How to Get Short Term Car Insurance -

22 de junio de 2013

How to Get Short Term Car Insurance -

There can be many reasons for getting short term car insurance over the usual longer contracts. You might have seasonal vehicles, such as a sand rail or jeep, you might be borrowing a car for a few days or weeks, or perhaps you're using a friend's or family member’s car to learn how to drive. Short-term, or temporary, car insurance may be purchased for a period of 1 day to 8 months. If you're in need of car insurance for only a short period, follow the steps below to get short-term insurance.

Edit Steps

Does your existing insurance provide coverage?

Check with your current insurance company. If you currently have insurance on your home or other vehicles, check with your current provider to see if they offer short-term insurance coverage.
- Give them a call and explain what you intend to use the vehicle for short-term and ask for advice on their best deals.
- Be prepared to provide complete information about the vehicle you wish to insure, including the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (“VIN”).

Finding other suitable insurers

Gather the names and contact information of the insurance companies in your area. You can locate local providers in the yellow pages of your phone book or online using a local directory such as Yahoo Local or Yellow Pages. When searching:
- Provide your location so that the results will return only those companies that insure drivers in your area.
- Use keywords such as ‘car insurance’ or ‘short-term car insurance’.

Ensure that each company whose information you have collected is licensed to sell insurance in your state. To do this, check with your state’s Insurance Department. Find it online by clicking on the appropriate state on the map provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.^[1]
- Many states provide an online list or searchable database of licensed insurers.

Contact each licensed insurer and ask if they sell short-term insurance. For each who does, ask for a quote. Be ready to provide basic information about yourself and the vehicle. Some information that may be requested of you includes:
- The make, model, year and VIN of the vehicle you plan to insure.
- The driver’s name, address, and drivers license state of issue and number.
- Information about any recent accidents in which the driver has been involved or tickets he or she was issued.

Comparing to find the best deal

Compare quotes. When comparing short-term insurance quotes, make sure that the coverage provided under each policy is the same. For example, bodily injury, personal property damage, and medical coverage amounts should be equal, the policies should be for the same number of days, and all should include the same extras such as rental insurance, roadside assistance, and towing.

Compare companies. Research each of the companies whose quotes you like. Look at things such as the amount of time it takes to process a claim, customer service provided when not filing a claim, what current and former customers have to say, and extra services, such as online claim filing and billing. Some places you can look for such detailed information include:
- Online reviews. Many local business indexes such as Yahoo Local, Yellow Pages, and Manta provide online reviews written by users who have experience with the company they are reviewing.
- The companies’ websites. Locate each company’s website for information about how long it has been in business, client testimonials, and the company’s mission statement.
- The Better Business Bureau (“BBB”). Check for complaints filed with the BBB using its online search tool.^[2]
- Your state’s Insurance Commission or Department. Check for complaints filed with your state’s Insurance Commission. Find it online by clicking on the appropriate state on the map provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.^[3]

Purchasing the policy

Choose an insurer and purchase a policy. Many insurers now allow customers to purchase a policy online and immediately print insurance identification cards. Whether you purchase online, over the telephone, or in person, be sure to have the following information:
- The make, model, year and VIN of the vehicle you plan to insure.
- The driver’s name, address, social security number, and drivers license state of issue and number.
- Information about any recent accidents in which the driver has been involved or tickets he or she was issued.