It is illegal to drive in the UK without third party car insurance. This means that temporary cover can be useful when you are borrowing a car or only driving for a short time. Our guide explains how it all works.
An annual car insurance policy is not for everyone. This is especially true if you’re borrowing a friend’s car for a few days, carpooling with someone on vacation, or even just driving a new car home.
Sometimes you only need coverage for a few hours, while others you might want coverage for a month. A novice driver taking their test, for example, may want to insure their parents’ car a month in advance to get extra practice.
That’s why some insurers offer temporary or short-term car insurance – covering you for anything between a few hours and a month.
In this article we explore:
Temporary driving insurance quotes from one hour to 28 days in 90 seconds
Different insurers offer different forms of coverage. Here are some of the best providers on the market, including those that offer temporary van insurance:
How temporary car insurance works
Short-term car insurance covers you to drive the car for a short time. This can take as little as one hour or as long as a month, depending on your requirements.
You can arrange it in a few minutes, with the permission of the car owner.
After that period ends, you can often extend your coverage for an additional premium. However, too many extensions can cost more than an annual insurance policy.
There are also typical limits on how many times a year you can take out temporary car insurance for the same vehicle.
Why take out temporary car insurance?
Temporary driving insurance isn’t the best solution for everyone, so below we’ve listed some cases where this type of cover works well:
- Student drivers – Instead of using an instructor, some students practice their driving skills using a family or friend’s car. By using a temporary policy you will be covered for these sessions before you take the test
- New drivers – After you pass your test, you could borrow your parents’ car until you can finance your own vehicle. If finding a new car is likely to take a few weeks, then temporary insurance can help you in the meantime
- Taking your car for technical inspection – Under some annual car insurance policies, your coverage is void if your vehicle does not have a valid MOT. So if it failed the test and you have to take it home, or if your MOT has expired and you haven’t organized a new test, you may need a new, temporary policy
- Car rental – If you have a family member visiting or if you are using a friend’s car for a long drive, you must be insured. Some comprehensive car insurance policies include ‘drive other cars’ cover, so read your policy documents to see if this is required before taking out a provisional policy. However, this is usually only third party cover, so temporary car insurance may provide better protection.
What does temporary insurance cover?
Temporary car insurance includes much of the same coverage in a comprehensive car insurance policy. To give you an idea of what that might be, we’ve listed some of these areas below:
- Third party, fire and theft – This is standard coverage in many car insurance policies and covers damage you cause to other drivers, fire damage to your own vehicle and vehicle theft.
- Damage caused by an accident – As with comprehensive car insurance, you can be insured for all damages caused to your car.
- Recovery from an accident – If you have been involved in an accident, your insurer will cover the cost of returning your car.
- Malfunction cover – Although this cover is not usually included as standard, you can be insured if your vehicle breaks down on the side of the road.
- Medical treatment – If you are injured in an accident, your insurer will pay for an examination by a private specialist doctor.
- Legal liability – If you injure another person or their property, your policy may cover legal damages.
How much does temporary car insurance cost?
Short term car insurance can cost between £10 and several hundred pounds. This will ultimately depend on several factors, which we have listed below:
- Policy duration – The longer your policy, the more expensive it is likely to be. So if you’re only insuring yourself for an hour, it’s likely to be cheaper than a policy that lasts for several weeks.
- Driving history – An experienced driver with a clean driving record is likely to attract a lower premium than someone learning to drive.
- Place – If you drive your vehicle in a high crime or accident area then your insurer will need to take this into account when pricing your policy.
- Vehicle – More expensive cars carry more risk because the insurer will have to face a higher payout.
Am I entitled to temporary car insurance?
If you’re eligible for car insurance, then you’ll probably be eligible for temporary car insurance as well. However, if you are not sure, as a driver you should:
- Be 17 or older
- Have a valid UK driving licence
- Have a permanent address in the United Kingdom
Some companies, such as GoShorty, will not insure valuable vehicles and will only provide cover for cars up to £65,000. Temporary car insurance is also not applicable if you are renting a vehicle, see your car rental excess policy instead.
Short-term van insurance
Short-term van insurance is intended for those who want to borrow a van for a limited time, rather than renting it from a service center. If you’re doing the latter, then a rental van excess vehicle insurance policy is more suitable.
Certain short term van insurance providers also offer other levels of cover, such as ‘carriage of own goods’ which covers your own equipment or goods.
It’s worth noting that motorhomes and motorhomes don’t usually qualify for short-term van insurance. They are found under their own rules elsewhere.
Can you insure a car on the day?
Yes, there are several providers that provide coverage during this period. Some insurers will cover you for one hour, while others may extend their services to a month. It all depends on your needs.
What alternatives can I consider?
Short term car insurance is not for everyone and there may be better options for you. Basically, if you’re borrowing a friend or family member’s vehicle, you might consider becoming the named driver on their policy. This means you will have insurance for a whole year, so you can use the car again.
Plus, if you’re an experienced driver, it could lower the price compared to the owner’s premium. Just remember that you can’t be named a “Primary” mover in a policy unless you are. This is known as representation and could invalidate your claim.
The downside is that it can take longer to arrange, and if you have an accident or need to make a claim while driving using their policy, it will affect their renewal costs next year.
FAQ
Will temporary car insurance affect my no claims discount?
Although you can’t use short-term car insurance to build your no-claims history, many insurers consider these policies independent of other coverage you may have. So if you were building up a no-claims discount on a separate vehicle, it wouldn’t be affected by a claim on your temporary car insurance.
Can I use temporary car insurance to travel abroad?
Yes, temporary car insurance is an option. However, check your main car insurance policy documents. Some insurers include third-party cover as standard for travel in Europe, so you may not need short-term insurance after all.
How soon can I get temporary car insurance?
Depending on the provider, you can get temporary car insurance in as little as 15 minutes. Check out some of the best deals above if you need coverage fast.
Can I get temporary insurance for a friend’s car?
Yes, but you must make sure that you have a license to drive the vehicle. The benefit of taking out a separate, temporary car insurance policy is that you won’t be the named driver on your friend’s main policy. So if you ever have an accident, it won’t affect their no-claims bonus.
