You cannot get non-owner SR-22 insurance in North Carolina, since North Carolina does not require high-risk drivers to file an SR-22 to prove they have insurance. But drivers in North Carolina who do not have regular access to a car can still buy a non-owner policy to ensure sufficient liability coverage while driving borrowed or rented cars.
Non-owner policies only cost an average of $200-$500 annually, since they do not cover a specific vehicle and policyholders are less likely to file a claim than car owners. For more information, check out WalletHub’s guide to non-owner car insurance.
You can insure a car that you don’t own in most states if you can prove insurable interest. This means you have a financial stake in the vehicle and will suffer a loss if anything happens to it, which reduces the risk of you committing insurance fraud.
For example, even though you don’t fully own a vehicle that’s leased or financed, you have money invested in the car’s wellbeing. Just keep in mind that some states, like New York, do not allow you to insure a car that isn’t registered to you, even if you can prove insurable interest.... read full answer
How to Insure a Car That You Don't Own
1. Re-title the car
The easiest way to prove insurable interest in a car is to add your name to the title and registration. This is a good option if the vehicle isn’t financed and you live with the owner.
2. Prove financial dependence
You can prove insurable interest by demonstrating a financial dependence on the vehicle. For example, if you don’t own a car and have to drive a particular friend’s vehicle for your daily commute, you may be able to convince the insurer that you have a stake in the car.
3. Purchase a non-owner policy
If you can’t prove insurable interest in a car that you don’t own, then you should consider purchasing a non-owner insurance policy. This is a special type of insurance that covers you when you drive rented or borrowed vehicles, and it’s a good investment if you’re regularly driving someone else’s car.
However, you cannot purchase a non-owner policy if you live in the same household as someone who owns a car. In that case, the owner of the car should add you to their insurance policy as an additional driver. To learn more, check out WalletHub’s guide to non-owner car insurance.
The cheapest non-owner insurance is from Geico, State Farm, and Farmers. Non-owner insurance is for people who don’t own a car but rent or borrow one frequently. Although non-owner car insurance is usually cheaper than a standard policy, the cost can still vary widely based on location, driving record, and other risk factors.... read full answer
Non-owner policies fulfill the state’s mandatory minimum requirements for liability coverage, though some companies also allow drivers to purchase additional coverage. Drivers can purchase non-owner policies from the country’s 10 largest insurers or from many nonstandard insurance companies.
Not all of these companies operate in every state. Additionally, Progressive only offers non-owner insurance policies to existing customers. It’s also worth noting that if you are rejected by a major company like Geico or State Farm, the nonstandard insurers on this list might be willing to sell you a policy.
Since non-owner insurance is relatively uncommon, most insurance companies have customers call for a quote rather than getting an estimate online. But despite the extra time this requires, comparing multiple quotes will pay off in the long run by saving you money based on your specific location and driving history.
Non-owner SR-22 insurance costs at least $15 - $25, due to the fee insurers charge for filing an SR-22 form with the DMV. Non-owner SR-22 insurance also costs roughly 3% more than a standard non-owner car insurance policy, on average, given the high-risk surcharge that insurers apply to the premiums of drivers who need an SR-22.... read full answer
The exact cost of a non-owner SR-22 policy depends on where the driver lives and how much car insurance they’re required to have. But because non-owner SR-22 insurance applies only to drivers, and not their cars too, it generally costs less than regular SR-22 coverage.
How Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance Works
Non-owner SR-22 insurance is coverage for drivers who do not own a car but are required by their state to file an SR-22 as verification of insurance. Most states require drivers to file an SR-22 after they are convicted of a major moving violation, such as DUI or reckless driving. This applies even if you don’t own a car, which is where non-owner SR-22 insurance comes in handy.
You will not be eligible for non-owner SR-22 insurance if anyone in your household owns a car. If you purchase a non-owner SR-22 policy, you will only need it for 3-5 years, depending on your state. Those who do not plan on driving in the future can drop their coverage once they are no longer required to have an SR-22 on file.
WalletHub Answers is a free service that helps consumers access financial information. Information on WalletHub Answers is provided “as is” and should not be considered financial, legal or investment advice. WalletHub is not a financial advisor, law firm, “lawyer referral service,” or a substitute for a financial advisor, attorney, or law firm. You may want to hire a professional before making any decision. WalletHub does not endorse any particular contributors and cannot guarantee the quality or reliability of any information posted. The helpfulness of a financial advisor's answer is not indicative of future advisor performance.
WalletHub members have a wealth of knowledge to share, and we encourage everyone to do so while respecting our content guidelines. This question was posted by WalletHub. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.