When would I need short-term car insurance?
There are many situations where temporary car insurance could be useful:
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Test driving a new car. Car dealerships sometimes have cover in place already, but if you’re test driving a privately-owned car you’ll need a valid car insurance policy.
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Buying a new car. If you’ve just bought a car and need to get it home, drive away insurance can cover you until you get an annual policy sorted.
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Moving home. You might decide you need to borrow a larger car or van if you're moving home. Temporary insurance can make sure you have the cover you need.
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Sharing the driving on long trips. A temporary car insurance policy lets you share the driving if you’re taking a long trip or a weekend away with friends or family.
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Waiting on repairs. This could be useful if your car is in the garage and you need to insure a friend or family's car while you wait.
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Borrowing a car. For young drivers who don’t have their own car but have access to a friend or relative’s car.
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Emergency use. Get covered straight away if you need your policy to start immediately.
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Students away at university. Temporary insurance can mean students away at uni can share the driving and use each others’ cars.
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Impounded cars. Some standard policies don’t cover impounded vehicles. Impound insurance lasts for 30 days, allowing you to get your car released.
To get temporary car insurance the car being insured must have up-to-date tax and MOT.
What isn't covered by temporary car insurance?
There are certain things that aren't included in a temporary car insurance policy. These include:
- Driving vehicles other than those listed on the policy
- Additional drivers
- Claims that happen outside of the stated use of the car
- Courtesy cars
- Unattended vehicles
Driving other vehicles. You only have short-term cover for the car that’s listed under the policy. If you want to drive another car or van, consider a 12-month insurance policy.
Additional drivers. Cover is only for the person officially named on the temporary car insurance policy.
Claims that happen outside of the stated use for the car. You can only use the car for the purpose you listed in the policy details. If you didn’t include business use in your policy and go on to use your car for business, you aren't covered for any claims.
Courtesy cars. Temporary car insurance doesn't automatically transfer to a vehicle supplied to you by a garage while your own car is being repaired or serviced (although it might be available as an add-on to the policy).
Each insurer has their own eligibility criteria and so policies may differ. Please check your policy details for a full list of what's covered and any exclusions.
How much does temporary car insurance cost?
The average prices for one day and one week are1
One day
£35
One week
£101
1Based on Confused.com data from Tempcover average policy purchase prices in December 2022.
Your own costs will depend on:
- Your age
- Your driving experience
- The car you want to insure
- How long you'll need short-term cover for
The easiest way to get an idea of how much it'll cost is to get a quote.
Need more help?
How old do I have to be to get temporary car insurance?
You need to be 18 or above to get temporary car insurance. If you have a provisional licence you can get a learner driver temporary policy from 17 years of age.
What is one day car insurance?
One day insurance provides you with the short-term cover you need. It also spares you the hassle and cost of committing to a longer-term policy. This is useful if you need to borrow somebody else’s car or let someone drive yours.
How does temporary car insurance affect an existing insurance policy?
Short-term cover shouldn’t impact your existing policy. That’s as long as the details you provide are correct and you’re driving within the arranged policy start and end date.
If the policy is valid, any accidents that happen should be covered by the temporary car insurance policy.
This shouldn't affect any existing no-claims bonus you or the car owner hold, but you will have to declare any claims or accidents when getting a new policy, or renewing in the future. You must always disclose any claims or accidents when getting future cover.
Can I get weekly car insurance?
Yes, you can get temporary car insurance cover for a week. When you get a quote, you can select the policy cover length you want and you’re good to go.
Can I use temporary car insurance to drive in Europe?
Yes, you can get temporary car insurance to drive in Europe. Although the UK has left the EU, you don't need to carry an insurance green card with you when driving in the EU. You might still need a green card if you're travelling in a non-EU country, though.
If you have an existing car insurance policy, you might already have some level of cover for driving in Europe. It’s worth checking with your provider to find out the details.
Do I need to let the existing insurer know?
No. As long as you have the car owner’s permission to use the car, you’re good to go.
Are there any restrictions to temporary car insurance?
Exact restrictions can vary between insurers. Generally, to be a driver you must confirm that you:
- Haven’t been disqualified from driving or had your licence cancelled in the last 2 years
- Have never been refused insurance or had a policy cancelled or voided
- Have no criminal convictions or pending prosecutions
- Have had no more than 7 penalty points on your licence in the last 3 years
- Have had no more than 2 accidents, claims or losses in the last 3 years regardless of blame
You also need to confirm that the car:
- Has a valid MOT, unless you’re using the policy to attend a pre-booked MOT - and hasn’t been declared as SORN
- Hasn’t been modified, unless designed to aid disabled drivers
- Has valid car tax, unless you’re using the policy to buy the car tax immediately after taking out a policy
Can I tax a vehicle with temporary car insurance?
Yes, you can tax a vehicle with a temporary car insurance policy. You do it the same way as you would with a 12-month policy. Either online through the DVLA website or through your local Post Office.
What types of vehicle can I insure?
You should be able to get temporary car insurance cover for most vehicles. We also offer temporary van insurance if you need cover for something slightly bigger.
Will I be covered for business use?
Policies cover you to use your vehicle for social and domestic use, as well as commuting to and from a permanent place of work.
Some policies may include additional cover such as class 1 business use which can help when travelling to multiple places of work, such as for meetings or site visits. Once you get your quote, check the insurer's declaration to see what is and isn’t included, as exact cover varies depending on your insurance provider.
Can new drivers get short-term cover?
Yes, but you need to have held a full UK licence for a minimum of six months to get a temporary insurance policy and be aged between 17 and 78.
What our expert says
One of the most common uses for a temp policy is drive away insurance once you've bought a new car. Instead of committing to a 12-month policy while also deciding if it's the right car for you, getting a short-term policy for a few days means you can take your time to properly research your insurance options.
Car insurance product manager
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