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Temporary car insurance
Compare short term car insurance.
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What is temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance gives you short-term cover for driving a car from an hour up to 90 days. It’s a great option if you need to drive someone else’s car at short notice.
Most policies are fully comprehensive but different levels of cover are available for certain circumstances.
💡Top tip:
If you will be driving a car for several weeks, you should also look at annual car insurance quotes. It will sometimes be cheaper to pay for an annual policy even if you don't drive for the full year. Just remember to factor in cancellation fees.
What’s covered by temporary car insurance?
🚩 Details can vary between providers. Always check your policy documents to confirm your cover.
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What is usually covered?
Accidental damage to vehicle e.g. another car hits you from behind
Loss, theft, fire or vandalism e.g. your engine overheats and ignites
Third-party liability e.g. you accidentally scrape another car while parking
Personal accident e.g. you’re injured or killed in a road accident
Legal expenses e.g. you're sued for injuring another road user
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What isn't usually covered?
Loss of value after repair - the reduction in your car’s market value after an accident
Courtesy car - you won’t get a replacement vehicle if yours is damaged in an accident
Wear and tear - the normal deterioration that's expected over time
Unattended vehicle e.g. you leave your car with the engine running or the keys in the ignition and it’s stolen
When do I need temporary car insurance?
Short-term car insurance could be useful if you are:
Test driving a car
Learning to drive
Using a courtesy car
Sharing the driving with friends or family for a road trip
A university student who only drives a car in the holidays
Avoiding impacting the main driver’s no-claims bonus
💡Top tip: If you need cover for more than a few weeks, an annual policy will often work out cheaper.
Am I eligible for temporary cover?
What are the driver requirements for short-term car insurance?
To be eligible to take out short-term car insurance, the driver must meet the following criteria:
Aged between 17 and 75 years old
Valid full driving licence for at least three months if over 25 years old
Valid full driving licence for at least six months if under 25 old
Permanent UK address
No more than 1 accident, claim or loss in the past 3 years
No more than 6 penalty points in the past 3 years
No motoring offences with the conviction codes prefix DR,CD,DD, UT or DG in the past 5 years
No motoring offences with the conviction of fence code prefix NI or CU80 in the last 3 years
No unspent criminal convictions
Permission from the car's owner to drive the vehicle
What are the car requirements for short-term car insurance?
To be eligible for short-term car insurance, the insured car must meet the following criteria:
Registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man
Current market value of less than £75,000
No more than 7 seats, including the driver's seat
No Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs)
No hire or rental vehicles
No vehicles leased under any agreement lasting 12 months or less
No seized vehicles or vehicles that have been held in a police compound
Under 3.5 tonnes in weight
Engine size of 3999c or less
No engine modifications, body kits or alloy wheels – unless fitted at manufacture, or carried out for a disabled driver or passenger
Not be imported from another country through channels other than the maker's official distribution system
Can learner drivers get temporary insurance?
Yes, you can get temporary cover if you’re a learner driver.
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.
What's the difference between temporary car insurance and regular car insurance?
Short-term car insurance works the same way as a regular car insurance policy except:
You are insured for a shorter time period. Policies can be hourly but usually last between one and 28 days. Some policies will allow you to be insured for up to 90 days
After you make your payment, your cover can start as soon as you want and will end on your specified date
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
How long can I get temporary car insurance for?
There are hourly, daily, weekly and monthly short-term car insurance options:
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Hourly car insurance
15%* of customers take out temporary car insurance for 24 hours or less.
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Daily car insurance
68%* of customers take out temporary car insurance for between 1 and 7 days.
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Weekly car insurance
10%* of customers take out temporary car insurance for between 8 and 21 days.
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Monthly car insurance
7%* of customers take out temporary car insurance for between 22 and 28 days.
