June 1, 2025
Satisfaction
Jason
May 8, 2025
Stay away from them if you have children. My policy jumped $540 a month, and they will not exclude my daughter from the policy even though she doesn't drive my truck.
Auto-Owners is a good choice for same-day car insurance if you want to customize your policy with endorsements. In addition to liability-only and full-coverage policies, the company also offers roadside assistance, additional expenses coverage, gap insurance, diminished value coverage, rental auto gap coverage, accident forgiveness, a common loss deductible, and others.
Auto-Owners also has lots of discounts to help you save money, including savings for good students, safe vehicles, paying in full, bundling, and having no recent claims. To get a car insurance quote and purchase same-day coverage from Auto-Owners, you must contact an independent agent.
How to get same-day car insurance
The process of getting same-day car insurance is usually quick, especially if you use a car insurance comparison site.
Here’s how you can get same-day auto insurance online:
Gather your information. Before you apply, you should gather the information you’ll need to get the most accurate quotes. This includes your driver’s license number and your vehicle’s VIN and current mileage.
Decide how much coverage you need. Check your state laws about liability coverage and think about add-ons like collision and comprehensive coverage. You may want to consider full-coverage policies, depending on your situation. If you have insurance already, you can use your previous policy as a guide.
Compare car insurance quotes. A quote-comparison site can help you see coverage options and car insurance rates to find affordable car insurance. In addition to price, it’s a good idea to also consider each company’s financial strength and customer satisfaction ratings.
Purchase the policy. Once you choose an insurer, you can purchase your policy. Most comparison sites will redirect you to the insurance company’s website to complete the process. Make sure to choose the current date as your policy’s effective date. You’ll need to pay at least the first month’s premium before your coverage can begin. Then, you can download your proof of insurance.
Is same-day car insurance legitimate?
Yes, same-day car insurance is legitimate. Same-day car insurance simply means that your car insurance policy starts on the same day that you apply and pay the initial premium.
Same-day car insurance allows you to get coverage instantly rather than a few days or weeks after you apply. There’s no difference in coverage or cost.
How long does it take to get car insurance?
It usually only takes a few minutes to get same-day car insurance. Once you’re approved and make your payment, your policy begins immediately. But the process could take a little longer if you don’t submit all your personal information correctly or you’re not able to pay right away.
Be sure to have all your information organized, like your driver’s license number and VIN, when you apply.
Cheapest recent rates
Drivers using Insurify have found quotes as cheap as $36/mo for liability only and $48/mo for full coverage.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on June 11, 2025. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
*Quotes generated for Insurify users within the last 10 days. Last updated on June 11, 2025. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique driver profile.
Cheapest same-day insurance companies
When shopping for same-day car insurance, it’s important to research multiple companies and compare rate quotes. The cheapest same-day car insurance premium you find isn’t necessarily the best option. You should compare insurers based on cost, coverage options, discounts, customer service, and claims satisfaction to ensure you’re picking a reliable one.
In the table below, you can see which companies offer the cheapest same-day car insurance.
Insurance Company | Full Coverage | Liability Only |
---|---|---|
Hugo | N/A | $207 |
Auto-Owners | $68 | $34 |
USAA | $99 | $48 |
State Farm | $117 | $55 |
GEICO | $155 | $127 |
Progressive | $167 | $104 |
American Family | $150 | $71 |
Nationwide | $180 | $87 |
Travelers | $190 | $93 |
Farmers | $229 | $108 |
What to watch out for when purchasing same-day insurance
While same-day car insurance can be convenient for some drivers, it has a possible few downsides to consider. Here are three potential risks to watch for when buying same-day auto insurance.
You may miss out on discounts
Some car insurance companies offer discounts that may not be available to drivers who purchase same-day coverage. For example, Auto-Owners offers an “advanced quote” discount to customers who apply for an auto insurance quote before the effective date of the policy. If you want same-day coverage, you won’t be eligible for these types of savings.
You might be limiting your options
Some reputable car insurance companies don’t sell same-day car insurance. If you need same-day coverage, keep in mind that you could be limiting your options. It’s possible that the best car insurance company for your coverage needs and budget doesn’t offer same-day coverage, forcing you to settle for a different insurer.
You could rush into a poor decision
If you need car insurance coverage fast, you might not give yourself enough time to thoroughly research insurers, compare quotes, and make the best decision for your needs. As a result, you could rush into purchasing a policy that isn’t ideal for you. If you need coverage quickly, try to give yourself as much time as possible to choose the best insurer.
4 reasons an insurer may deny drivers same-day car insurance
Not all drivers can qualify for same-day car insurance. Here are some of the most common reasons an insurer might deny you same-day coverage:
You don’t have a Social Security number
You typically need a Social Security number to purchase a car insurance policy. While you don’t always need one to get car insurance, it could prevent you from getting immediate coverage.
You didn’t fill out the application completely
If your car insurance application has any gaps or missing information on it, you may have trouble getting same-day coverage.
You have a problematic driving record
You might not qualify for same-day car insurance if you have a complicated driving record with multiple violations, accidents, or past claims.
You want to insure a rare vehicle
If you want to insure a rare or unique vehicle, like a collector car or an expensive sports car, it might take several days to get approved for car insurance.
Same-day car insurance FAQs
Same-day car insurance can be a good option for many drivers. Learn more about same-day auto insurance with these questions and answers.
Can you get car insurance for just one day?
No. Most car insurance companies won’t insure you for just one day. Car insurance policies typically come in six-month or 12-month periods. But Hugo allows drivers to purchase insurance for three days at a time, which can be a good option if you need temporary car insurance coverage.
Is same-day insurance more expensive?
Same-day car insurance costs the same as other car insurance policies. Whether you purchase a same-day policy or purchase coverage two weeks before the policy starts, your premium won’t be any different, unless you qualify for certain discounts.
Is same-day car insurance retroactive?
No. Same-day car insurance isn’t retroactive. When you purchase a policy, you get to choose what day the coverage starts, but the policy’s effective date can’t be in the past. The coverage you buy today won’t apply to last week or yesterday.
Can you get car insurance with no deposit?
Most reputable car insurance companies require a deposit before your coverage can start. The minimum deposit is typically equal to the first month’s premium. But Hugo offers no-down-payment car insurance, which allows you to pay as you go.
Can you get car insurance to start immediately?
Yes. You can get car insurance that starts immediately. In most cases, you can apply, purchase coverage, and begin your policy within minutes. Many insurers also provide digital proof of insurance that you can download right away.
Can you get car insurance online without talking to someone?
Many car insurance companies will sell you a policy without you having to talk to an insurance agent. With companies like State Farm and American Family, the process of purchasing car insurance can happen entirely online. But they have agents available who can answer questions or guide you through the process if you need help.
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 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:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
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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Sources
- J.D. Power. "Auto Insurance Customer Satisfaction Plummets as Rates Continue to Surge, J.D. Power Finds."
- AM Best. "AM Best Affirms Credit Rating of American Family Mutual Insurance Co., S.I., Its Affiliates and American Family Life Ins. Co.."
- AM Best. "AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Auto-Owners Insurance Company and Subsidiaries."