Daily insurance
You can choose the number of days you need insurance for, from one day onwards.
Temporary car insurance gives you short-term cover for driving a car. It allows you to get fast, flexible cover for as little one day, or up to several months. Most policies are fully comprehensive but there are other options available for certain circumstances. It’s a great option if you need to drive someone else’s car at short notice.
The terms for short-term car insurance work the same way as a regular car insurance policy. The difference is that short-term car insurance aims to insure drivers for a specific time.
Policies usually last from one to 28 days, although some policies will allow you to be insured for up to 90 days. After you make your payment, your coverage can start as soon as you want and will end on your specified date.
In short, there are daily, weekly and monthly insurance options. While some of our providers offer daily coverage for up to 28 days, others can provide you with cover over several months. Depending on your personal needs, you can get:
You can choose the number of days you need insurance for, from one day onwards.
You can get insurance for one week or more.
Some policies will cover you for more than four weeks.
The best type of car insurance for you depends on how long you need coverage. Here's a breakdown to help you make the right choice:
1 Day - 1 week
Temporary car insurance is ideal for short-term needs, such as one-off trips, short-term borrowing or test drives, you can even get cover just for 24 hours. A temporary policy can be quick and easy to arrange, includes comprehensive coverage, and has no impact on the owner's no-claims discount.
1 Month
Temporary car insurance can still be a good option for a month-long need. and can be ideal for longer-term borrowing, such as while learning how to drive, business use, car sharing or while waiting for repairs. It provides comprehensive coverage, is flexible to extend, and can be cost-effective for longer periods.
Longer-term needs: 3-6+ Months
For longer-term needs, getting a standard annual policy might be more practical and cost effective, even if you pay monthly.
Yes, with most providers, you can pay for short-term cover daily. This is ideal if you're unsure how long you'll need the insurance. Here's how the payment works:
Daily rate: You'll be charged a daily rate based on the vehicle, driver, and coverage details.
Flexible payment: You can extend the coverage if needed by paying for additional days.
Immediate payment: Payment is typically made upfront, covering the entire period of insurance.
Yes, new drivers can get one-day insurance. This can be particularly useful for a variety of scenarios including:
Picking up a new car: If you're buying a new car and need temporary coverage to drive it home.
Borrowing a car: When you need to drive a friend's or family member's car for a short period.
Test drives: If you want to test drive a car before deciding to purchase it, you will need valid insurance to legally drive in the UK.
Short-term use: For occasions like moving house, going on a road trip, or using a car while yours is being repaired.
One-day insurance offers flexibility and convenience for new drivers, ensuring you're covered for short-term needs without having to commit to a long-term policy.
To qualify for temporary motor insurance, you and your vehicle will usually need to meet the following requirements:
Be between 18 and 75 years old
Hold a valid full driving license for at least six months (or three months if over 25 years old)
Have a permanent address
No more than one fault claim in the past 12 months
No more than nine penalty points or any disqualifications in the past 18 months
No motoring offences in the past three years with the Conviction Offence Code prefixes DR, CD, DD, UT or DG
No motoring offences in the last six months with the Conviction Offence Code prefix IN or CU80
No unspent criminal convictions
Have never been refused insurance or had a policy cancelled
Have permission from the owner to drive the vehicle
Must be registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man
Have a current market value of less than £75,000
No more than eight seats (including the driver's seat)
Not a type of Heavy Goods Material (HGV)
Not a Hire or Rental vehicle, or leased under an agreement lasting 12 months or less
Not a seized vehicle or in a police compound
Is not over 3.5 Tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
Has an engine size no bigger than 3999c
No engine modifications, body kits or alloy wheels – unless fitted at manufacture, or carried out for a disabled driver or passenger
Not important from another country through channels other than the maker's official distribution system
A typical short term motor insurance policy will usually cover the following:
Loss, theft, fire or vandalism
Third-party liability
Personal accident
Legal expenses
Loss of value after repair
Courtesy car
Wear and tear
Unattended vehicle
Temporary breakdown cover
Temporary car insurance in Europe
Excess protection
Your chosen insurer will consider a range of other factors so they can calculate how much of a risk you represent and charge you accordingly:
Some postcodes have higher rates of theft or vandalism
Certain occupations are considered higher risk by insurers
The longer you spend on the road the more likely you are to make a claim
This includes driving convictions and previous insurance claims
Cars in higher insurance groups usually cost more to cover
A higher excess can mean cheaper premiums but be sure you can afford the excess amount
A higher excess can reduce premiums but be sure to choose an excess amount you can afford in the event of a claim.
