Temporary car insurance for learner drivers
If you're driving someone else's car while learning, temporary or short-term car insurance policy is another option that might suit your needs.
If you only need car insurance for a month or a week, then just paying for what you need could save you money. You can use a temporary policy alongside any existing policy the car owner might have. Even if you have an accident and make a claim, it shouldn't affect the owner's policy or existing no-claims bonus.
Our trusted partner Tempcover is a leading provider of short-term car insurance. They compare fully comprehensive insurance policies from a range of insurers to help you find the cover you need. Flexible, short-term car insurance is available to drivers aged between 17 and 27.
Get a quoteHow do I get cheap learner driver insurance?
The cost of a provisional licence and professional lessons can be an expensive commitment.
Insurance companies base their policy prices on risk. That’s why learner drivers with little driving experience often struggle to find competitive insurance prices.
But there are ways that could help you save some money:
- Consider the car you drive
- Black box, or telematics
- Increase your voluntary excess
- Drive less miles
Consider the car you drive, if possible. Car insurance companies group all cars from 1-50 for insurance purposes. Generally, the higher the car insurance group, the more expensive your insurance is. Cars with more powerful engines, for example, are generally in higher insurance groups.
Black box, or telematics,is a type of policy that changes the price of your insurance based on how and when you drive. Your insurer tracks how you drive using an app or a device that’s plugged or installed in your car. They should reward safer driving with cheaper insurance. Telematics car insurance can be more affordable for young and inexperienced drivers.
Increase your voluntary excess. Voluntary excess is the amount you’re willing to pay towards repairs in event of a claim, this can help reduce the price of your insurance. But remember not to go for more than you could realistically afford to pay if you needed to make a claim.
Confused.com
- Save up to £445 on your car insurance*
- Plus choose a free gift with Confused.com Rewards**
It’s a win-win.
How to claim a reward
*Based on data provided by Consumer Intelligence Ltd, www.consumerintelligence.com (April '23). 51% of car insurance customers could save £445.29
**Single annual policy. Shell Go+ account required. Only one £10 fuel reward can be used per transaction and each can only be used on fuel purchases of £10 or over. HelloFresh 18+ subscription service. Geographical exclusions apply. T&Cs apply
Types of car insurance
Black box car insurance
lets you prove you’re a safe driver, and save money on your policy, even if you’re inexperienced or seen as high risk.
Classic car insurance
offers cover for owners of classic cars. For insurance purposes, a classic car can be any car that’s older than 15 years.
Business car insurance
covers you if you use your car for work, including travelling between offices or across the country.
Need more help?
Can I add a learner driver to my insurance?
Can more than one learner driver be on the same insurance policy?
Does learner driver insurance cover me for my driving test?
How has the driving test changed?
The driving test is regularly being updated to adapt to changes in driving technology and habits. In 2017, changes to the driving test included following directions from a sat nav. The independent driving part of the test also increased from 10 to 20 minutes.
Reversing around a corner is no longer part of the test, along with 'turn-in-the-road'. Instead you could be asked to do one of the following:
- Parallel park at the side of the road
- Pull up on the right-hand side of the road reverse for 2 car lengths and rejoin traffic
- Park in a bay- driving in and reversing out, or reversing in and driving out
The Highway Code is also under regular scrutiny. In January 2022, several Highway Code rules were changed including:
- Changes to the hierarchy of road users
- New rules around giving way to pedestrians
- Updated rules around overtaking cyclists and vulnerable road users
Can learner drivers drive at night?
Yes, learners can drive at night as long as you’ve got a qualified driver with you in the car. Some advanced driving courses like Pass Plus provide extra training for night driving. But it’s perfectly legal to do so while you’re still learning.
How often can named drivers use somebody else’s car?
It’s up to the owner of the car how often named drivers can use their car. From an insurance point of view, it’s important that the owner is the one who drives more. Insuring a younger inexperienced driver as a named driver and letting them drive it more than you is called car insurance fronting. This is illegal and could invalidate your policy.
Is learner driver insurance compulsory?
Is learner insurance the same as dual insurance?
No. Dual insurance is when you have 2 people being insured to drive the same car on 2 policies. This could be someone taking out a temporary car insurance policy instead of a single policy being used to insure a main driver and a named driver.
What are the benefits of learner driver insurance on my own car?
If you have a provisional licence you need learner driver insurance to drive your own car. The benefit is that you get to drive your car legally and aren’t at risk of being caught driving without insurance.
What are the benefits of learner driver insurance on a family car?
Access to a family car gives you more opportunity to practice driving and could reduce the number of lessons you need to shell out for. By using your own policy on a family member’s car, their all-important no-claims bonus isn’t affected if you need to claim.
What documents do I need to get a quote?
You won’t need to supply your insurer with specific documents to get a learner driver insurance quote. But you do need the details of your provisional driving licence to hand.
What happens with my learner driver insurance when I pass my driving test?
Your learner driver insurance isn’t valid once you’ve passed your test and have a full licence. You either need to get your insurer to update your policy or cancel it and get a new one. If you’ve taken your test in your own car, check that your instructor or another driver is covered to drive you home.
What’s the difference between learner driver insurance and provisional insurance?
These are 2 different names for the same policy. They cover learner drivers with provisional licences while they practice driving with a family member or friend.
Who can supervise a learner driver other than a driving instructor?
Anyone can supervise a learner driver, so long as:
- They’re over the age of 21
- They’ve held a full licence for at least 3 years
Will it affect the car owner’s no claim bonus if I claim?
No. One of the key benefits of taking out your own insurance to drive somebody else’s car is that their no-claims bonus isn’t affected if you need to claim.
What happens if a learner driver is caught driving alone?
It’s illegal for a learner driver to be alone on the road. You must be with a qualified driver at all times while you’ve still got your provisional licence.
If you’re caught driving alone, you could get a fine and points on your licence.
Car insurance guides

Is my car insured? How to check your car insurance
With car insurance auto-renewal, it can be confusing to know who you’re insured with. Or even if you’re insured at all. Here’s how you find out if your car has insurance.

Can I drive someone else’s car on my car insurance policy?
The ability to drive other cars on your policy isn’t something that’s always automatically included. In fact, not all providers even offer it.

Driving licence categories and codes
Working out what the driving licence codes and categories mean can be confusing. Here’s an explanation of some of the most common.

Top 10 cheapest cars to insure in 2022
We’ve scoured the market to identify some of the most appealing cars that combine stylish looks with performance – and affordability.

How to get cheaper car insurance
With insurance costs on the rise, here's how you can keep your prices down.

What happens if I don’t get car insurance?
Making sure you’re insured to drive doesn’t just protect you, it’s also a legal requirement.