Non-owner car insurance

What it is

A non-owner policy provides liability coverage when you drive a vehicle you don't own: a borrowed car, a rental, a friend's truck now and then. It pays for injuries and property damage you cause to others, up to your limits. Depending on the policy and state, it may also include uninsured motorist coverage.

Because there's no specific car to insure for physical damage, it usually costs noticeably less than a standard policy.

Who it's for

• Drivers who need an SR-22 but don't own a vehicle. A non-owner policy can carry the filing. See non-owner SR-22 insurance.
• People between cars who want to keep continuous coverage so their next policy isn't priced as a lapse. See car insurance after a lapse.
• Frequent renters and borrowers who want their own liability coverage rather than relying on someone else's policy or the rental counter.

What it doesn't cover

• Damage to the car you're driving. That falls to the owner's physical damage coverage, if any.
• A car you own. Once you buy a car, you need a standard policy on it.
• Cars in your household or available for your regular use. Most non-owner policies exclude a spouse's, roommate's or family member's car you drive regularly. In those cases, you usually need to be added to that car's policy instead.

When you buy a car

Call us before you drive it home. We'll replace the non-owner policy with a standard one and move any SR-22 filing with no gap. A gap during an SR-22 period sends a notice to the state.

Getting covered

Call with your license number and, if you have one, your SR-22 notice. We compare companies that write non-owner policies, you buy by phone, and we email your proof and file any SR-22 electronically.