Last Updated on December 30, 2025

Non-owner car insurance is a specialized policy designed for licensed drivers who don’t own a vehicle but still drive from time to time. It’s most commonly used by people who borrow cars, rent cars regularly, or need proof of insurance to keep their license valid.

Unlike a standard auto policy (which is tied to a specific car), non-owner insurance is tied to you as the driver. It primarily provides liability protection if you cause an accident while driving a vehicle you don’t own.

Key Takeaways

• Non-owner car insurance is liability-focused coverage for licensed drivers who don’t own a vehicle but still drive borrowed, rented, or car-share vehicles occasionally.
• It typically covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others, but it usually won’t pay for damage to the car you’re driving (no collision or comprehensive).
• Non-owner insurance is often secondary to the vehicle owner’s policy and generally isn’t a fit if you regularly drive a car that’s kept at your household address.
• Average costs are often around $30–$40 per month, but pricing varies widely by state, driving history, and the liability limits you choose.

What Is Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Non-owner car insurance is a form of liability coverage for drivers without a car. In most cases, it helps pay for injuries and property damage you cause to others when you’re driving a borrowed or rented vehicle.

Most auto policies are attached to a vehicle, which is why coverage usually follows the car (not the driver). A non-owner policy flips that idea: the coverage follows you when you occasionally drive vehicles you don’t own.

Important: Non-owner car insurance is typically considered secondary coverage. If you’re driving someone else’s car and cause an accident, the owner’s policy usually pays first. Your non-owner policy may help if the owner’s liability limits are too low (or if coverage doesn’t apply for a specific reason).

What Does Non-Owner Car Insurance Cover?

Non-owner car insurance mainly covers the same two parts of liability protection you’d see on a standard policy:

• Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: Helps pay for the other person’s injuries if you cause an accident, including medical bills, lost wages, and potentially pain and suffering, up to your policy limits.
• Property Damage Liability Coverage: Helps pay to repair or replace other people’s property you damage while driving—most commonly another vehicle—after an at-fault accident.

Your protection is capped by your chosen liability limits. If you’re not sure what limits to buy, start here: What auto insurance limits should I have?

Other Coverages You May Be Able to Add

Depending on your state and insurer, a non-owner policy may also include (or let you add) certain coverages required by law or commonly bundled with liability coverage:

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Often required in no-fault states; can help cover medical costs and related expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.
• Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay): Optional in many states; helps pay medical expenses for you (and sometimes passengers) after an accident.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Can help protect you if you’re hit by a driver with little or no insurance.

If you’re adjusting limits or adding coverage, here’s a useful guide: How and when you can change car insurance coverage or limits.

And if you have savings, property, or other assets you’d want protected in a lawsuit, it’s smart to choose enough auto insurance—even if you don’t own a car.

What Does Non-Owner Car Insurance Not Cover?

Non-owner policies are limited by design. Since the policy isn’t tied to a specific vehicle, it usually won’t include coverage that protects the car you’re driving.

In most cases, non-owner car insurance does not include:

• Collision coverage: Does not pay to repair the vehicle you’re driving if you cause an accident.
• Comprehensive coverage: Does not cover theft, vandalism, weather damage, or other non-collision damage to the vehicle you’re driving.
• Damage to the car you borrowed or rented: The owner’s policy or the rental company’s options usually handle this (or you pay out of pocket).
• Regular use / household vehicles: If you regularly drive a car available at your address, insurers often require you to be listed on that vehicle’s policy instead.
• Business or rideshare driving: Many personal policies exclude commercial use. If you’re unsure about driving for Uber/Lyft, start here: Will my insurance company cover me if I start driving for Uber or Lyft?

Do I Need Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Non-owner car insurance is a great fit when you drive often enough to need consistent liability protection, but not often enough (or not in the right situation) to be listed on someone else’s policy.

You may want a non-owner policy if you:

• Borrow cars frequently and want your own liability protection when driving a friend’s vehicle.
• Rent cars regularly and want to understand how your protection fits alongside rental car insurance.
• Occasionally drive for work and want to avoid gaps in coverage—especially if your employer expects you to be insured. (If you regularly drive for business, you may need commercial auto insurance instead.)
• Use car-sharing services and want to understand what the service provides vs. what you might still need (for example, Zipcar insurance).
• Are between cars and want to avoid a lapse in insurance history (which can make future policies more expensive).

When Non-Owner Car Insurance Is Not the Right Choice

Non-owner coverage isn’t designed for every situation. You may need a different setup if:

• You live with the vehicle owner. If you share an address and regularly drive that car (for example, a roommate’s car), you’ll usually need to be listed on the owner’s policy. Learn more: Can you put a roommate on your auto insurance policy?
• You’re the primary driver of a car you don’t own. Many insurers won’t allow non-owner coverage if a specific car is essentially “yours” to drive most days.
• You only rent a car once or twice per year. In that case, it may be cheaper to buy the rental company’s physical-damage protection (often called a collision damage waiver) when you rent.
• The owner already has high limits (and maybe an umbrella policy). If the vehicle owner has very strong coverage—like a personal umbrella insurance policy—you may not need extra liability protection for occasional driving.
• You’re relying on “permissive use” but drive more than occasionally. “Permission” helps, but insurers still expect regular drivers to be disclosed. Here’s how permissive use auto insurance works.

How Much Does Non-Owner Auto Insurance Cost?

Non-owner car insurance is usually much cheaper than a standard policy because it focuses mainly on liability coverage (and doesn’t insure a specific vehicle for collision or comprehensive claims).

As a real-world benchmark, Insurance.com estimates the national average cost of non-owner car insurance at $407 per year (about $34 per month). Your rate will still depend on your state, driving history, and the liability limits you choose.

Average non-owner insurance cost by state (annual and monthly):

Tip: If you’re shopping specifically to meet state minimum requirements (or to file an SR-22), tell the insurer up front. The quote can change based on limits and filings.

How to Obtain Non-Owner Car Insurance

Buying a non-owner policy is usually straightforward, but many companies don’t offer a clean “online checkout” flow for non-owner coverage. You may need to call an agent or customer service line.

1. Request a “non-owner” (or “named non-owner”) policy quote. Tell the insurer you don’t own a car and don’t have regular access to a household vehicle.
2. Choose your liability limits. Start with your state minimums, then consider higher limits if you want more protection.
3. Ask about required add-ons. In some states, PIP/MedPay or uninsured motorist coverage may apply.
4. Pay and save your proof of insurance. If you need an SR-22, ask the insurer to file it with the state (fees may apply).

Many major insurers offer non-owner coverage (availability varies by state), including:

• GEICO non-owner car insurance
• State Farm non-owner car insurance
• Allstate
• USAA non-owner car insurance (eligibility required)
• Nationwide non-owner car insurance
• Farmers non-owner car insurance
• Liberty Mutual non-owner car insurance
• The General non-owner car insurance
• Progressive non-owner car insurance

FAQs on Non-Owner Car Insurance

Final Word on Non-Owner Car Insurance

Non-owner car insurance can be a smart, affordable way to maintain liability coverage when you don’t own a vehicle—but still need to drive. It’s especially useful for frequent renters/borrowers, people between cars who want to avoid a coverage lapse, and drivers who need proof of insurance to keep their license in good standing.