Temporary van insurance

Find short term cover for your van in minutes

The average cost for a one day temp van policy is just £39*

  • Get instant cover if you need a policy to start immediately

  • Buy cover early, up to 28 days in advance

  • Flexible cover with no lengthy contracts

*Based on Confused.com data from Tempcover average policy purchase prices in August 2023.

What is temporary van insurance?

Temporary van insurance is a short-term, comprehensive insurance policy that protects you and your van for between 1 hour and 28 days.

Unlike standard van insurance, temporary policies give you comprehensive cover to drive a van, just for the period you need.

If you only drive a van occasionally, short-term van insurance is a great way to get comprehensive insurance protection when you need it.

How much does temporary van insurance cost?

Policy length Average cost1
1 hour
£18.43
1 day £39.12
1 week £119.61
22 days+ £289.09

*Based on Tempcover data August 2023.

Am I eligible for temporary van insurance?

To get temporary cover you must:

  • Be aged between 17 and 77
  • Hold a UK or EU driving licence
  • Have been a permanent UK resident for the last 12 months
  • Have no more than 7 points on your licence over the last 3 years
  • Have not been disqualified from driving
  • Have no more than 2 at fault claims in the last 3 years
  • Have no criminal convictions
  • Not had a previous insurance policy voided by an insurer

Your van must:

  • Be worth between £1,500 and £65,000
  • Be roadworthy and have a valid MOT (unless insurance is being arranged to get your van to a pre-booked MOT)
  • Be taxed (unless you're using the policy to immediately obtain tax after purchase)
  • Have no modifications, other than signage, roof racks, ply lining, interior storage or those designed to aid disabled drivers
  • Be right-hand drive
  • Have no more than 5 seats
  • Weigh no more than 7.5 tonnes

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 type of cover is available?

Depending on how you use it, you can insure your van for:

  • Social, domestic and pleasure use
  • Commuting, plus social, domestic and pleasure use
  • Carriage of own goods in connection with your business
  • Courier or haulage use

Find out more about the different classes of use for van insurance.

Who is Tempcover?

Tempcover is a leading provider of short-term van insurance and all policies compared through Confused.com are delivered by them. Working closely with Tempcover, we'll find you short-term cover for your van that will meet all of your needs, including any extras that you've selected.

Tempcover are rated as "Excellent" on Trustpilot after helping 1000's of customers secure short-term van insurance.

Tempcover logo

Compare temporary van insurance from up to 6 insurers with our partner Tempcover

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 isn't covered by temporary van insurance?

There are certain things that a temporary van insurance policy won't cover, including:

  • Driving other vehicles
  • Additional drivers
  • Fees for releasing the van from an impound
  • Damage to trailers towed by the van
  • Goods carried in or on the vehicle when courier use is selected

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.

What our van insurance expert says

"The great thing about temporary van insurance is that it's comprehensive cover that gives you the flexibility to get on the road when you need it. It's also a cheaper option than a standard van insurance policy, but the longer you take the short-term cover out for, the more expensive it becomes.

If you need cover for any extras, such as business use, you can add these to your policy when getting a quote."

Marc Pell, Managing Director at Tempcover
Managing Director | Tempcover Tempcover logo

Van insurance guides

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Page last reviewed: 4 October 2023

Reviewed by: Marc Pell

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.