Temporary Car Insurance in Georgia: What You Need to Know (2023)

A standard car insurance policy in Georgia lasts for six months. Most insurers don’t offer shorter-term policies.

Amy Beardsley
Written byAmy Beardsley
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Amy BeardsleyInsurance Writer

Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Danny Smith
Edited byDanny Smith
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Danny SmithInsurance Writer

Danny is an insurance writer at Insurify. Specializing in auto insurance, he works to help drivers navigate the complicated world of insurance to find the best possible policy. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can connect with Danny on LinkedIn.

Amber Benka
Reviewed byAmber Benka
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Amber BenkaLicensed Insurance Agent

Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance.

Updated May 19, 2023

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Temporary car insurance in Georgia can be a solution for drivers who only need short-term policies. It can also come in handy if you need to rent a car or borrow a vehicle from a friend or family member. But you’ll want to be careful when choosing a short-term car insurance company, as some may not be reliable.

Most standard car insurance companies don’t offer true short-term policies, with the minimum policy length typically being six months. Here’s how to find reliable insurers offering six-month policies in Georgia.

Quick Facts
  • Most reliable car insurance companies offer policies for a minimum of six months.

  • Georgia law requires drivers to continuously maintain some form of car insurance.

  • Nonowner car insurance is a good alternative to temporary car insurance.

Is temporary car insurance available in Georgia? 

You can get a short-term car insurance policy in Georgia, but it isn’t easy. 

“Temporary car insurance is a rare form of coverage that can be very difficult to find because it is not offered by most standard auto insurers,” says Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute.

Additionally, most short-term insurance companies aren’t reputable. “Insurance professionals [should] warn consumers to be wary about scams from companies that advertise temporary insurance (such as 7-day and 30-day plans), as the level of coverage provided may not be adequate," advises Friedlander.

Because insurers often can’t justify the risk of providing short-term coverage, most policies last six or 12 months. But you still have a few options if you need a temporary policy.

Hugo Insurance is a relatively new company that offers policies for terms as short as three days. The company doesn’t require a down payment and provides policies for three or seven days, one month, or six months.

Read More: One-Day Car Insurance — a Common Myth

Read More: One-Day Car Insurance — a Common Myth

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Getting nonowner car insurance in Georgia

You can get car insurance through a nonowners policy if you don’t own a car. It provides you with liability coverage while driving someone else’s car. You may also have the option to purchase additional coverages, depending on your policy.

Liability coverage pays for bodily injury and property damage you cause another person.

For example, you might buy nonowner car insurance if you need proof of insurance to apply for a driver’s license; if you’re renting a car and the rental company requires you to have liability coverage; if you frequently borrow a friend’s car; or if you need SR-22 insurance.

Good to Know

Nonowner insurance can also help you avoid a gap in insurance coverage while you’re in between vehicles.

See More: Do You Need Nonowner Car Insurance?

See More: Do You Need Nonowner Car Insurance?

Canceling your policy early in Georgia

“Because temporary car insurance can be difficult to find, insurance professionals recommend you purchase a six-month policy from a standard insurer and cancel the policy early if you only need it for a temporary period,” says Friedlander.

Before canceling your coverage, review your policy documents to check for specific requirements or penalties. Some insurers may charge cancellation fees. Then, contact your insurance company directly to cancel and make sure you have your policy number available. Ask about any balances owed or potential refunds if you prepaid your premiums.

Keep in mind that Georgia requires drivers to maintain a minimum amount of insurance coverage on their vehicles.[1] You can lose your car registration, face criminal charges, and even have your vehicle impounded if you drive without insurance. To avoid any gaps in coverage, you’ll need to buy a new policy before canceling your current one.

If you don’t plan to continue driving, you may not need a new policy. However, the Georgia Department of Revenue recommends canceling your vehicle registration before canceling your insurance coverage to avoid fines and penalties.[2]

Check Out: How to Cancel Your Car Insurance

Check Out: How to Cancel Your Car Insurance

Getting car insurance for a rental car in Georgia

You don’t usually need to use your car insurance policy when renting a vehicle from a car rental company, as your policy will typically cover the rental car with the same coverage limits and deductibles as it would your personal auto.[3] Make sure to understand what the rental policy covers, though, as it may not be as comprehensive as your own.

Many credit cards offer car rental insurance if you use them to pay for the rental. Check your card’s details. If it includes rental insurance, you may not need to purchase additional coverage.

If you don’t have rental insurance, rental car companies offer options to ensure you’re covered in case of a claim. Buying coverage can help protect you from expensive out-of-pocket costs, such as rental car repair or replacement costs, and liability damage expenses if you’re responsible for an accident.

Learn More: Does Your Car Insurance Cover You When Driving a Rental Car?

