Key Takeaways
- The easiest way to get cheap same-day car insurance is to shop online and purchase a policy directly from an insurance company.
- To get same-day car insurance, you’ll need to sign up for a six-month or annual policy, though most providers also offer month-to-month payments.
- Travelers, USAA and Erie Insurance are the most affordable providers of full-coverage car insurance on average.
Before you drive your new car off the lot, it needs to be insured. The good news is that you can get car insurance now if you need it. Almost every leading auto coverage provider has a way for you to get same-day insurance today. It’s not too complicated — you just need to provide some basic information.
In this article, we at the MarketWatch Guides team will show you exactly how to get same-day insurance to stay legal on the road. Even if you’re short on time, we recommend comparing auto insurance quotes from a few providers. We’ve reviewed the best car insurance companies nationwide, and all of our top picks offer instant coverage.
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Can You Get Same-Day Car Insurance?
You can get same-day insurance from almost any large national car insurance company on the market today. Once you call or go online to receive a free car insurance quote, most companies let you purchase a plan that begins on the same day. You also might be able to get same-day insurance from smaller regional providers.
How To Get Cheap Same-Day Auto Insurance Now
You don’t need to do anything special to get same-day car insurance. You can talk to an insurance agent in person or over the phone. Typically, the easiest way is to sign up for a policy online. Follow the steps below to get instant car insurance now:
- Decide on your coverage: Full coverage provides more protection but costs more, while liability insurance is cheaper but offers the least amount of protection.
- Get quotes: Use our instant insurance quote tool above or go to an insurer’s website. Most major providers offer tools to help you get an online quote quickly and easily. To make this process easier, have your vehicle’s information — including your vehicle identification number (VIN) and information about all drivers on the policy — readily handy.
- Pay your premium and start your policy: Pay for your policy and, if possible, start your new policy before canceling your old one to avoid a lapse in coverage.
What You Need To Get Cheap Car Insurance Online
Your insurance rates depend on a number of different variables about you and your vehicle. To get a free accurate car insurance quote, you should prepare the following information before you apply:
- Vehicle ownership information
- Vehicle year, make, model and mileage
- VIN
- Address where you garage or park the vehicle
- Name, birthdate and driver’s license number for every driver on the policy
- Information on your current insurance policy, coverage limits and expiration
- Information on any tickets and accidents in your driving history
You should also have an electronic payment method ready in case you need to put a deposit down or make an initial payment to start coverage. Most often, this can be done with your banking information or debit card.
How To Buy Cheap Car Insurance Fast
You can find car insurance for instant purchase whether you go online or call a local agent. You’ll need the same information outlined above in either case. It typically takes less than an hour to get a new policy from an insurance company. If you have an existing policy, it will only take a few minutes. Using an insurance broker may take slightly longer because the broker will take your information and compare quotes from multiple companies. That said, you should still be able to get free auto insurance coverage on the same day if you are prepared.
Instant Free Car Insurance Quotes
The easiest way to get quick car insurance is to use an instant car insurance quote form online. You can find instant quote forms on provider websites or you can use comparison quote forms like the one on this page.
To get a better idea of cost, calculate your new car insurance rate below by inputting the information in the list above. Or, skip to our data on average rates from top companies.
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Instant Car Insurance Estimate
According to our rate estimates, the average good driver pays $2,681 per year for full-coverage car insurance and $869 per year for minimum coverage. Starting insurance immediately doesn’t cost extra, which means you’ll still have access to cheap car insurance. You’ll still be eligible for car insurance discounts too, such as one for bundling your home insurance, life insurance or renters insurance with your auto policy.
