Temporary car insurance for an hour, a day or a month, not a year
Borrowing a friend's car, sharing a long drive, collecting a car you've just bought? Temporary cover insures you from 1 hour up to 28 days, starts instantly, and keeps the owner's no claims discount out of harm's way.
- Fully comprehensive cover from 1 hour to 28 days
- Cover starts instantly, added to the Motor Insurance Database
- The car owner's no claims discount stays protected
- Drivers aged 19 to 75 accepted
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Temporary cover at a glance
What you get
- Fully comprehensive cover, from 1 hour up to 28 days
- Cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes
- Vehicles up to £65,000 in value
- Instant cover: your details go straight to the Motor Insurance Database
- Social, domestic, pleasure and commuting use
- Extend online any time, up to 28 days in total
What's not covered
- Imported, left-hand-drive or heavily modified vehicles
- Vehicles with more than 7 seats (5 for commercial vehicles)
- Racing, track days, hire and reward, or motor trade use
- Vehicles that are SORN, seized by police, or without a valid MOT
- Journeys abroad: trips must start and end in the UK
If your car has been seized by the police, temporary cover won't get it released; that needs our impounded car insurance instead.
What temporary cover is actually for
Temporary car insurance is a separate short-term policy in your own name, covering you to drive a car you don't normally drive. The classic cases: borrowing a friend or family member's car, sharing the driving on a long trip, test driving before you buy, delivering a car you've sold, collecting one you've bought, borrowing a van for moving day, or a young driver home from university who needs the family car for a fortnight.
The alternative, being added as a named driver on the owner's annual policy, costs money to arrange and puts their no claims discount on the line if you have an accident. With temporary cover, any claim lands on your policy, not theirs. Their discount is untouched, and you only pay for the hours or days you actually need.
How the cover works
Policies are fully comprehensive as standard, for drivers aged 19 to 75 (21 to 75 for commercial vehicles). We cover cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with a maximum value of £65,000. Cover starts instantly: your details are submitted to the Motor Insurance Database, which is updated three times a day, so the police can verify you're insured. We'd still recommend carrying a copy of your certificate during the cover period.
Choose anything from 1 hour to 28 days, and if plans change, extend through your online account at any time, up to the 28-day maximum. Need longer than that? Call us on 01323 416706 and we'll talk through an annual policy instead.
The rules worth knowing before you buy
Temporary cover is deliberately simple, which means the eligibility rules are firm. Check these before you quote:
- The vehicle needs a valid MOT and must not be declared SORN
- Imported, left-hand-drive and heavily modified vehicles aren't eligible
- Maximum 7 seats for cars, 5 for commercial vehicles
- Use is social, domestic, pleasure and commuting, not hire and reward, motor trade, racing or track days
- Journeys must start and end in the UK
- Non-UK residents and visitors can often be covered, sometimes with extra requirements; call 01323 416706 to check
From enquiry to insured in three steps
Tell us what you need
Fill in the two-minute form with the cover you're after and when to call you, or ring us directly on 01323 416706.
We search our panel
Our brokers match your details against a panel of UK insurers and call you back at your chosen time with the options and prices.
Covered the same day
Happy with a quote? We arrange the policy there and then, and email your documents the same day.
Questions drivers actually ask
Straight answers from the team that arranges this cover every day. Anything else? Call 01323 416706 and a human will pick up.
See all FAQsHow quickly can I get temporary car insurance?
Cover starts instantly. Give us your details, the vehicle registration and how long you need, anything from 1 hour to 28 days, and the policy is issued immediately. Your details are submitted to the Motor Insurance Database, which is updated three times a day, so we recommend carrying a copy of your certificate during the cover period.
Who is temporary car insurance for?
Anyone who needs to drive a car they don't normally drive, for a short time. Borrowing a friend's or family member's car, sharing the driving on a long trip, collecting or delivering a vehicle, test driving before buying, borrowing a van for moving day, using a courtesy car, or a young driver home from university who needs the family car.
Does temporary cover protect the owner's no claims discount?
Yes, it's the main reason people choose it. Your temporary policy is completely separate from the owner's annual insurance, so any claim is made on your policy, not theirs. Their no claims discount is fully protected, which being a named driver on their policy can't guarantee.
What vehicles are eligible?
Private cars and light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, with a maximum value of £65,000. The vehicle needs a valid MOT, must not be SORN, and can't be imported, left-hand-drive or heavily modified. Vehicles with more than 7 seats (5 for commercial) aren't eligible, and neither is a vehicle that's been seized by police.
Can I extend my temporary policy?
Yes. If you need the car for longer than planned, extend through your online account at any time. The maximum total duration is 28 days. If you need longer than that, call us on 01323 416706 and we'll look at an annual policy for you.
I'm not a UK resident. Can I still get cover?
Often, yes. Anyone driving on UK roads must be insured, and non-UK residents and visitors can usually arrange temporary cover, though there may be additional requirements. Call the team on 01323 416706 and we'll check your eligibility and options.
Only pay for the time you need
From 1 hour to 28 days, fully comprehensive, cover starting instantly. Two minutes on the form and we'll call you back.