Yes, you can get insured on a car for a weekend. This is typically done through a short-term car insurance policy, which provides flexible coverage for a specific, brief period, ranging from one day to a few weeks. It's an ideal solution for borrowing a friend's car, test-driving a vehicle you're considering buying, or using a rental car when your existing policy doesn't offer adequate coverage.
The most straightforward way to obtain weekend coverage is often through non-owner car insurance. This type of policy provides liability coverage for drivers who don't own a vehicle but need to be insured when they occasionally drive cars belonging to others. It doesn't cover physical damage to the car you're driving, so the vehicle owner's insurance would need to handle that.
Another common method is a named driver policy, where the car's primary owner adds you to their existing insurance policy for the specific weekend. This requires contacting their insurer, and there may be a small fee. However, some insurers are hesitant to add drivers for very short periods.
Major providers like GEICO, Progressive, and State Farm offer short-term options, but availability and terms vary significantly by state. It's crucial to compare quotes and understand the coverage limits.
| Provider | Policy Type | Typical Minimum Term | Key Consideration |
|---|
| Daily Driver | Short-Term | 1 Day | Often geared towards per-day rental car coverage. |
| Progressive | Non-Owner | 6 Months | Better for frequent borrowing, not a single weekend. |
| GEICO | Named Driver | Varies | Must be added by the vehicle owner to their policy. |
| State Farm | Short-Term | 3 Days | Not available in all states; check local agent. |
| Specialty Insurers (e.g., Tempcover) | Short-Term | 1 Day | Online, app-based services can be more flexible. |
Always confirm with the vehicle owner's insurance company first. In many cases, their policy may extend permissive use coverage to occasional drivers, meaning you might already be covered without needing a separate policy. The safest approach is to get written confirmation from the insurer to avoid any gaps in coverage.
