Car Insurance for Weekend Use

Car insurance for a weekend is cheaper because you’re driving a vehicle much less than the average motorist. The number of cars per household is on the decline in the U.S. The data gathered by the Bureau of Transportation indicates that the average U.S. household has more vehicles than drivers.

The extra car could be for a teen working on their license or for fun weekend excursions, so you may need car insurance for weekend use.

If you own multiple vehicles, insurance requirements may differ for each. Your primary commuting vehicle might not require the same level of coverage as the car you take out only on the weekend. So can you insure a car for weekends only? Here’s a guide to help you build a car insurance policy that meets car insurance requirements for your weekend car.

Affordable car insurance for the weekends, or weekend use only, can be found, although it will have to be a regular policy with some discounts. Enter your ZIP code to start comparing car insurance quotes for weekend use to find the policy that’s right for you, whether you’re looking for a full policy or weekend auto insurance.

Weekend Car Insurance Coverage

Auto insurance companies offer various coverage types and options to make sure you can purchase the right coverage for your needs. For example, if you don’t drive a particular vehicle very often, car insurance for intermittent use may be right for you. But what about weekend driver insurance?

Read through the next few sections to learn more about getting car insurance on the weekend, weekend car insurance costs, weekends only warranty options, and more.

Can I get car insurance for weekend cars?

For car insurance, weekend-only trips can be much more affordable. If you’re absolutely sure that you’ll only be driving one of your vehicles on Saturdays and Sundays, you may be shopping for a special kind of weekend-only-use policy.

Unfortunately, no specialty type of car insurance for weekend-only use exists, and therefore, there isn’t a weekend-only rate on insurance. There is no way to buy car insurance for weekend use only.

If you need regular coverage, you can’t pick and choose which days of the week you would like to have insurance coverage. When the coverage is secured, you’ll have protection from the start of the effective date of your policy to the end of the expiration date.

The only time there will be days when coverage isn’t afforded is if you miss a payment, and you have a lapse in your coverage.

Do I need insurance for all registered cars?

Offering vehicle owners any type of weekend insurance would cause complications with state requirements.

By law, you have to prove you’re financially responsible for owning a car. One way to do this is by purchasing mandatory insurance.

Insurance that only covers vehicles on the weekends does not meet state insurance laws. Being out of compliance means penalties like fines and even suspension of your driver’s license.

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Can I insure my weekend car with the same company I insure my primary car with?

If possible, you should insure your weekend vehicle with the same insurance company providing you with coverage on your primary car. Not only is it more convenient to deal with one company, but combining insurance can save you money.

When you insure two or more of your vehicles with the same carrier, you may be eligible for a multi-vehicle discount. The discount will be applied to all of the cars on the policy.

Sometimes, insurers require the cars to be registered in the same name. Other times, the company will apply the discount as long as the cars are registered to spouses or other household family members.

Take a look at this table to summarize multi-vehicle discounts offered by major insurers across the country.

As you can see, a multi-car discount can save you up to as much as 25 percent off your rates. You’ll need to speak with a licensed insurance agent to find out if you qualify.

How does usage affect your current car insurance rates?

Weekend cars already get favorable rates when you have more than one vehicle on the policy, but they also get a lower rate even when you own a single car.

This lower rate is because of a factor most insurers call vehicle usage. For a weekend vehicle, vehicle usage is a major factor in how insurance companies adjust your rates.

Usage refers to how the vehicle is primarily driven. If you drive the car to and from work or campus, you’ll be classified as a commuter.

How many days and how far you commute will also be considered when developing your rate. If you’re commuting five days a week, the mileage from that commute will drive up your rate.

Most weekend cars are classified as pleasure vehicles because they are driven for fun and not for business. This also typically means less driving than a commuter vehicle. If you do drive for business on the weekend, you’ll need to let your insurer know.

Depending on how often you take business trips in the car or what type of business you’re involved in, you may need a different policy type.

Can I get a cheaper car insurance rate for driving less?

Another personal rating factor that’s used to calculate your premiums is annual mileage. Since commutes typically drive your mileage up, you can expect to fall in a lower mileage range than the average American if you have a weekend car. Some companies even offer low mileage car insurance policies.

This table summarizes which companies offer low mileage discounts (usually for driving 5,000 miles or less per year).

The average American drives their vehicle 37 miles per day and, according to the Federal Highway Administration, 13,476 miles per year. This average is why most companies consider mileage between 12,000 and 15,000 per year standard.

