Buying Temporary Car Insurance In Florida?

Answer 1

Temporary car insurance can be purchased by Florida residents for one of several reasons. There are situations where a long-term liability policy and collision coverage is simply not needed. This is the case with classic and antique cars that spend most of the time in a garage. Those who do not own a vehicle and drive sparingly may save money by purchasing short-term liability insurance rather than carrying a permanent blanket policy. Cars purchased out of state and transported to the owner's home may require a temporary policy if the purchase does not include coverage for the long distance moving of the vehicle.

What Temporary Insurance Includes

Florida law requires all vehicle owners to purchase personal injury protection as well as property damage protection. This coverage will be in force no matter who is driving the vehicle. However, many insurance providers will not honor an insurance claim if an individual other than the owner or a family member drives the vehicle for an extensive period. In this situation a temporary policy will include liability as well as collision coverage if the vehicle is being financed or the owner demands this coverage for anyone borrowing the car.

Classic And Antique Cars

Florida residents who carry comprehensive insurance on a classic car may wish to purchase additional coverage only when the vehicle is being transported. If the car is being taken to an auto show the comprehensive insurance that covers the car while it is storage will not be sufficient in case of an accident caused by the owner. If the car is actually being driven the law requires liability coverage in the form of PIP and PDP. Adding this to the comprehensive insurance policy may be more expensive than simply taking out a temporary policy that expires in just a few days or weeks.

Purchasing A Car Out Of State

This is the most common reason for buying temporary insurance for a vehicle. Most insurance companies will not honor a claim if the car is not yet in the possession of the owner. Those purchasing a vehicle that will be moved to Florida by an independently contracted driver or a transporter service may wish to invest in short-term insurance. Auto transport companies insure the vehicle but the rates may be extremely high and not cover the full value of the car.

Those with car insurance in force may wish to talk with their Florida insurance agent about temporary coverage for a classic car or to insure a part-time driver. Rates will be higher than a long-term policy but will probably be favorable if the owner already has some form of vehicle protection.