Fast, flexible and affordable cover

Fast, flexible and affordable cover
- Cover for cars, bikes and vans
- From 1 hour to 28 days
- Suitable for learner drivers and tradesmen
Car insurance can be a confusing subject, even without the addition of alternative cover policies to the table. However, if you need insurance for a limited time or for a car you don’t drive very often, it’s good to know you have options.
We’ve reviewed the differences between pay-as-you-go and temporary car insurance, to help you decide which one would work best for your circumstances.
Pay-as-you go insurance means you only pay for the miles you drive. So, if you only use your car for the occasional trip to the supermarket or the countryside at the weekend, you won’t be throwing money away while it’s sitting in your driveway or garage.
Also known as PAYG or usage-based car insurance, there are three main ways in which this type of cover is measured:
Temporary car insurance usually provides instant cover from one hour to 30 days. It’s usually offered as a comprehensive policy, though cover levels vary by insurer.
Temporary car insurance designed for learner drivers is also available.
The most important difference between these two types of policy is that temporary cover cannot be used as the sole car insurance policy for a car.
This means that it can only be used if you are borrowing a car from someone who already has an annual policy covering their vehicle. The reason for this is that it’s illegal to own an uninsured car without declaring it as SORN, even if it’s kept on your driveway or in your garage.
Temporary car insurance is also often used for rental cars, but this is normally arranged by the hire company.
If you need cover for a car you rarely drive or that you’re borrowing from someone else, having the option to take out either of these policies can save you a lot of money and hassle.
For a car you own but don’t drive very often, pay-as-you-go insurance is the best option. If you’ll only be using the car for a limited amount of time, you need temporary cover.
The main difference is that temporary cover cannot be used as the sole policy for the car, so make sure it already has annual cover in place.
If you just passed your driving test and are looking to save on insurance, you can consider a temporary policy for new drivers.
Found the car of your dreams but worried about getting it back home? You can do it easily and safely with drive away insurance.
Find out how you can get temporary car insurance as a non-UK resident and your cover options available.
Temporary business car insurance can be a great choice for your finances if you sometimes need to mix business with pleasure when you drive.
Car insurance for young drivers can be frustratingly expensive. Read our guide to temporary car insurance to understand what to look out for and save your pennies by comparing policies.
Our guide explains how you can keep temporary car insurance costs down and shows you some of the cheapest deals out there too.
Find out your options for getting temporary car insurance and discover ways you could save.
These days you can insure your car for just a week. Find out more about weekly car insurance and if it’s worth it.
Are you borrowing a car for the day? Find out your options for getting one day car insurance and discover ways you could save on your temporary cover.