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Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger’s, MSN Money, and The Washington Post, and she’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. Her background in education allows her to help people relate to and understand complex financial topics.
She’s the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand-new book, Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
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Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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Same-day coverage car insurance may not be the norm, but several insurers allow you to get a quote and activate your new insurance policy on the same day. For example, GEICO, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual all offer same-day coverage to qualified customers.
To access same-day insurance, you must be able to legally drive. Most auto insurance shoppers purchase policies that will go into effect after their current policy lapses, giving them time to comparison shop and take advantage of discounts. That means same-day insurance shoppers may sacrifice savings for convenience.
Here’s what you need to know about same-day car insurance coverage.
You can get same-day car insurance in as little as an hour.
Not having all the necessary information is the most common reason drivers can’t get same-day insurance.
You may sacrifice some savings if you want your new policy to go into effect that day.
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Though same-day car insurance coverage does exist, your ability to access this kind of “instant” coverage will depend on a number of factors. For example, access to same-day policies varies from one car insurance company to the next.
Additionally, depending on your insurance needs, driving history, and insurance profile, you may or may not be able to purchase a same-day policy, even if your insurer offers it.
If you need same-day car insurance, you may be able to get it in as little as an hour, depending on the insurance company, your needs, your driving history, and your insurance profile. The amount of time it takes to get “instant” coverage will vary based on these factors, but you can make the process easier with some simple preparation.
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While getting same-day coverage can be a little more challenging than the usual process of purchasing auto insurance, you can improve your chances of getting a good same-day auto insurance policy by following these five simple steps.
The insurance company will need certain information from you when you fill out the application. Having the necessary documents and information on hand will ensure the application process is quick and easy. In addition to sharing your full name, occupation, date of birth, and address, you will also need to gather the following information before you apply:
Driver’s license number
Social Security number (SSN)
Make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN)
The date you purchased your vehicle
Current mileage on your car
Current auto insurance policy coverage limits and expiration date
Tickets or accidents on your driving history
You should make sure you know how much coverage you need before looking for instant coverage. This may depend on your state laws, your auto loan lender or leasing company, or legal requirements based on your driving history.
Basic liability insurance will provide the minimum amount of coverage your state requires. Generally, price-conscious drivers or those driving an older or paid-off car may choose liability insurance. Liability-only insurance policies typically don’t cover an at-fault driver’s vehicle damage — they’ll only pay to repair or replace the other person’s damaged vehicle and cover their medical costs.
Full-coverage policies, on the other hand, include collision coverage, which pays for damage to your car if you cause an accident, and comprehensive coverage, which pays for damage to your car caused by anything other than an accident, such as weather or theft. Drivers with a newer car or those who don’t have a robust emergency fund may want to choose full coverage.
Needing insurance in a hurry doesn’t mean you should skip the important step of comparing quotes. Getting quotes from several insurers is the best way to find the cheapest rates for the coverage you need. Taking a little time to comparison shop can save you money over the long run.
Using an insurance comparison site can help you quickly compare multiple quotes. This will ensure that you don’t waste time on multiple sites and still feel confident you have the best price.
You’ll generally have to pay the first month’s premium to activate your new policy. Once the policy is activated, you’re covered, but it’s important to make sure you have proof of insurance before driving.
While most insurers will mail your insurance card to you — which means you won’t have it on the same day you purchase the policy — you can usually download, print, or access your proof of insurance through your insurer’s mobile app. Be sure to have access to proof of insurance before getting behind the wheel — you’ll need it if you have to make a claim.
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The best insurer with same-day coverage won’t be the same for every driver. The insurance company will look at several factors to determine your premium, including your driving history, ZIP code, gender, marital status, credit history, and more.
The following insurance companies offer the best same-day coverage policies. These insurers have the best coverage options and the best average rates.
Average premium: $70 per month
Compare.com rating: 4.7 out of 5
Incredibly cheap rates
Great telematics program
Highly rated mobile app
Hit-or-miss customer service
Below-average customer ratings
Few local agents
GEICO is an insurance juggernaut that’s available in all 50 states and offers a variety of coverages, as well as the cheapest average rates of any insurer. If you need same-day coverage, GEICO can quickly get you the insurance you need and provide you with proof of insurance with its award-winning mobile app.
But the low rates and convenience may come with a subpar customer experience. GEICO has a company complaint score of 1.76 on the NAIC’s National Complaint Index Report — nearly twice the national average.