For a short time period, you may not need additional add-ons to your policy.
Choosing between different levels of coverage can affect the price:
Fully comprehensive: Offers the highest level of protection, but usually at a higher cost.
Third-party only: Covers damage to other vehicles and property, while it is less cover, it is currently more expensive than comprehensive cover.
Third-party, fire and theft: Adds protection against your car being stolen or damaged by fire, and is priced in between third-party only and comprehensive.
You may be able to get your premiums lowered if you are driving fewer miles as some providers offer low mileage discounts.
Only insure yourself for the period you need to avoid paying for unused days.
A more experienced driver is likely to get lower premiums. Unfortunately if you are a young driver there is nothing you can do in this area however, a clean driving record can also help you get cheaper temporary car insurance.
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 Commercial Director
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.
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Based on your criteria, we'll search the market to offer you the best deals for policies at competitive prices
Simply click through to your chosen provider when you're ready and get covered the same day
We're so confident that we'll find you the cheapest car insurance deal with MoneySuperMarket, that we're making a price promise to you. If you find the same car insurance policy for cheaper elsewhere, not only will we refund the difference, we'll also give you a gift card worth up to £20!4
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One-day car insurance is a type of short-term car insurance, which allows drivers to be covered for up to 24 hours.
It's slightly different to temporary car insurance, which can cover you for longer, usually up to 12 weeks. It should work out cheaper than taking out annual cover if you don’t need insurance for the full year and it's quick and easy to organise.
Short-term car insurance is usually more expensive than if you pay annually. That’s because you pay day by day and the excess fee can often cost more, too.
Driving a vehicle without insurance is against the law, so you will need some sort of car insurance policy if you are buying a car.
Temporary car insurance can give you short-term cover when you first buy your car – this gives you time to shop around to find an insurance provider that suits your needs.
This depends on the provider, but some offer up to 84 days if you have a full license.
If you've passed your test and have held a valid full UK licence for at least six months, you usually need to be aged between 18 and 75 to get a policy.
You can also get temporary car insurance if you have an international licence, you're a learner driver, or aged 17 years old.
You can tax your vehicle with a temporary policy. You can either do this online via the DVLA website or at a local post office, you just need the temporary insurance documentation you’ve been sent.
Yes, and you may find it a more cost-effective option than adding business use all-year round if you only occasionally use your car for work.
Temporary car insurance can also be useful for businesses including builders, plumbers, and roofers if they want to get cover for subcontractors to drive the work van.
If you are taking your car to Europe, you can ask your insurance provider to cover you on your existing policy.
In some cases you can also get temporary cover for driving your own car, a borrowed vehicle or if you’re sharing the driving of a friend’s vehicle. Make sure you check the policy and level of cover before committing. Some providers offer the minimum cover required by law in that country, rather than fully comprehensive cover.
If you want to hire a car, you’ll need hire car insurance instead.
Now that we’ve left the EU, you have to carry a Green card to drive in Europe. Find out more about driving in Europe after Brexit.
No, if you need to claim on your short-term car insurance, it won’t affect your no-claims discount.
A short-term insurance policy is a standalone policy, so any claim for the driver will be met by the short-term policy and not the car owner’s annual insurance policy. This means that the no-claims discount of both the driver and car owner would not be affected in the event of an incident.
Yes, you can become a named driver on another policy, so you can drive a family member’s or friend’s car or lend them yours. Consider things like cover, cost and convenience to see which option is best for you.
Yes, you can get temporary car insurance on someone else's car for a short time. It can be a good option if you're car sharing for a trip or you need to borrow their car for a while. If you want to get insurance on another car, you'll need to provide:
Your name
Date of birth
Driving licence information
The make and model of the car you will be driving
The exact dates you need coverage for
You need to ensure you have the car’s legal owner’s permission for you to get insured on their vehicle. You can purchase your temporary car insurance through MoneySuperMarket’s comparison tool.
Yes. Even if a car is insured under someone else’s name, it doesn’t mean you are legally allowed to drive it. If the car is insured and you would like to drive it, you should get a temporary car insurance policy in your name.
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