Average Online Auto Insurance Rate Estimates by Company
We’ve included average monthly and annual car insurance rate estimates for a number of companies that offer cheap quick insurance coverage below. These rates apply to full-coverage insurance policies for 35-year-old drivers with good driving records and credit scores.
| Car Insurance Company | Average Monthly Cost Estimate | Average Annual Cost Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Travelers | $141 | $1,692 |
| USAA* | $145 | $1,741 |
| Erie Insurance | $158 | $1,894 |
| Auto-Owners Insurance | $158 | $1,898 |
| Geico | $166 | $1,995 |
| Nationwide | $172 | $2,063 |
| Progressive | $194 | $2,326 |
| State Farm | $212 | $2,544 |
| American Family Insurance | $225 | $2,700 |
| Allstate | $278 | $3,340 |
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Same-Day Auto Insurance Coverage
Your same-day car insurance coverage options are no different from the standard coverage options. In other words, you can get everything from bodily injury and property damage liability insurance to collision insurance and comprehensive coverage almost immediately.
When you need to buy car insurance now, you’ll have access to the following options:
- Bodily injury liability coverage: This covers the cost of medical bills and lost wages for other parties in an accident you are found at fault for.
- Property damage liability coverage: This pays for damages to other people’s vehicles and personal property in an accident you cause.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): PIP insurance covers your and your passengers’ medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who is found at fault for an accident.
- Medical payments (MedPay): This coverage is similar to PIP, but MedPay does not cover lost wages.
- Uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM): If the at-fault driver does not have sufficient insurance, UM coverage will take care of your medical expenses and property damage.
- Collision insurance: This takes care of damages to your vehicle regardless of who is found at-fault for an accident.
- Comprehensive insurance: This insurance specializes in covering damages to your vehicle that are not related to an accident, such as from fire, flooding or vandalism.
Cheap Instant Car Insurance: Cost Factors
Your rates will almost certainly vary, as insurers base their rates on a number of variables about you and your vehicle.
- Age: Younger drivers pay substantially higher rates on average than drivers in other age groups because they are statistically more likely to get into an accident. Teen drivers typically pay the most.
- Location: Rates vary not only between states but also within states based on your ZIP code.
- Coverage options: The cheapest insurance policies are those that only satisfy your state’s minimum-coverage requirements. You can pay more for additional coverage types.
- Driving history: Those with a clean driving record have access to the lowest rates. At-fault accidents or traffic violations will increase your premiums.
- Deductible: You can get a lower premium by opting for a higher deductible, but you’ll need to pay more out of pocket for repairs.
- Add-ons: Policy add-ons like accident forgiveness, roadside assistance and rental car reimbursem*nt can offer additional protection for drivers at an additional cost.
- Vehicle: The more expensive a car is, the pricier it tends to be to insure. Providers may also charge more to cover cars that are statistically more likely to be stolen.
Same-Day Car Insurance Quotes: What To Look Out for
Getting same-day car insurance is easier than ever before. But while you will have access to the same rates and policies as you would if you bought coverage ahead of time, there are some disadvantages to buying immediate car insurance.
If you need to buy car insurance now, you might miss out on a few discount opportunities. For example, Allstate offers an Early Signing Discount® if you buy an auto insurance policy at least one week before you need to use it. A same-day plan from Allstate wouldn’t include this policy discount. The same goes for other providers.
While same-day car insurance won’t usually cost you more than a normal insurance policy, you don’t have as much time to compare car insurance options. That means you could miss out on finding the provider that offers the best rates for you. If you just get one quote, it may or may not be the most affordable insurance premium available. Using an online quote tool or looking for sample quotes like the ones found in this article can help you save time on quote comparisons.
In some cases, you might not be able to get same-day insurance. For example, most car insurance providers will ask for your Social Security number (SSN) to verify information in your application and calculate a risk score based on your credit history. If you don’t have an SSN or can’t provide one at the time, the insurance company will need more time to process your application, or it can deny coverage.
Buying Insurance Online Requires Address Verification
One piece of information that needs to be verified is your home address. Insurers can use your credit record to verify this. If you recently moved, the insurance company might not be able to verify your address as quickly, which could lead to delays in approval. Or, if you’re living in one location but your permanent address is listed as another, that can slow things down too.
