Age
Younger drivers tend to pay the highest insurance bills as there’s more risk of them having an accident.
One day car insurance
Compare one day car insurance
What is one-day car insurance?
One-day car insurance is short-term cover that lets you drive a car legally for 24 hours. It’s a flexible option if you only need insurance for a single day, such as borrowing a car, taking a test drive, or moving house.
It’s different from temporary car insurance, which can last from a few days up to 12 weeks. Choosing one-day car insurance can be cheaper than paying for annual cover you don’t need, and it’s quick to arrange online.
How does it work?
Like an annual car insurance policy, one-day car insurance covers you for accidents, damage, or theft, depending on the level you choose. But:
It only lasts for 24 hours
You won’t earn a no-claims discount, unlike an annual policy
It’s a standalone policy so the main driver’s existing policy and no-claims discount won’t be impacted if you have an accident in their vehicle
There are usually age and licence requirements
When would I need one-day car insurance?
One-day car insurance is a good choice if you only need cover for 24 hours. It can be cheaper and more flexible than taking out an annual policy you won’t fully use.
It’s often useful when:
Borrowing a car from friends or family
Test driving a private car before buying
Hiring a car for a single day
Collecting or delivering a vehicle
If you need cover for longer, temporary car insurance could be a better fit. And if you’re driving often, a standard annual policy may work out more cost-effective.
Licence type | Percentage of customers |
|---|---|
UK Full Licence | 90.9%^ |
EU Licence | 2.8%^ |
International Driving Licence | 2.7%^ |
UK Provisional Licence | 2.6%^ |
UK Auto Licence | 1.0%^ |
Based on our data, customers looking for one-day insurance include provisional licence holders needing short-term cover, as well as people visiting the UK from abroad.
What does one-day car insurance cover?
Most one-day car insurance policies offer fully comprehensive cover which includes:
-
Theft and burglary
Your policy will cover the costs if your car is stolen or if belongings are taken from it (while locked).
-
Damage from accidents
Any damages that occur after an accident are included.
-
Fire damage
If your car is damaged in a fire, you’re covered.
-
Repairs
Any repairs needed for your car should also be included in your policy cover.
-
Medical expenses
You’ll be covered for medical costs up to a maximum limit.
-
Third-party liability
If someone else, or someone else’s property, is damaged, your policy will cover the costs.
How much does one-day car insurance cost?
The price of your policy will depend on lots of different factors including the following points:
-
-
Experience
If you’ve held a clean driving licence for a long period of time you may pay less.
-
Claims history
If you’ve made a claim before, your policy might be more expensive.
-
Type of car
Cheaper cars in lower insurance groups, which are easier to repair, tend to have lower premiums.
-
Profession
Your job, even if you don’t use your car for work, will impact the price you pay.
-
Where you live
Insurers will consider your postcode in relation to crime and accident rates.
What do I need to get a one-day car insurance policy?
To give you a quote for one day car insurance, you’ll need to provide the following information:
-
Age
You’ll need to enter your date of birth
-
Address
Where the car will usually be and your home address if this is different
-
Occupation
You’ll need to list your profession and tell an insurer if you’ll be using the car for work purposes.
-
Driving licence details
You’ll find these on your paper driving licence card.
-
Vehicle details
You’ll need to enter the vehicle’s registration and value, and whether you own the car or you’re borrowing it.
-
When you want the cover to start
You’ll also need to select the number of hours or days you want.
What extra features can I add to a one-day car insurance policy?
You should be able to add the following on to your policy for an extra fee:
-
European driving cover
If you’re planning a day trip to Europe. Check the small print to make sure you know which countries are covered.
-
Breakdown cover
Pays out for any repair costs if your car breaks down. You can get single trip breakdown cover separately, if you prefer.
-
Additional driver cover
If you need to you can add up to four additional drivers. But be aware that this could push up your premium significantly, depending on their risk profile.
We're 100% independent, working only for our customers
Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
By combining independence with our excellent technology, we can negotiate the best prices and the best value on products and services.
Based on 87,372 reviews
our customers rate us
4.7/5
Am I eligible for one day car insurance?
You’ll need to check with the insurer as eligibility can vary by:
Licence type: You’ll usually be required to have a UK driving licence and to have held it for certain length of time
Age: There may be a minimum and maximum driver age
Driving history: There may be restriction on number of claims and/or penalty points
There may also be car requirements such as:
Registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man
Market value: Less than £75,000
Number of seats: No more than seven, including the driver’s seat
Can I get car insurance for more than one day?
Yes, you can get insurance for more than one day if you need to. You can choose a short-term policy, a temporary policy, or even an annual policy depending on what you need.
Can I drive someone else’s car with one-day insurance?
Yes, you can drive someone else’s car with one-day insurance but only if you have their permission to do so. This means they don’t have to add you as a named driver to their car insurance policy and if you need to make a claim it won’t affect their policy either.
What is the difference between one day car insurance and temporary car insurance cover?
One-day car insurance is a type of temporary car insurance that provides cover for up to 24 hours whereas other types of temporary car insurance can cover you for up to 90 days.
If you have bought a one-day policy, you can usually extend it if you need to.
Can I have multiple drivers on a one day car insurance?
Yes, you can have multiple drivers on a one-day car insurance policy and this can be useful if you’re sharing the driving with another person. The insurer will tell you how many people can be insured and the cost for adding them.
Is one-day insurance cheaper than being added as a named driver?
It’s worth comparing quotes to see how much one-day insurance would cost you versus being added as a named driver on an existing policy.
Which one works out cheaper will usually depend on your risk profile. If you’re a young driver who is considered high risk it may be better to take out one-day insurance as it’s a separate policy and won’t affect the main driver’s premium.
Can provisional licence holders get one-day car insurance?
Yes, there are insurance providers who offer one-day car insurance for learner drivers.
It’s useful if you want to practise in your parents’ car, without being added as a named driver and affecting their no-claims bonus or causing their premium to rise.
But there will usually be:
Age restrictions (such as being aged 17-35)
Vehicle restrictions (such as a maximum value)
Residency requirements (you’ll need to be a UK resident)
Licence requirements (such as not having any penalty points)
You’ll also need to be supervised while driving.
Super save with MoneySuperMarket
You work hard to earn your money, and we don’t think you should waste a penny of it paying over the odds on your household bills. That’s why at MoneySuperMarket, we’re on a mission to save Britain money.
Whip your credit score into shape with Credit Score
Super save over and over again with Energy Monitor
There are always more ways to save with MoneySuperMarket
So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy something, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from.
You might be wondering if we work with all the companies in the market, or if our commercial relationships with our partners might make us feature one company above another. We’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to give you clear answers when it comes to questions like these, so we’ve pulled together everything you need to know on this page.
Reviewed on 12 Dec 2025 by
Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket to Thailand in 2025. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.
Robert
Azam Khan
Anonymous
Roger Pollard