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Overview
No matter how careful a driver is, she cannot control other drivers' behavior. With unpredictable accidents happening due to drunk driving, speeding, and hit-and-run incidents, there's a reason why car insurance is mandatory and drivers are ticketed if they are caught without proper insurance identification. So why is it that so many people feel like they don't need it? Whether you own, rent or borrow a car, every time you get behind the wheel, you take a chance; this is why temporary insurance is just as necessary as long-term car insurance.
Rental Cars
Signing off on a rental car is common on business trips. The car rental representative will normally ask if you want insurance in case of an accident, and although it's not mandatory, if you get into an accident in this car and don't have insurance on your own car at home, the car rental company will charge you for the complete accident. Read the contracts that specifically state that they will not be held responsible for your car accident unless there was a malfunction with the car. In order to prove that, you'll probably have to go to court.
Borrowed Cars
Asking someone you trust to borrow her car one time may not make it necessary to have car insurance, but you should ask that person if she has insurance on her car in case an accident occurs with an uninsured driver. If the car owner doesn't have insurance and you don't have insurance, any car repair shop is going to charge you the full amount in order to get the car fixed. Chances are the car owner isn't going to pay for an accident when she wasn't in the car with you to see who was right and who was wrong.
Delivery Cars
Ask your employer whether car insurance is necessary as a delivery person and if any possible accidents are covered. While smaller-paying jobs like food delivery don't usually pay for car insurance and instead require that you have car insurance when you apply, consider asking a car insurance company for a temporary, month-to-month car insurance rate in case you don't keep the job.
Truckers
Request paperwork for how temporary car insurance is covered with your employer. Usually when a truck driver takes driving classes, she is required to get insurance or the employer pays for it. Regardless, know who is responsible for what before driving that truck off the lot.
Old Cars
Do not assume that because your car is an older model and on its last leg that you don't need car insurance. Consider getting temporary car insurance with a company that will let you pay month to month instead of in one lump sum. Regardless of whether your car is old, your life is not, and you need insurance to cover personal injuries to yourself and the other driver.
Parking Insurance
Coming home to find that your car has been banged up by an irresponsible driver who hit your car in the parking lot happens more often than you may think. Don't assume that you don't need car insurance if you barely drive your car, because as long as it's accessible to the public or has the ability to be stolen, car insurance is a must.
