Short-term car insurance gives you cover for a set period of time. It may prove cheaper than being added to someone else's policy, or adding another name to your own.
Why would I need short-term car insurance?
Short-term car insurance – also known as temporary car insurance – is useful in a number of situations, such as borrowing a friend's car, collecting a vehicle, or even for a private driving lesson.
You may need it for driving a new car out of the showroom, or for a long road trip where you'll take turns driving.
How does short-term insurance work?
Short-term car insurance generally runs from 1 to 28 days, though some policies cover for up to 90 days. You can get a quote online, and coverage starts almost as soon as you make your payment.
The vehicles that are eligible vary between insurers, though most will cover cars, bikes, and motorhomes worth up to £50,000.
Beyond personal use, most insurers won't give you short-term car insurance for transporting goods or passengers for a fee. And some won't cover larger vans or anything with more than 8 doors.
Who's eligible for short-term car insurance?
Most drivers aged between 18 and 75 will probably be eligible. Under 25s may need to find an insurer who specialises in cover for less experienced drivers.
It could be difficult to get short-term car insurance if you have points on your licence, or if you've made a number of insurance claims recently.
You must have a full or provisional UK driving licence and insurers should accept EU licences, though the premium will be higher.
Will short-term car insurance affect my no claims discount?
One of the advantages of short-term car insurance is that if you have to make a claim it won't affect your existing car insurance policy, and your no claims discount will remain the same.
Car owners who don't drive regularly may be tempted to stop their main car insurance and rely entirely on temporary insurance, but this would be illegal. If you don't plan to drive your car at all, tell the DVLA by making a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
If you're looking for temporary car insurance we can sort that for you today.
Author: The AA. Published 15 March 2018. Updated 23 August 2024.