Non-Owner Car Insurance — Tennessee
Tennessee requires 25/50/25 liability coverage and is an at-fault state.
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Tennessee at a Glance
25/50/25
Minimum liability limits, in thousands of dollars (per person / per accident / property)
At-fault
The at-fault driver's insurance pays for the damage they cause
Optional
PIP and uninsured motorist coverage are not required by law
$65
State license reinstatement fee, about 5 days to process
Source: state DMV, insurance department and statute records, verified July 2026
Tennessee Non-Owner Liability Requirements
A non-owner policy meets this floor. Tennessee is an at-fault state, meaning the driver responsible for a collision pays for injuries and damage through their liability coverage. For drivers reinstating a license after certain violations, Tennessee requires an SR-22 certificate filed by a licensed insurer for a period set by the court or the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Bodily Injury Liability
Property Damage Liability
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Non-Owner SR-22 Filing
What Shapes Non-Owner Costs in Tennessee
$14–$42/mo
Typical monthly rate in Tennessee, non-owner policies
Rate data: Insure.com and MoneyGeek, 2026
What Affects Your Rate
- Driving record — a DUI, at-fault accident, or uninsured violation raises non-owner premiums more than a clean record, because the SR-22 filing signals elevated risk and limits you to carriers writing high-risk non-owner policies in Tennessee.
- SR-22 filing requirement — the filing itself adds a one-time fee and raises premiums because it marks you as a state-mandated risk; Tennessee requires the filing for DUI, driving uninsured, and serious violations, with filing periods typically lasting three years.
- Liability limits above the minimum — Tennessee's 25/50/25 floor is low; raising limits to 100/300/100 increases premium but provides more protection when you cause a serious accident driving a borrowed or rented car.
- Continuous coverage history — a lapse in coverage before buying a non-owner policy raises rates, because Tennessee's electronic insurance verification system (TIVS) reports lapses to the state and carriers price gaps as elevated risk.
- Carrier availability — only Dairyland, GAINSCO, Geico, Progressive, The General, and USAA write non-owner policies in Tennessee, and among those only Dairyland, GAINSCO, Geico, Progressive, State Farm, The General, and USAA file non-owner SR-22s, narrowing your options when a filing is required.
- Age and experience — younger drivers and newly licensed drivers pay higher non-owner premiums in Tennessee because they statistically file more claims, even when driving cars they don't own.
Stay Insured Without Owning a Car
Get My Non-Owner Insurance QuoteIf your license is suspended
Restricted Driver License (Class D, M) — Order for Restricted License
A restricted license is available while suspended.
A coverage lapse is reported
The state can act when your insurance lapses.
Source: state DMV, insurance department and statute records, verified July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What does non-owner car insurance cover in Tennessee?
A Tennessee non-owner policy covers bodily-injury and property-damage liability when you drive a car you don't own — borrowed, rented, or shared. It carries at least the state's 25/50/25 minimum and sits secondary to any coverage on the vehicle itself. It never covers physical damage to the car you're driving, because you own no vehicle to insure for collision or comprehensive.
Can I get an SR-22 without owning a car in Tennessee?
Yes. A non-owner SR-22 satisfies Tennessee's filing requirement for license reinstatement when you own no vehicle. The SR-22 is a certificate your insurer files with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security proving you carry at least 25/50/25 liability. Carriers that file non-owner SR-22 in Tennessee include Dairyland, GAINSCO, Geico, Progressive, State Farm, The General, and USAA.
Which carriers write non-owner insurance in Tennessee?
Dairyland, GAINSCO, Geico, Progressive, The General, and USAA write non-owner policies in Tennessee. Among those, Dairyland, GAINSCO, Geico, Progressive, State Farm, The General, and USAA also file non-owner SR-22s when the state requires a filing. Not all carriers writing standard auto in Tennessee offer non-owner coverage — the list is shorter than the full market.
How long does Tennessee require SR-22 filing for non-owner drivers?
Tennessee typically requires SR-22 filing for three years after a DUI conviction or driving-uninsured violation, measured from the conviction or reinstatement date. The filing period is set by the court or the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Your insurer must maintain the SR-22 on file with the state for the entire period — if the policy lapses, the state suspends your license again.
Does a non-owner policy cover rental cars in Tennessee?
A Tennessee non-owner policy provides liability coverage when you drive a rental car, sitting secondary to the rental company's liability coverage. It does not cover physical damage to the rental car itself — that requires the rental company's collision damage waiver or a separate rental-car rider. Most non-owner policies exclude vehicles rented for more than 30 consecutive days.
Coverage Types
Non-Owner Liability Insurance
Bodily-injury and property-damage coverage that follows you when driving a car you don't own. Pays for injuries and damage you cause, up to your policy limits, after the vehicle owner's coverage is exhausted.
Non-Owner SR-22 Insurance
A liability policy paired with an SR-22 certificate filed with the state, proving you carry Tennessee's minimum coverage without owning a vehicle. Required for license reinstatement after DUI, driving uninsured, or serious violations.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Protects you when hit by a driver with no insurance or insufficient liability. Covers your medical bills and lost wages up to your UM limits, which typically match your liability limits on a non-owner policy.
Non-Standard Auto Insurance
Coverage for drivers who cannot qualify for standard-tier policies due to violations, lapses, or high-risk profiles. Non-owner policies often fall into the non-standard tier when an SR-22 filing is required.