Learn More: Does Your Car Insurance Cover You When Driving a Rental Car?

Best car insurance companies for short-term car insurance in Georgia

Comparing quotes is the best way to find the best short-term car insurance policy in Georgia. To help you with your search, here’s a list of the average monthly quotes for a six-month, full-coverage policy. It should give you an idea of what to expect when looking for coverage.

Travelers offers the cheapest monthly coverage, at $195, with an Insurify Quality Score of 4.3 out of 5. 

Insurance CompanyAverage Monthly QuoteInsurify Quality (IQ) Score 
Travelers$1954.3
Progressive$2034.1
Nationwide$2064.1
National General$2623.5
Elephant$2673.6
Mercury$2723.6
State Auto$2743.8
Midvale Home & Auto$2773.2
Safeco$2783.8
Clearcover$3232.9
The General$3963.4
Bristol West$5092.2
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
  • Insurify uses an in-house, proprietary method to rate and review the best car insurance companies. The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 crucial criteria, including average premiums, customer satisfaction, discounts, third-party ratings, and more, to calculate a final score for a company.

    Criteria are weighted by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings. With the IQ Score, Insurify is able to provide quantitative ratings for drivers to better compare car insurance companies and make informed decisions to meet their coverage needs.

Methodology

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 Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates. With this data, Insurify is able to offer drivers insight into how companies price their car insurance premiums. The data included on this page represents averages across all driver ages, genders, credit scores, and driver profiles for Georgia drivers.

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Car insurance for students in Georgia

Georgia car insurance can be difficult for students to navigate. For instance, your insurer will need your new address if you’ve just moved to Georgia and plan to drive your own car. You must also make sure your policy meets Georgia’s minimum car insurance requirements.

If your child moves away to college and will no longer be driving your car, you may be able to modify your coverage to save some money. Most insurers will let you remove your child from your policy. You can also ask about discounts for students, like an away-at-school discount.

See Also: The Best Car Insurance for College Students

See Also: The Best Car Insurance for College Students

Temporary car insurance in Georgia FAQs

If you’re in the market for temporary car insurance in Georgia, you likely have questions about how it works and if it’s even available. Here’s some additional information about temporary car insurance to help guide you in your decision.

  • Can you get temporary insurance in Georgia?

    Yes. A typical car insurance policy in Georgia last six to 12 months, but you can find even shorter options. For instance, you can buy a nonowner’s policy, purchase rental car insurance, or buy a six-month policy and cancel it when you no longer need it.

  • Is temporary car insurance legit?

    Temporary auto insurance can be legitimate, but be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. And make sure you’re buying enough coverage — if you don’t, you may have to fork over extra cash for repairs, medical expenses, or legal costs that arise from a claim. Most trustworthy car insurance companies only offer policies of at least six months.

  • Can you drive a car without insurance if you just bought it in Georgia?

    Georgia state law requires you to have some form of car insurance if you drive a vehicle. If you buy a new car, you can carry a bill of sale and an insurance binder in place of an insurance policy for 30 days. These must be issued by a Georgia-licensed insurance company.[4]

  • How long can you be without car insurance in Georgia?

    Georgia state law requires car owners to maintain continuous car insurance coverage. If you drive without car insurance, you could face penalties like criminal charges, suspension of vehicle registration, or vehicle impoundment. If you need to cancel your policy, the state recommends purchasing a new one first to avoid gaps in coverage.

Sources

  1. Georgia Department of Revenue. "Penalties and Fines for Lapse of Insurance Coverage, Registration Suspension and Reinstatement Process." Accessed May 15, 2023
  2. Georgia Department of Revenue. "Cancellation and Reinstatement of Registration." Accessed May 15, 2023
  3. Enterprise. "Is personal auto insurance required when renting a car?." Accessed May 15, 2023
  4. Georgia Department of Revenue. "Acceptable Proof of Insurance." Accessed May 17, 2023
Amy Beardsley
Amy BeardsleyInsurance Writer

Amy is a personal finance and technology writer. With a background in the legal field and a bachelor's degree from Ferris State University, she has a talent for transforming complex topics into content that’s easy to understand. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Danny Smith
Edited byDanny SmithInsurance Writer
Photo of an Insurify author
Danny SmithInsurance Writer

Danny is an insurance writer at Insurify. Specializing in auto insurance, he works to help drivers navigate the complicated world of insurance to find the best possible policy. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. You can connect with Danny on LinkedIn.

Amber Benka
Reviewed byAmber BenkaLicensed Insurance Agent
Icon of a woman
Amber BenkaLicensed Insurance Agent

Amber Benka is a licensed insurance agent specializing in auto, home, commercial, life, and health insurance.