What affects the price of temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance premiums are tailored to your individual circumstances. Factors insurers take into consideration include:
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Your location
Some postcodes have higher rates of theft or vandalism
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Your occupation
Certain occupations are considered higher risk by insurers
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Your mileage
A higher mileage costs more; the longer you spend driving the more likely you are to claim
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Your driving history
This includes driving convictions and previous insurance claims
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The type of car you drive
Cars in higher insurance groups usually cost more to cover
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Your voluntary excess
A higher excess can mean cheaper prices (but makes it more expensive to claim)
Compare related car insurance products
Not sure if temporary car insurance is right for you? These other types of cover might work better:
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Low-mileage cover
Cover if you drive a short distance each year (less than 6,000 miles)
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Named driver cover
Allows more than one person to drive the same car under a single policy.
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Pay-as-you-go car insurance
Car insurance that charges you per mile
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Any driver van insurance
Allows more than one person to drive your van under the same policy, including for business use
Our expert says…
As the name suggests, short-term car insurance is an ideal solution if you need to borrow a family car, if you want cover for a business trip, or you’re test driving a car. It could be a cheaper alternative to an annual policy, especially if you only need the car for one day, for example.
However, it's worth noting that the cost of car insurance has been rising over the last year. What does this mean for those of us looking for a short-term car insurance policy? It's worth comparing quotes and considering whether you'd be better off taking out an annual policy or being a named driver on another vehicle.
Sara Newell Motor & Home Insurance Expert
Trusted Service Awards Winners
MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Why is short-term car insurance so expensive?
Short-term car insurance is generally more expensive per day than annual cover. Insurers see short-term policies as higher risk, and premiums reflect this. You’ll often find excess fees are higher, too.
Do I get short-term car insurance when buying a car?
You need to have some form of car insurance in place as soon as you collect your new car. It’s illegal to drive without at least third-party cover.
Temporary car insurance can give you immediate cover. It can also give you time to shop around and arrange a longer-term policy that suits your needs.
How long can you have temporary car insurance for?
It depends on the provider. Some insurers offer cover for just a day, while others allow up to 90 days if you hold a full UK licence.
A common time limit for temporary car insurance is 28 days.
How old do I have to be to get temporary car insurance?
Most providers require you to be aged 18 to 75 and to have held a valid full UK driving licence for 3-6 months.
However, specialist temporary insurance is also available for:
17-year-old drivers
Learner drivers
Drivers with international licences
Can I use temporary car insurance for business use?
Yes, some insurers allow business use on temporary policies. This can be cost-effective if you only use your car for work occasionally.
It’s also useful for companies who need to insure subcontractors to drive company vans, such as builders, plumbers, or roofers.
Can I drive abroad with temporary car insurance?
Yes, but check with your insurer. Some providers include basic European cover on short-term policies, while others only offer the legal minimum required in that country.
Since August 2021, UK drivers no longer need a Green Card to drive in most European countries (including the EU and EEA). You may still need one outside these areas, so always check before travelling.
If you’re hiring a car abroad, you’ll need hire car insurance instead.
Will a claim on my temporary car insurance policy affect my no-claims discount?
No. Claims made on a short-term car insurance policy won’t affect the no-claims discount (NCD) of either the driver or the car owner.
That’s because temporary policies are standalone policies, separate from annual cover.
Can I get temporary car insurance on a friend or family member’s car?
Yes, temporary insurance can cover you to drive someone else’s vehicle for a short period. This is useful if you’re sharing the driving on a trip or borrowing a car for a few days.
You’ll usually need to provide:
Your name and date of birth
Driving licence details
The car’s make and model
The exact dates you need cover
Remember: you must have the car owner’s permission before taking out a policy.
Can I get temporary car insurance on a car that's already insured?
Yes. Even if the car already has an annual policy in someone else’s name, you still need your own insurance to drive it legally.
A short-term car insurance policy in your name gives you legal cover without affecting the car owner’s annual insurance.
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Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
Is temporary car insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
No, at this time temporary car insurance is not an eligible product for unlocking our SuperSaveClub rewards.
It is also not included in our Price Promise.
Reviewed on 12 Dec 2025 by
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YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
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