Temporary car insurance for non-UK residents

When should I get temporary car insurance in the UK?

If you’re only in the UK for a short time and need to use a car, temporary car insurance is a great way to only pay for the cover you need. It can be cheaper and less effort than being added to someone else’s car insurance policy, especially if you won’t be in the UK for a long time. 

Temporary car insurance is most beneficial to non-UK residents who are:

• Holidaying in the UK
• Borrowing a friend or family member’s car
• Borrowing a vehicle for temporary business use
• Driving to and from airports

You have the option of starting your cover immediately or delaying it by up to a month, and can choose the length of time you’re covered for.

What do I need to get temporary car insurance as a non-UK resident?

To get a temporary car insurance quote from Tempcover to cover you while you’re in the UK, you’ll need:

Personal details:

• Your name and date of birth
• The address you’re using in the UK
• The type of driving licence you have (Full EU, Full International, NI)

Car details:

• Details of the car you'd like to insure
• When you'd like the cover to start
• How much the car is worth - Tempcover doesn't cover cars worth less than £1500

Tempcover will compare temporary car insurance policies from their panel of insurers and show you the quote that best suits your needs.

Can I add a non-UK resident to my UK car insurance policy?

Yes - if you have an annual car insurance policy, you could add someone visiting from outside of the UK to your policy. But there are some things to be aware of

If you're adding someone to an existing policy, there may be a cost for mid-term changes. You could also see your insurance costs increase because non-UK residents are often seen by insurers as a greater risk.

If you've built up a no-claims bonus (NCB) on your policy, it may be affected if the named driver is in an accident and needs to make a claim. This is because the insurer will still have to pay out even though you weren't the one driving.

For a short term stay, it's worth weighing up whether temporary insurance might be a better option.

What do I need to do to use my existing car and cover in the UK?

If you're bringing a car to the UK that's already insured, you'll be able to drive it for up to 6 months with your existing cover. This limit applies to both a 6-month stay or shorter trips that add up to 6 months over a 12-month period. 

You should speak to your insurer to check what level of cover your policy includes. Typically insurers only provide third-party cover for driving in other countries as standard.

Third-party car insurance is the minimum you need to be legally allowed to drive on UK roads. But you might want to upgrade it to a comprehensive policy for more protection if you’ll be in the country for a longer period. 

You should also check with your insurer whether you’ll need a ‘green card’ to prove you have the necessary level of cover should you get into an accident. 

Once your 6 months have expired, you'll need to register your car in the UK and pay car tax. Once it's registered you need to switch to a UK car insurance policy. You can find more guidance on registering a non-UK car on GOV.UK.