Online Car Insurance Companies Require Complete Information
Auto insurers will pull your full driving record based on your driver’s license number. It’s important to be completely honest when reporting car accidents, tickets and other traffic convictions. If you leave anything out, the company will be able to see that discrepancy, and it will need to spend more time reviewing your application.
Be aware that it’s possible for a company to sell you car insurance and then cancel your policy within the first 30 to 90 days for providing incomplete or incorrect information, also called material misrepresentation. Cancellations for material misrepresentation or nonpayment go on your record, and this can make it harder to get same-day coverage (or any auto insurance) in the future.
Finally, if you’re buying an especially expensive car, an underwriting officer may need to review your insurance application, as some quote tools are not able to accurately assess rare or exotic cars and specialty vehicles. You wouldn’t be able to get same-day insurance coverage in this case.
Same-Day Car Insurance: The Bottom Line
If you need car insurance now, you can get it by comparing quotes online, calling an agent or even using a broker. Your new insurance will take effect the same day you make your first payment, so you can enjoy your car without worrying about a lapse in coverage.
Best Same-Day Car Insurance Providers
Just because you need car insurance today doesn’t mean you have to settle for the first provider that pops up online. You should take as much time as you can to compare coverage and quotes from different providers, then get same-day insurance from the company with the best deal.
We recommend starting your search with State Farm and Travelers, both of which have strong reputations and affordable coverage.
Travelers: Best for Most Drivers
We named Travelers our Best for Most Drivers because it provides extensive coverage with great service and offers cheap auto insurance for many drivers. Travelers can cover a wide range of drivers and vehicles with same-day insurance. The company offers plenty of auto insurance add-ons, keeping each driver satisfied with their policy.
The company also offers a good range of discounts that many drivers qualify for. Travelers has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, which shows the insurer works to resolve customer issues and has a superior ability to pay out claims.
Keep reading: Travelers Insurance Review
State Farm: Best Customer Experience
State Farm is the largest auto insurance company in the U.S. and holds one of the highest scores for customer experience in our research, which is part of why we gave it our Best Customer Experience award. It offers a generous student discount of up to 25% for maintaining good grades. Drivers under 25 can also take advantage of the Steer Clear® educational program to save another 20%. Because of this, State Farm can be a good option for families with students.
State Farm scored in the top five providers in the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction StudySM, meaning the company offers dependable claims service. The company also has a strong industry reputation, with an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best.
Keep reading: State Farm Insurance Review
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Car Insurance Now: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about same-day car insurance:
According to our full-coverage rate estimates, Travelers is the cheapest online car insurance provider with average costs of $1,692 per year. This cost applies to 35-year-old drivers with good credit and good driving records. USAA is also an affordable choice for active-duty or retired military members.
No, you can’t drive a car you just bought without insurance. It is illegal to drive without insurance at any time, even if you just purchased a used car from someone down the street. Dealerships won’t let you drive home without proof of insurance, either. The good news is that it’s easy to get same-day insurance from top companies online.
You can get insurance almost instantly. As long as you have information about your vehicle and the drivers included on your car insurance policy, you can get auto insurance in as little as one hour or less. Most drivers can get same-day car insurance from top-rated insurers without a problem.
No, you can’t get standard car insurance for one day in the United States. If you are driving someone else’s vehicle, their insurance policy can cover you.
Car insurance only covers accidents that happen after you begin coverage. You can purchase car insurance on the day of an accident, but it will not retroactively cover an accident that happened earlier in the day.
Other Types of Insurance To Consider
- Homeowners Insurance
- Renters Insurance
- Travel Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Boat Insurance
- Home Appliance Insurance
- Dental Insurance
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost and Discounts (25% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities are both taken into consideration.
- Industry Standing (20% of total score): Our research team considers market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
- Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements score highest in this category.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 130+ companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team at [email protected].