A majority of insurers will offer you low-mileage discounts if your annual mileage falls below 7,500 or 5,000 miles. This discount is given because less mileage means less exposure to accidents. Additionally, some companies offer usage-based insurance like Metromile’s pay-per-mile approach.

This kind of coverage might be a good option for a weekend-use vehicle because it’s what it sounds like, pay-per-mile. So the less you drive, the more you save while still meeting the coverage requirements in your state. Let’s elaborate on pay-per-mile car insurance in the next subsections.

Pay As You Drive Car Insurance

Another name for pay-per-mile auto insurance is pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) auto insurance. Under PAYD car insurance, your car insurance company issues a car insurance rate based on the number of miles you drive and a daily flat rate.

So, let’s say you have a roommate. During the week, you agree to carpool with your roommate in order to save on gas. But in order to avoid having to resolve any conflicts with your roommate, you choose to drive separate cars on the weekend. The fact that you’re only putting miles on your car on the weekend is where this form of insurance will come in handy.

PAYD car insurance is perfect for weekend driving—it’s cost-efficient and insures your vehicle all the same. Ask about higher coverage limits and perks to get everything you need.

Pay How You Drive Car Insurance

If you want to save money on a standard auto insurance policy, some auto insurance companies provide pay-how-you-drive (PHYD) auto insurance. PHYD car insurance gauges a driver’s habits and rewards them for good driving habits, minimal to no hard braking, and hands-free driving. Rewards for good driving habits are placed on discounts. To receive PHYD discounts, your car insurance company will monitor your driving using a mobile app or Bluetooth beacon to record your driving.

Should I get specialty coverage for a classic car?

If your weekend car is more than just a standard car, you might need more than standard car insurance. Classic cars require specialty insurance because they retain more value than standard vehicles that aren’t considered collector’s items.

You need a policy that will offer you a stated amount based on your classic car’s estimated value, so you’re fully protected.

Since your auto insurance company will only pay you the fair market value after a claim, you could be leaving yourself vulnerable if you have the wrong insurance. Buying classic car insurance will put your mind at ease. Some of the steps to take before getting classic car insurance include,

• Getting an appraisal
• Documenting any modifications made to the car

Another benefit of classic car insurance is that you can even find low-cost insurance because there are mileage and usage restrictions.

However, If your weekend car is financed, you’ll have to keep full coverage on the vehicle at all times (based on the terms of your loan). You’re not required to maintain full coverage on vehicles that are paid off, but it’s wise to do so if you plan to drive the vehicle regularly, it has a high fair market value, etc.

Car Insurance for Weekend Use: The Bottom Line

If you drive for the weekend only, car insurance companies have some options for you. When you’re looking at options for insuring a vehicle you only use on the weekends, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• All registered vehicles require insurance coverage
• You can’t choose specific days of the week for coverage to apply
• Options like intermittent use, low mileage policies, and classic car insurance may be worth considering, depending on the vehicle type and intended use
• If you average 5,000 or less per year for a particular vehicle, you may qualify for low mileage discounts

Regardless of how you choose to insure your vehicles, the best way to make sure you’re getting a fair rate is by shopping around. We recommend comparing at least three quotes before deciding on a particular company and policy. While there is no car insurance for weekend use only, there are many ways to find a plan that works for you.

Frequently Asked Questions: Car Insurance for Weekend Use

Do you still have questions about weekend-only car insurance policies and coverage?

Read these frequently asked questions for more information.

#1 – Do car insurance companies work on weekends?

For claims filing, the answer is yes. In fact, when it comes to claims, most insurance companies are open 24/7.

#2 – Can I get car insurance for the weekend?

You already know you can’t purchase car insurance specifically for weekend coverage. And while claims filing offices are usually open 24/7, buying insurance for your car on the weekend may be difficult. Most companies are closed for policy purchases on the weekend, although that doesn’t mean you can’t get a quote using our free comparison tool.

#3 – Can I make a weekend car payment?

Yes. You can make payments online at any time through most banks and major insurance companies.

#4 – Are car insurance policies cheaper when adjusted for infrequent weekend drivers?

Absolutely. Auto insurance companies understand that infrequent drivers are less risky to insure because they drive less than average. The less time you spend driving, the lower your risk of filing a claim.

The best way to determine how much coverage you can afford to carry is to shop around in the marketplace. Use your ZIP code in our FREE online quote tool to get affordable car insurance for weekend use from multiple companies, and you can find the best rate instantly.

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