Blew my truck's engine, don't expect to own a car for a few months... Should I get a non-owner policy?

I’m 25, live in Illinois, and haven’t had any accidents or tickets in the last 5 years. I blew my truck’s engine last week and sold it today. Right now, I’m unemployed and only go to school on the weekends while borrowing my uncle’s truck for errands.

I’m wondering if I should get a non-owner policy. I know some states charge crazy high rates if you don’t have insurance, even if you don’t own a car, but I’m not sure how it works in Illinois. I just got my insurance below $100 a month, and I really don’t want it to jump back up to $250 when I get another vehicle. I called Progressive when I canceled my truck policy, and they quoted me $70 a month for a non-owner policy, which seems way too high considering I’ve seen others say it usually costs $20-$25. Should I shop around? I’m unemployed, so I don’t want to waste money.

I think a Non-Owners policy might be worth it to keep your insurance history intact for when you get another vehicle. Without it, your rates could skyrocket with no previous coverage.

I’d recommend reaching out to an Independent agent in your area to help you set it up. How long ago did you cancel your policy?

@Ashwin
I canceled about 30 minutes ago.

Lennon said:
@Ashwin
I canceled about 30 minutes ago.

You should contact an Independent Agent ASAP to keep your coverage history intact.

Lennon said:
@Ashwin
I canceled about 30 minutes ago.

You need to act fast. You have until the end of the day to either get added to someone else’s policy or secure a non-owners policy. If you lose your coverage history, you’ll have to start from scratch, and it could cost you more. Make sure you get something in place by the end of today.

@Cameron
Why is it legal for them to raise my rates after just one day when I don’t even own a car? So, I’m basically paying $70 a month just for them to do nothing for me? This doesn’t make sense.

Lennon said:
@Cameron
Why is it legal for them to raise my rates after just one day when I don’t even own a car? So, I’m basically paying $70 a month just for them to do nothing for me? This doesn’t make sense.

Well, you canceled your insurance without knowing your options. That’s on you, man.
And they’re not doing nothing; they’re still insuring you. You’re still driving, right?

@Ash
I canceled because I didn’t think it would be a big deal. It doesn’t make sense to penalize me for not owning a car.

Yes, I still drive my uncle’s truck, but I’m covered by his policy. When I drive for work, I’m covered by their insurance. So, at no point am I driving without proper insurance.

@Lennon
Here’s the thing: insurance history stays intact as long as you have continuous coverage. If you cancel, you lose that history. If you’re already a named driver on your uncle’s insurance (meaning your name is listed), you don’t need a non-owners policy. But if you’re not listed, you’ll need one to avoid a coverage gap. If it’s been 6 months since you owned a car, some companies offer exemptions, but you’ll still have to deal with surcharges.

If I were you, I’d check with your uncle to see if you’re a named driver. If not, get that non-owners policy set up ASAP.

@Lennon
It’s tough, but if you have a coverage lapse, it will be harder and more expensive to get insurance later. So, you should get non-owners insurance or get added to your uncle’s policy quickly to avoid a lapse.

@Sky
I called my insurance back, and they reinstated my policy and moved it to a non-owners one. I’ll shop around next month, but for now, I decided to just stick with the $70 rate.

Lennon said:
@Sky
I called my insurance back, and they reinstated my policy and moved it to a non-owners one. I’ll shop around next month, but for now, I decided to just stick with the $70 rate.

You don’t have to wait a month; you can shop around right now.

Lennon said:
@Sky
I called my insurance back, and they reinstated my policy and moved it to a non-owners one. I’ll shop around next month, but for now, I decided to just stick with the $70 rate.

Good move. You’re covered for now, and you have time to find a better rate.

Lennon said:
@Ashwin
I canceled about 30 minutes ago.

You can also call your insurer and ask to reinstate your policy to give yourself more time.

You could either get a non-owner policy or get added to your parents’ policy as a driver to show continuous coverage.

Oak said:
You could either get a non-owner policy or get added to your parents’ policy as a driver to show continuous coverage.

Should I just shop around for a non-owner policy like I would for a normal car policy? The quote I got from Progressive seems way too high (only $20 less than a normal policy).

@Lennon
Not every insurer offers non-owner policies, but it’s worth checking with other companies for a better rate.

Yes, it’s worth it. Non-owner policies are usually cheap and it’s better than trying to get insurance after a coverage gap.

Otto Insurance offers a non-owner policy for about $30.

Aubrey said:
Otto Insurance offers a non-owner policy for about $30.

I looked up Otto Insurance and found that they’re just a scam. They sell your info to other companies and add you to a ton of spam call lists.