Temporary van insurance

When would I need temporary cover on my van?

Short-term van insurance can give you more time to arrange a long-term policy. You might also need to buy hourly, daily, or weekly temporary van insurance to:

Hourly van insurance:

• Test drive a new van
• Drive your new van home
• Transport large goods

One day van insurance:

• Move house in a borrowed van to save money on removals
• Borrow a van if yours is in the garage for repairs

Van insurance for a week:

• Only drive occasionally for work (you'd need to declare your van as legally off the road (SORN) while it's uninsured)
• Get your employees on the road instantly as a business owner. You could also see if our temporary business van insurance page might suit your business needs better.

What does temporary van insurance cover?

Temporary policies give you all the cover you’d get with annual van insurance.

Exactly what you’re covered for can differ from policy to policy, but most temporary insurance will cover you for:

• Theft if your van is stolen
• Repair or replacement costs if your van's damaged by fire, vandalism or an accident
• Claims from third parties
• Some personal belongings
• Driving in the EU
• Damage you inflict on a third party's property or their vehicle, even if you're at fault

Always read your policy thoroughly so you know exactly what it covers.

What are the pros and cons of temporary cover?

If you’re only driving a van occasionally or just one time, short-term van insurance could be cheaper and more flexible than standard annual cover. But there are pros and cons to any policy. For temporary van insurance, these include:

Pros

• Only pay for the cover you need
• Protected no-claims bonus on any other vehicles you own
• Arrange cover in minutes

Cons

• Less convenient than annual cover if you drive regularly
• Can be more expensive than an annual policy if you're buying it often

What do I need to get a temporary van insurance quote?

Here's what you'll need to get a quote:

Personal details

• Your name and address
• Your licence details
• Your intended van use - social and domestic or business
• Full payment details

Van details

• The van's registration plate
• How long you need cover for
• The date and time you want the cover to start

Can you get temporary van insurance for longer than a month?

Short-term policies typically last up to 28 days. But you can buy as many as you need. So if you need cover for multiple months in a row, you could buy another policy to start when the previous one ends.

But this may not be the most cost-effective way to get cover. If you think you'll be driving often, a standard van insurance policy might work better.