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Temporary car insurance

Get short-term car insurance for one day, week or month

The average cost for a one day temp policy is just £35*

  • Get a quote in less than 2 minutes

  • Fully comprehensive cover

  • Flexible insurance with no lengthy contracts

*Based on Confused.com data from Tempcover average policy purchase prices in December 2022.

What is temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance gives you short-term cover for driving a car. You can get insurance quickly for as little as one hour to 28 days. It’s a great solution for emergencies or when you need to borrow someone else’s car at short notice.

You need to have held a full UK licence, or provisional if you're a learner for a minimum of 6 months, and be aged 17 to 78 to qualify for a 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. You also won't have to worry about notifying the existing insurer as long as you have the permission to use the car.

It also 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.

When would I need short-term car insurance?

There are many situations where temporary car insurance could be useful:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Borrowing a car. For young drivers who don’t have their own car but have access to a friend or relative’s car.
  • Emergency use. Get covered straight away if you need your policy to start immediately.
  • Students away at university. Temporary insurance can mean students away at uni can share the driving and use each others’ cars.
  • 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 are the benefits of temporary car insurance?

 Some of the benefits of temporary car insurance include:

  • Instant cover
  • Comprehensive cover as standard on all policies
  • Flexible cover with insurance from 1 hour up to 28 days
  • Cover up to 28 days in advance
  • No risk to yours or the car owner's existing no-claims bonus
  • No lengthy contracts, once the policy ends, that's it.
  • Can cover driving in Europe

We also provide temporary van insurance with the same benefits.

But if you you want to take out standard cover, look for the best annual car insurance policy.

Compare temporary car insurance quotes

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. A business car insurance or a temporary business car insurance policy would mean you're covered for this type of work.

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 to get temporary car insurance

You can get covered in 4 steps:

  • We'll compare up to 7 companies with our partner Tempcover to find you the right policy at the right price.
  • We'll show you our single best price, which we think is best suited for your needs.
  • Once you’ve bought your policy, you’ll get an email confirming everything, including when the policy starts and ends.
When the policy ends, that's it. If you need more cover, you can just buy another policy.

What do I need to get a short-term car insurance quote?

To get a temporary car insurance quote you’ll need:

Personal details:
  • Your name and address
  • Details of your licence and driving history
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

Bear in mind to get a quote and purchase a policy, there are some requirements for you and your car. 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
  • Is worth more than £1500

Compare temporary car insurance quotes

Tempcover

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.

Get a quote.

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?

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.

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.

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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.

Confused.com's temporary cover solution is provided by Tempcover LTD. Tempcover LTD are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 746985. Tempcover LTD is registered in England No. 9923259 at office: 2nd floor, Admiral House, Harington Way, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 4BB. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives a percentage of commission received by Tempcover LTD.