Getting Car Insurance Without a Car

If you don't own a car but find yourself renting a car for work, travel or personal use only on occasion, you can get car insurance as a non-owner. Non-owners car insurance is designed for people who don't own a car but still want some protection when driving a vehicle they do not own. This type of insurance is relatively limited in scope, and you will still need to pay for any expenses up to the deductible. Whether you rent a car or borrow a car from a friend, carrying non-owners car insurance can protect you from a costly lawsuit and minimize the effects of an accident.

How Non-Owner Car Insurance Works
Non-owner car insurance is perfect for people who don't own a car and only drive a car on occasion. Keep in mind that this is a very basic type of insurance policy and typically only provides liability coverage. Most non-owners policies do not provide coverage for collision damage or towing costs.

The average non-owner's car insurance policy provides the following types of coverage:

- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- Liability insurance
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist protection
- Medical payments coverage

If you do get into an accident with a car that you don't own and the person who owns the car already has car insurance, the owner's car insurance provider will pay for damages up to the deductible on the policy, and then your non-owners car insurance will take care of the rest.

Purchasing Car Insurance Without a Car
You can purchase car insurance without a car from most auto insurance providers, and also from your car rental company upon renting your vehicle. If you purchase non-owner's car insurance from a car insurance company, you will be responsible for paying a monthly premium regardless of how many times you drive a vehicle that is not yours. You will be covered for all vehicles you drive under this policy, and will be protected without having to purchase additional insurance. If you do end up renting a car while you have this type of coverage, you can simply turn down any rental car insurance because you already carry insurance.

The cost of non-owner's car insurance varies by location and the liability limits you elect. You can shop around for the best rate by comparing quotes from different car insurance providers and negotiating a rate based on an estimate of how much you plan to drive over the course of the year.

Sources:
Insurance.com: What is Non-Owners Auto Insurance and Why You Should Get It
InsureMe.com: The Basics of Non-Owners Insurance
Insure.com: Car Insurance for Drivers Who Don't Own Vehicles