One-week truck insurance: Coverage, cost and when you need it

Q: Is one-week truck insurance legal and available in the U.S.?

Yes , one-week truck insurance is legal and available in the U.S. Policies typically last 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours or five days . Short-term auto insurance must meet the same legal requirements as longer-term policies, so you're fully covered and compliant with state laws.

What coverage types are included in one-week insurance?

One-week or short-term truck coverage gives you the same basic protections as regular commercial truck insurance policies, just for a shorter time.

Coverage availability varies by insurer and truck type. Coverage must meet state requirements and, in some cases, federal trucking regulations.

One-week policies can include:

Liability coverage (required): Covers bodily injury and property damage claims when you're at fault in an accident, while physical damage coverage takes care of vehicle repairs. For instance, if your truck is damaged due to a crash, theft, or a hailstorm, this part of the policy covers the cost of fixing or replacing the vehicle
Physical damage coverage (optional): Can include collision and comprehensive coverage to protect your commercial vehicle
MedPay and PIP: Can offer coverage for injuries your drivers and passengers sustain in a covered accident
Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage: Coverage for covered accidents when the driver of the other vehicle is uninsured or underinsured
Other optional coverages: Cargo insurance, trailer coverage, non-owned trailer coverage

How does annual commercial truck insurance differ from weekly coverage?

Annual or six-month commercial truck insurance differs from one-week insurance in one primary respect: policy duration.

One-week truck insurance is a temporary commercial policy designed for short-term needs, but it can sometimes cost more per day and may include more coverage exclusions.

Annual commercial truck insurance provides coverage for usually six to 12 months and usually costs less per day than one-week coverage.

“One-week truck insurance is a lifesaver,” says Meyr Aviv, founder and CEO of iMoving, a moving company online marketplace. “It offers flexibility without the burden of long-term premiums. But here’s the catch: Most policies come with high deductibles and limited liability coverage.”

What are the benefits of short-term trucking insurance?

Short-term truck insurance is a practical solution when your business needs coverage for a truck briefly. Some benefits are:

Cost efficiency: Unlike traditional policies that lock you in for six to 12 months, temporary truck insurance allows you to pay only for the time you need protection
Compliance: Helps you stay compliant with state and federal requirements, even for short-term or one-off needs
Quick coverage: One-week truck insurance is often approved and issued the same day you apply

When do you need daily or weekly truck insurance?

Short-term truck insurance can be handy for specific, time-limited scenarios where a full-term policy would be impractical or costly. For example:

You're moving a truck you just bought
You do seasonal work
You're testing a vehicle
Your regular truck is in the shop
You're switching insurance companies
You have a one-off transport job

  However, short-term insurance shouldn’t be a replacement for traditional policies for regular commercial operations. Claims can exceed basic coverage caps, leaving users often underinsured and overpaying in the long run, Aviv says. His advice? One-week truck insurance is “great for bridge coverage, terrible as a default. Use it sparingly and only with full awareness of exclusions.”

How much does one-day or one-week truck insurance cost?

Sometimes, one-week truck insurance costs about the same, per day, as a regular commercial auto policy, and in other cases, it’s significantly more expensive per day.

According to The Hartford, a regular commercial auto policy costs between $150 and $500 per month (or more), depending on your industry, vehicle type, cargo, driving record, and coverage limits.

Truck insurance for a week can cost about the same. National Independent Truckers Insurance Co., which specializes in providing truck insurance policies to independent owner-operators and small fleets, lists the following coverage prices on its website:

24 hours: $140
48 hours: $240
72 hours: $340
Five days: $540

Factors that affect one-week truck insurance costs

The factors used to determine your one-week rate depend on the insurer, but these are some general factors most insurers consider:

Truck type
Truck value
Driving history
Claims history
Truck purpose
Location of operation
Coverage types, limits and deductibles

Is it cheaper to purchase a regular commercial auto policy and then cancel?

So why not sign up for regular insurance and then cancel the policy when you no longer need it? There are several reasons. For one, cancelling a policy after a few days may raise a flag with commercial insurers when pricing your next commercial truck insurance policy. In addition, some insurers may have what’s known as a minimum earned premium, which means they get to keep a percentage of any premium you paid, even though you cancelled the policy.

And there are other alternatives to consider. Pay-as-you-go insurance lets you pay only for the miles you drive, which could work better than traditional policies if you're not on the road much. Some drivers find it cheaper to buy a standard six-month policy and ask their insurer about early cancellation options. In this case, you might get a partial refund if you don't use the full term.

Where can you buy one-week truck insurance?

Finding temporary commercial vehicle insurance isn't as straightforward as you might expect. Many major insurance companies don't offer short-term commercial truck policies. 

Here are some companies that offer short-term truck insurance:

National Independent Truckers Insurance Company offers 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and five-day commercial truck policies.
Classic Truck Insurance offers short-term and non-trucking liability coverage, plus a wide range of services for independent truckers, from temporary policies to broker bonds.

Look for commercial auto insurers that offer other temporary policies, specialty trucking providers or independent brokers who know the carriers and can compare multiple at once.

How to get one-week truck insurance?

Buying coverage for a week is similar to buying a typical full-term policy. You can get a quote online, call an insurer that offers these policies or find an agent or broker.

Here’s how to buy a one-week truck insurance policy:

Know your needs: How long do you need coverage, and what type of truck do you need to insure?
Gather information: You’ll need VIN, truck details, driver information, business history and business use.
Confirm compliance requirements: Consider state, federal and any client requirements.
Get multiple quotes: Compare equivalent coverage, limits and deductibles among more than one insurer.
Select a policy: Determine which policy offers you the best value for your needs.
Buy the policy: You may be able to purchase the policy online or through an agent, depending on the insurer.

Frequently asked questions

Is one-week truck insurance legal and available in the U.S.?

Yes, one-week truck insurance is legal and available in the U.S. Policies typically last 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours or five days. Short-term auto insurance must meet the same legal requirements as longer-term policies, so you're fully covered and compliant with state laws.