Aviva temporary car insurance review

We've analysed Aviva's short term car insurance to help you decide if this major insurer can give you a good deal.

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Aviva

The temporary car insurance policies offered by Aviva are comprehensive as standard. If customers already have an annual car insurance policy with Aviva, the insurer says that any claims made on a temporary policy won’t affect the customer’s annual no-claims discount. Here’s what else we think you should know about the UK’s largest insurance provider.

Who is Aviva?

As the largest general insurance provider in the UK, Aviva offers an extensive range including car, van, motorbike, travel, pet, home and life insurance. As well temporary car insurance, Aviva also offers learner driver, annual and multi-car policies.

The Aviva Group is made up of several businesses, including Aviva Insurance Services UK Ltd and Aviva UK Digital Ltd, amongst others.

Who underwrites Aviva’s insurance?

Although specialist Dayinsure provides Aviva’s temporary car insurance, all policies are underwritten by Aviva Insurance Ltd.

Aviva Insurance Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Aviva UK Digital Ltd and Dayinsure.com Ltd are also both authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

What does Aviva’s comprehensive cover include?

The highest level of cover comes as standard. If you are responsible for causing an accident, you’ll be protected for damage to other people’s vehicles or property and for your own vehicle. Your car will also be covered against accidental damage, vandalism, fire damage and theft. You can choose cover from just 1 hour to 30 days.

Here are some of the benefits of Aviva’s temporary car insurance:

  • Accidental damage
  • Fire and theft damage
  • Accident recovery
  • Third party EU cover
  • Emergency treatment
  • Legal liability
  • Full EU cover (optional)
  • Breakdown cover (optional)

What is my excess?

Your insurance excess is the amount of money you will need to pay towards a claim. Your insurer won’t pay out for a claim that costs less than this amount. A compulsory excess amount might vary depending on the age of your car and your driving experience.

A voluntary excess is on top and is normally set by you when taking out a policy. You’ll have the option of increasing a voluntary excess, which should lower your premium, but make sure you’ll be able to afford to pay this amount if you have an accident.

All temporary car insurance policies offered by Aviva have a compulsory excess of between £250 and £1,250, depending on factors like the length of cover required, the age and experience of the driver and the age and condition of the vehicle.

You’ll find details about any compulsory or voluntary excesses in your policy document.

What is the claims process for Aviva?

Call the 24/7 DayInsure claims line on 08000 156 166 to make a claim.

You will need to provide the following information:

  • Your own insurance policy details
  • Details about the incident
  • Names and contact details of everyone involved in the incident, such as third parties, passengers and witnesses
  • Details about the damage or injuries sustained

It’s vital that you let your insurer know about an incident straight away, even if it wasn’t your fault. Failure to do this could result in a rejected claim later on.

Pros and cons for Aviva

Pros

  • Comprehensive cover as standard
  • The cover can begin instantly
  • Making a claim won’t affect a no-claims discount built up on an annual policy

Cons

  • Limited third party EU cover as standard
  • Cover for a maximum of 30 days only
  • Can only pay upfront

Verdict

As the uk’s largest insurance provider, the Aviva name is recognised as a trusted one.

Size isn’t everything, of course, but Aviva’s temporary car insurance is comprehensive as standard, giving you peace of mind that you are properly covered for your journey. As a top provider, Aviva can be a bit more expensive, but ultimately you get what you pay for.

Some temporary insurance providers allow customers to obtain cover for more than just 30 days, so do shop around if that is what you need. Lastly, it is always worth checking the small print for any restrictions, especially if you are planning to travel abroad – Aviva only offers limited EU cover as standard, though further cover can be added to the policy.

Depending on your requirements, temporary car insurance from Aviva can be a strong option.

Get started by visiting Aviva’s website and sign up for a policy. If you have read this review and decided that Aviva temporary car insurance is not for you, you can also compare other temporary car insurance policies on the market.

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Liz Edwards has been a consumer writer and editor for more than 20 years. She led award-winning teams at the campaigning publisher Which?, and has covered a range of consumer rights and personal finance topics including pensions, credit, banking and insurance. Liz has appeared frequently in national media such as The Sun, Metro, HuffPost and The Independent. She loves to cut through waffle to give consumers the real lowdown. And she loves puns. See full bio

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