Average premium: $155 per month
Compare.com rating: 4.2 out of 5
Wide array of available discounts
A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Offers pay-per-mile insurance
High NAIC complaint score
Higher premiums than other insurers
1.4/5 average rating on Trustpilot
Allstate offers drivers a number of possible discounts to lower their auto insurance costs. Drivers interested in same-day coverage from Allstate might check out its discounts for new vehicles, policy bundling, paperless billing, and paying your policy in full.
Though Allstate makes it possible to get same-day coverage at a discount, customers haven’t typically been happy with the insurer. According to the NAIC complaint index, Allstate has a score of 3.06, which is more than three times the national average for customer complaints.
Average premium: $122 per month
Compare.com rating: 4.0 out of 5
RightTrack program can help good drivers save money
Customizable insurance policies
Offers multiple discounts
High NAIC complaint score
1.1/5 average rating on Trustpilot
Technical issues with quote process
If you need nothing more than basic auto insurance coverage today, then Liberty Mutual may be the right insurer for you. This insurer offers great rates for state-minimum liability policies that will get you legally on the road with minimal fuss.
Just be aware that Liberty Mutual may struggle with customer service, as the insurer has an NAIC complaint index score of 2.56 — more than two and a half times the national average for all insurers. The company also has a lower-than-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction score.
While most drivers should have no problem getting instant auto insurance coverage, some scenarios could lead to being denied same-day coverage. These might include:
Missing information: One of the most common reasons you might not get same-day coverage is if you don’t include all the necessary information in your application. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have the right information before you start the application.
Unverifiable personal information: You might have all the necessary information, but if it’s not verifiable, the insurer may not be able to sell you a same-day policy. For example, if you have recently moved and the insurer can’t verify your address, that may keep you from purchasing instant coverage.
Complex driving history: If you have several traffic violations on your driving history or an otherwise unusual driving record, you may not be able to purchase same-day insurance.
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Same-day insurance coverage won’t be right for every driver. Here are some of the reasons why it may not be a good idea to get same-day insurance:
You want the best price: Comparing auto insurance quotes and maximizing discounts both take time. If price is more important than timing, same-day insurance may not make sense.
You don’t have a Social Security number: While it’s possible for an insurer to verify your identity without your Social Security number, it will take more time.
You recently moved: Insurance companies need to verify your address, which they may not be able to do quickly enough to offer same-day coverage if you’ve recently moved.
You have an antique or specialty car: Unusual cars can be more complicated to insure, which means same-day insurance generally won’t be available for exotic, antique, or very expensive cars.
You have a spotty driving record: If you have several moving violations or accidents on your record, it may take insurers more than a single day to determine if they can offer you coverage.
If you’re interested in same-day insurance, here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this type of insurance.
It depends. While a car insurance policy isn’t exactly immediate, the good news is that it’s possible to secure a policy on the same day you start looking for coverage. Once you’ve applied for and have been offered coverage, it can begin as soon as you pay the first insurance premium, as long as the insurer offers same-day coverage. Many major auto insurance companies will be able to provide you with same-day coverage.
To get immediate coverage, you need to compare quotes among insurers that offer same-day policies. GEICO, Allstate, and Liberty Mutual all provide same-day car insurance. Once you have found an insurer that offers the same-day coverage you need, you’ll have to apply for coverage with the following information:
It will generally be difficult to find adequate car insurance coverage for just one day. While a company like Hugo offers flexible policies that you can turn on and off as needed, you may be better off renting a car and purchasing insurance through the rental company if you only need it for a single day.
Only if you don’t already have insurance. To legally drive your car off the lot, you’ll need to have car insurance coverage. But your old policy will likely cover your new car for a certain grace period that varies by insurer. Either way, it’s important to let your insurer know you’ve purchased a new car or to purchase a new policy as soon as you can to make sure your new vehicle is adequately protected.
Sources
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “GEICO Advantage Ins Co National Complaint Index Report,” Accessed January 4, 2024.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “Allstate Ins Co National Complaint Index Report,” Accessed January 4, 2024.
AM Best, “AM Best Takes Various Credit Rating Actions on The Allstate Corporation and Its Key Subsidiaries,” Accessed January 4, 2024.
National Association of Insurance Commissioners, “Liberty Mut Ins Co National Complaint Index Report,” Accessed January 4, 2024.
J.D. Power, “2023 U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study,” Accessed January 4, 2024.
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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Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger’s, MSN Money, and The Washington Post, and she’s been writing for Compare.com since 2023. Her background in education allows her to help people relate to and understand complex financial topics.
She’s the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand-new book, Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.
Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in crafting helpful, easy-to-understand content about car insurance and other related topics. With nearly a decade of experience writing and editing insurance and personal finance articles, his work has helped readers discover substantial savings on necessary expenses, including insurance, transportation, health care, and more. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.
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