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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
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Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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While we make money through partnerships with some of the brands we discuss in our articles, our editorial team operates 100% independently, and these partners never influence or affect the topics, reviews, ratings, or recommendations we provide. We never guarantee favorable reviews or mentions in exchange for compensation from any brands or partners, and we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure our content is always independent, truthful, and unbiased.
Non-owner car insurance provides liability coverage for drivers who don’t own a vehicle but drive someone else’s car or rent one. It also covers drivers who need an SR-22 certificate to meet California’s insurance requirements.
A non-owner policy can provide continuous insurance coverage to prevent lapses and rate increases. In California, non-owner auto insurance coverage meets the state’s minimum requirements and can help you reinstate your suspended driver’s license.
This guide will help you understand how non-owner car insurance in California works, who needs it, where to get the best coverage, how much it costs, and alternatives to consider.
Non-owner car insurance in California covers only injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident.
USAA, AAA, and Connect by American Family are some of California’s best non-owner auto insurance companies.
Costs for non-owner coverage vary by insurance company, liability limits, and factors like your age, driving history, and ZIP code.
Non-owner car insurance provides liability insurance for drivers who don’t own vehicles but need coverage when driving someone else’s car. It can also help drivers meet California’s minimum coverage requirements.
Unlike traditional auto insurance, non-owner insurance policies don’t cover any specific car. Instead, they cover the driver’s liability for damages and injuries they cause while driving someone else’s vehicle.
Let’s look at what non-owner car insurance in California covers and what it excludes.
California non-owner auto insurance includes:
Bodily injury liability pays for medical expenses you cause to the other driver in an accident.
Property damage liability covers damage you cause to someone else’s property.
Medical payments coverage (MedPay) for your own injuries.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage pays for damages if someone hits the car you’re driving and doesn’t have enough liability coverage.
Non-owner car insurance in California usually doesn’t include:
Comprehensive coverage for non-collision events like fire, theft, vandalism, and animal damage.
Collision coverage pays for damage from a collision.
Personal injury protection (PIP) covers your medical bills. It isn’t available in California.
Optional coverages like roadside assistance or rental car reimbursement.
Compare quotes and get the coverage you need at the best price.
Not every California driver needs non-owner auto insurance. Let’s explore some situations where it may make sense to get non-owner coverage.
Rental car companies must offer liability insurance that meets the state’s minimum coverage requirements. But if you don’t have a standard auto policy and want higher liability limits to protect your finances, you may want a non-owner policy to supplement or replace the rental company’s coverage.[1]
Though your friend’s or family member’s insurance policy may cover you while driving their vehicle, it may not be enough coverage if you cause an accident.
For example, let’s say you borrow your friend’s car and hit someone else, causing $40,000 in damage to their vehicle. If your friend has only state-minimum coverage, their policy would cover the first $15,000, and your non-owner policy can cover the remaining $25,000.
California requires drivers to have car insurance. If you don’t own a vehicle but need to meet the state’s minimum coverage requirements to satisfy a court order, a non-owner policy can fulfill the SR-22 insurance requirement. It can also provide temporary insurance to avoid a lapse in coverage and higher rates if you plan to get a standard policy later.
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Non-owner car insurance in California works the same from one company to the next, though some may offer optional coverages that others don’t. You can usually get only standard car insurance quotes online, so you may have to call insurers or visit local agents to get quotes for non-owner insurance.
Although you don’t need vehicle information, you’ll still need to provide your personal information, including your:
Full name
Driver’s license number
Address
Social Security number
You can pick higher liability limits if you want more coverage than California’s minimum requirements. You may also have the option to add MedPay and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
No single best car insurance company exists for everyone. But a few stand out from the rest, based on factors like local availability, existing customer satisfaction, industry awards, coverage offerings, premiums, and discounts.
Below, you’ll find our top picks for the best non-owner auto insurance policies in California.
Cheap liability-only rates
Many discounts available
Above-average customer satisfaction rating in California
Available only to qualifying military members
Few optional coverages available
Few local agents
USAA ranks high for exceptional customer satisfaction in California, according to J.D. Power.[2] Although it doesn’t offer as many optional coverages as other companies, drivers looking for non-owner insurance can get the coverage they need from USAA. It also has some of California’s cheapest liability-only rates.
