Temporary Car Insurance in Florida: What You Need to Know (2024)

Temporary car insurance — also known as short-term car insurance — can be very hard to come by, as most auto insurance companies only offer car policies that last for six months or longer. While it’s possible to find temporary auto insurance in Florida, it’s often easier to pursue alternative options when you only need car insurance for a short time. The average cost of a standard liability-only car insurance policy in Florida is $339 a month, and it may be more effective to buy this type of policy and cancel it early or to pursue another solution.

Let’s take a closer look at how temporary car insurance works in Florida and what alternative insurance options entail.

Is temporary car insurance available in Florida?

Most major car insurance companies don’t offer temporary policies, so even though these policies may be available in Florida, they can be hard to find.

Mark Friedlander, Insurance Information Institute corporate communications director, urges consumers who want to buy temporary car insurance to be careful when they do so.

“Insurance professionals also warn consumers to be wary about scams from companies that advertise temporary insurance (such as seven-day and 30-day plans), as the level of coverage provided may not be adequate. Most short-term plans are offered through obscure insurers,” Friedlander says. “If you plan to buy temporary auto insurance, make sure you are purchasing it from a reputable carrier and that the coverage is adequate so you are financially protected from all potential losses.”

The reason major auto insurance companies don’t offer temporary policies is that it costs companies more to underwrite the risk than they make off a short-term policy, according to Friedlander.

Hugo is a relatively new insurtech company that offers short-term and temporary car insurance policies to Florida drivers. You can buy insurance under two plans — flex or basic/full — and turn your coverage on and off as needed. If you’re not driving, then you don’t have to pay for car insurance, but the option to turn it on and get coverage is available.

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Getting nonowner car insurance in Florida

“If you’re driving a vehicle you don’t own, you can look into other options like nonowner insurance,” Friedlander explains. Nonowner car insurance is a great fit for people who frequently borrow other people’s cars or want to use a car-sharing service. What’s great about nonowner car insurance is that you can easily purchase it for a period of six months to a year. Unlike traditional car insurance policies, this kind of coverage is usually more affordable. Moreover, if you only need the policy for a short period, you can usually cancel it without any hassle.

Keep in mind that having continuous insurance coverage is an important part of your driving history, and insurers may consider you a higher-risk driver if you have coverage gaps when you buy insurance again in the future.

Canceling your policy early in Florida

You also have the option of buying a standard car insurance policy and canceling it early. If you want to, you can purchase a six-month policy and then cancel it after a few months if you no longer need coverage — like if you sold your car or stopped driving it. You may have to pay a cancellation fee, but you won’t be on the hook for monthly premiums anymore.

You can cancel a car insurance policy for any reason. But it’s important to note that even if you cancel your policy, you still need car insurance in Florida if you drive again. You risk license or vehicle registration suspension if you drive without insurance.^[1]

Getting car insurance for a rental car in Florida

If you’re renting a car, you have a few options for getting rental car insurance coverage:

• Check your existing car insurance policy. Your current policy may provide limited coverage for rental cars. Call your insurer to find out the details of your coverage and any exclusions or limits.

• Consider credit card coverage. If you pay for the rental with a credit card, it may provide primary or secondary coverage for damage and theft. Check with your credit card issuer to understand the details of its benefits.

• Purchase a rental car insurance policy. The rental company will likely offer optional insurance policies to cover liability, collision damage, and theft. The cost will depend on the level of coverage and the value of the rental car. Only buy what you need to supplement your existing coverage.^[2]

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

If you’re looking for insurance companies that offer short-term car insurance policies in Florida, the following table outlines some popular insurers and their average rates for liability-only, six-month car insurance policies.

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 Florida drivers.

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Car insurance for students in Florida

Let’s look at two common scenarios that can affect how students or their parents pursue car insurance coverage while the student is in college.

Scenario 1: Students who just moved to Florida for college and intend to drive their car at college 

If you’re a student who just moved to Florida for college and plan to bring your car, you’ll need to modify your car insurance policy to meet the state’s requirements. To modify your car insurance policy, contact your insurance company and inform it of your move to Florida. A representative will help you adjust your coverage to meet the state’s requirements. You may also want to consider increasing your coverage beyond the state minimums to protect yourself financially in case of an accident or damage to your vehicle.

Scenario 2: Parents who have a child who just moved to college and will no longer drive their car 

If you’re a parent who has a child that just moved to college and will no longer drive your car, you may be able to modify your car insurance policy to save on costs. You can also choose to remove your child as a driver from your policy, which could result in a lower premium. To remove your child from your car insurance policy, contact your insurer and inform it of the change. An agent will adjust your policy accordingly and provide you with any necessary documentation. However, if your child plans on using your car during school breaks or visits home, you may want to keep them on your policy to ensure they have coverage in case of an accident.

Temporary car insurance in Florida FAQs