Compare temporary car insurance

Provided you hold a valid full UK driving license and are aged 18 to 75 you will be eligible to take out a temporary car insurance policy.

Unfortunately, learner drivers are not eligible to take out cover on a temporary basis.

Short term car insurance options

Compare the easiest option for getting car insurance for a day, a week, a month or however long you need it.

• Car insurance for 1month+

  Car insurance for 1 month+

  If you’re going on a long-haul trip or need to loan a car for several months, it’s a good idea to research companies that offer temporary cover for over 28 days. If the months you need to be insured for are creeping up, though, it might be worth investigating annual car insurance policies as this could work out cheaper than several months of temporary cover.

• Car insurance for 1 month

  Car insurance for 1 month

  Need car insurance for one month? The easiest and cheapest option is to choose an insurer that offers monthly payment and no cancellation fees, then cancel before you pay for your second month. You’ll get the rest refunded if you only need insurance for a little less than a month or if you had to pay for an extra month up front. Most insurers don’t have cancellation fees, and many let you pay monthly.

  Otherwise, consider looking into temporary cover options that offer policies for 28 days or more.

• Car insurance for 1 week

  Car insurance for 1 week

  Getting car insurance for a short trip away or a weekend holiday is probably easier if you get a rental car as a basic level of insurance is often included or can be purchased through the rental company.

  Otherwise, if it’s a car you’re borrowing from a friend or family member, either make sure their policy will cover other permitted drivers or invest in some temporary cover.

• Car insurance for 1 day

  Car insurance for 1 day

  Need car insurance for one day? A handful of specialty insurers like Insure Daily and Cuvva will offer on-demand car insurance for anytime as short as a few hours to a few days, or longer if you need.

  If you’re just taking your classic car out for a spin to keep the engine working, talk to classic or collector car insurers.

What extras can I add to my temporary policy?

Even with temporary car insurance you have the option to customise your cover with optional extras including:

Additional drivers. If you plan on sharing the driving for a short period of time, add extra drivers to your temporary policy.
Breakdown cover. Protect yourself against getting stranded in the event you need roadside assistance.
European cover. If you plan on taking your road trip overseas, invest in EU cover to insure you’re protected abroad. Check in advance with your provider to make sure it covers all the countries you plan to drive in.

How to save on your temporary car insurance

Consider these four hacks for reducing the price of your temporary cover policy.

1. Compare and contrast quotes. Depending on how long you need cover for it’s a good idea to compare and contrast regular car insurance policies with pay-as-you-go and temporary cover to get the best deal. If you already have an insurance policy but have found a better deal elsewhere, it’s worth letting your current provider know in case they can match or improve upon the deal without you needing to switch.
2. Choose a small, cheap car. Borrowing your mum’s Bentley versus borrowing your mate’s Honda Jazz will typically have a serious impact on the cost of your premium.
3. Raise your excess amount. Increasing the amount of excess you’re willing to pay should bring down the cost of your premium.
4. Drop unnecessary optional extras. If you don’t need to share the driving or you’re not planning to head to Europe, make sure you’re not paying out extra for EU cover or additional drivers.

Things to consider before you buy

Here’s a list of the top things to think about before you choose temporary car insurance cover:

• Do you really need it? It’s ideal if you don’t have an existing policy already, or if you’d prefer the extra security of being fully comp on a borrowed car, but if you already have your own existing fully comprehensive policy, you may already be covered to drive the car third party without the additional cost.
• How long will you be needing the cover to last? Remember, if it’s a month or more, it might be more cost effective to take out an annual policy and cancel it when you no longer need it. Just don’t forget to factor in any cancellation fees applicable to annual policies before finalising your decision.
• What level of cover do you need? Whilst most insurance companies do only offer fully comprehensive policies on a short term basis, there are some out there that will offer temporary third party, fire and theft cover. If you’re an occasional driver taking out a short term policy, for example to share the driving, consider what level of cover you need. And be realistic.
• What’s your driving history? Things like convictions, points on your license and previous insurance claims will factor into the quotes you receive.
• Are you road tripping across Europe? Some temporary insurance companies will allow you to take out European cover for an additional fee. Handy if you’re planning a sightseeing road trip.

Bottom line

Thanks to increased demand, there are plenty of providers out there who offer comprehensive short term cover so make sure you compare a whole bunch before picking the best one for you.

As with any type of insurance, take the time to consider your specific cover needs before investing in a policy. Particularly, when it comes to temporary insurance, the length of time you’ll need cover for as you don’t want to get caught short. Plus, adding last-minute hours or days could end up costing more than if you had originally taken out a policy for that extended period of time.

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Common questions about short-term car insurance

• Do car dealerships offer temporary insurance?

  Yes, car dealerships are able to help with the purchase of temporary policy, so it’s worth asking your car dealer about it.

• How long will it take for my insurance to show on the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?

  This is usually done within 48 hours, however bear in mind that it can take up to 7 working days.

• How long can I get temporary car insurance for?

  You can usually get short term car insurance for 1 to 30 days, though some providers offer insurance on an hourly basis.

• How much does temporary car insurance cost?

  This depends on factors such as the length of cover you need, as well as your age, driving experience and location. You may be able to get temporary car insurance for around £7 per hour, or from £20 per day.

  If you’ll only be driving for a couple of hours, it will likely be cheaper to get insurance at an hourly rate, as opposed to cover for a full day.

• Who can get temporary car insurance?

  Each insurer will have their own rules. However, you’ll usually need to have held a full driving licence for at least six months or one year.

  This means learner drivers won’t be able to buy temporary car insurance. They can opt for learner driver insurance instead. A lot of temporary car insurance providers also offer this.

• When might someone need temporary car insurance?

  Temporary car insurance is commonly needed when someone is borrowing a car for a couple of days. It is often bought when students return to the family home for the holidays. It may be needed when you’re collecting or delivering a vehicle.

• Can I purchase temporary third-party, fire and theft insurance?

  It’s unlikely. Most insurers only offer comprehensive car insurance on a temporary basis.

• Does temporary car insurance have an excess?

  Yes, temporary car insurance still has an excess that works in the same way as it does with regular car insurance.

• Can I drive any car if I have temporary car insurance?

  If you get temporary car insurance, you will only be covered to drive the specific car listed on your policy, and not covered to drive in general. Some providers may also have limits on the types of cars you can cover under temporary car insurance.