Before you drive your new car home you are legally required to have car insurance, even for short distances.
If you drive uninsured you risk:
A fixed penalty of £300.
Six penalty points on your driving licence.
Your vehicle being seized.
Going to court and being disqualified from driving.
Drive away car insurance is a fast, short-term that gives you immediate cover and means you can drive home legally.
Drive away insurance is a type of temporary car insurance designed to cover you immediately after you’ve purchased a vehicle so you can legally drive it home.
The benefits of drive away insurance include:
Flexible policy lengths - you can get cover from 1 hour to 30 days typically.
Comprehensive cover usually.
Time to shop around for a longer-term annual policy.
No impact on your existing no-claims bonus as it’s standalone cover.
Drive away car insurance could be useful when:
You buy a new car from a dealer, private seller or at an auction.
You’re collecting a vehicle for a family member.
When you haven’t arranged or transferred an annual policy.
💡 Top tip: You can get drive away insurance even when you don’t own the car
Drive away car insurance typically costs from around £20 per day but prices will vary depending on your individual circumstances, including:
Your car’s make and model
How long you need cover for
Your claims history
Policies are typically fully comprehensive but details can vary between providers. Always check your policy documents to confirm your cover.
Accidental damage to your 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.
No named drivers.
Cover limited to the specified vehicle only.
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.
To be eligible for drive away insurance, providers typically require you to meet the following criteria:
Aged between 17 and 75 years old.
Valid full UK driving licence for at least three months if over 25 years old or six months if under 25.
Permanent UK address.
No more than one fault claim in the past year.
No more than 9 penalty points and no disqualifications in the past 18 months or 3 years.
No motoring offences with the conviction codes prefix DR, CD, DD, UT or DG in the past 3 years or 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.
Never been refused insurance or had a policy invalidated .
To be eligible for drive away insurance, the insured car usually needs to meet the following criteria:
Registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man.
Be roadworthy with a valid MOT (if your car is over 3 years old) - unless you’re going to a pre-booked MOT appointment.
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.
The criteria can vary by insurer so check carefully.
For an extra fee you, you can usually extend your drive away insurance to include:
If your car breaks down, breakdown cover provides assistance at the roadside to get your vehicle moving again.
This is particularly useful if you are buying an older vehicle which is more likely to suffer mechanical problems than a new one.
Personal belongings cover offers protection for your belongings in the event your car is broken into or stolen. But check whether you’re already covered under your home insurance.
Your drive away cover might only provide third-party European cover so you might want to upgrade. Check the small print for which countries are covered
Not all providers offer the same extras and if you have comprehensive cover some features may be standard so compare policies carefully.
Drive away insurance works well when you need instant cover but if you know the date you’re collecting your car in advance and have time to shop around before then you’re likely to find a better deal on an annual premium.”
Sara Newell Motor & Home Insurance Expert
Yes, major car dealerships often provide drive away insurance free of charge but it’s typically for a three-day or five-day period so if you think you’ll need longer it’s worth comparing drive away insurance quotes.
Drive away car insurance works by you:
Deciding how long you need cover for - anything from an hour to 30 days is usually possible
Comparing quotes
Getting instant cover so you can drive your new car home that day if you need to
Yes, it’s possible to drive your new car on your old insurance if you have driving other cars cover. However, this is usually only on a third-party basis (whereas drive away insurance is typically fully comprehensive) and it may be for emergencies only so check your policy wording carefully.
Yes, drive away insurance gives you cover instantly (unless you specify a different date) so you can drive your car straight away.
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Reviewed on 20 Mar 2026