That said, only active-duty and retired military members, and their immediate family members, qualify for USAA coverage.
Roadside assistance available
Extra benefits for AAA members
Ranked No. 1 for customer satisfaction in California
Available only to AAA members
More expensive than other companies
Coverage can differ depending on where you live
The Auto Club of Southern California, a regional AAA insurance partner, ranks highly for customer and claims satisfaction, according to J.D. Power.[3] The company offers a variety of coverages, including gap insurance.
That said, you need to be a member of AAA to qualify for auto insurance. But membership gets you additional perks, like roadside assistance and discounts on car insurance.
Affordable rates
High customer satisfaction rating
24/7 claims filing
Charges more for paying monthly
14-day review period for new auto policies
Few local agents
Connect by American Family is another highly rated insurance plan in California. Connect offers various discounts for California drivers, like a good driver discount to help lower premium costs. You can also manage your policy and file claims online 24/7.
But the company has an above-average number of complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. And you may need to be a Costco member to get the cheapest pricing.
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Non-owner car insurance usually costs less than standard auto policies in California because rates aren’t based on the vehicle. How much you pay for non-owner car insurance depends on factors like your:
Liability insurance limits
California drivers pay around $62 per month for non-owner insurance. That’s compared to California’s average liability rate of $98, according to Compare.com data. But how much you pay depends on the coverage level and optional coverages you choose.
Car insurance rates can also vary significantly from one company to the next, so you should always shop around and compare rates and coverages from multiple insurers to find the best deal.
Don’t worry if non-owner insurance doesn’t fit your needs, because you have other options. Consider these alternatives if you need short-term coverage:
Credit card coverage: Some credit cards offer rental car coverage if you pay with the card. Exclusions may apply, so read the fine print to ensure it provides the coverage you need.
Rental car insurance: If you don’t rent vehicles often, the rental company’s car insurance may offer enough coverage. But check for limitations and exclusions to make sure it’s right for you.
Someone adds you to their policy: If you frequently drive someone else’s vehicle, you can have them add you as a driver to their auto insurance policy. This can be easier and cheaper than getting a separate non-owner policy.
Compare rates from top insurers in California and save money today.
Below, we answered some common questions people ask about getting non-owner car insurance in California.
Yes. California allows drivers who don’t own a vehicle but regularly borrow or rent one to buy non-owner car insurance coverage. Non-owner insurance provides liability coverage for injuries and property damage you cause to others in an accident.
Yes. A non-owner car insurance policy in California covers the driver, not the vehicle. A driver with a non-owner policy can provide liability coverage to any vehicle they’re driving, even if it isn’t in their name.
Yes. GEICO offers non-owner car insurance in California. A GEICO non-owner policy meets California’s SR-22 requirements for high-risk drivers. GEICO will also provide a proof of insurance certificate to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
USAA offers the cheapest car insurance in California, with rates starting at $81 per month, according to Compare.com data.
It depends. Non-owner car insurance might be worth it if you need liability coverage but don’t own a vehicle. It can protect your finances if you drive someone else’s car and cause an accident or injure someone.
Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance quotes from more than 75 partner insurers in order to compile the rates and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.
All the rates listed in this article have been collected from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide readers with insights into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.
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Mandy Sleight has over 15 years of insurance knowledge and expertise in auto, home, life, health, pet, supplemental benefits, and other insurance products. She’s a sought-after insurance expert, appearing in Bankrate.com, Moneygeek.com, U.S. News & World Report, Reviews.com, CNET, and other publications, and she's been writing for Compare.com since 2023.
Mandy uses her background and experience working for well-known insurance companies like State Farm and Nationwide Insurance to create engaging and easy-to-understand content that helps readers make smarter insurance choices that have a positive effect on their budgets and finances.
Matthew Gross is an editor at Compare.com. With a background in editing and SEO, he’s passionate about creating content that helps readers get the information they need to make more informed decisions. Prior to Compare.com, Matthew brought his user-centered approach to his work with global brands like Apple and Adobe.
Matthew graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Journalism.
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