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Short Term Car Insurance

Temporary Car Insurance for drivers aged 17 to 75

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Short Term Car Insurance is ideal for occasional drivers, learners, or those who need to make a one-off journey. It is available for both cars and vans, and is fully comprehensive for complete peace of mind.

Temporary Car Insurance can be a great option because it is often more cost-effective than being added as a named driver onto an existing Car Insurance policy. Plus, it also protects the car owner’s no claims bonus.

It is also very useful if you are borrowing a vehicle that you don’t usually drive, such as a van. This means that you can transport a bulky item or your belongings when moving house.

Key benefits

  • Temporary Car Insurance for cars and vans
  • Cover for 1 hour to 28 days (except learners)
  • Fully comprehensive
  • Cover for learners aged 17-25 (1 hour to 24 weeks)
  • Short-term Van Insurance for drivers aged 21-75
  • Cover for vehicles valued from £500 to £60,000 (limitations apply)

Short Term Car Insurance FAQs

Can you get Short Term Car Insurance?

Short Term Car Insurance in the UK is available for learners, students home for a holiday or anyone who needs to do a bit of driving for a short period of time.

The length of cover you arrange can be as short as an hour. Alternatively, you can extend the cover for up to 28 days if you’ve passed your driving test or 24 weeks if you’re still learning. This flexibility means you can choose the timeframe that best suits your needs.

We’ve partnered with GoShorty.co.uk to make the process as easy as possible.

Why would I need Short Term Car Insurance in the UK?

There are lots of times when Temporary Car Insurance could come in handy.

Perhaps you need to hire a van to pick up a piece of furniture. Or maybe you are a student who needs to borrow a parent’s car while you’re back at home during university holidays.

You could also be a learner driver who would like to do a bit of extra practise outside your lessons. In this case, having short-term cover in place will allow you to drive another car (with supervision!) before you pass your test.

What are the benefits?

Temporary Car Insurance is a flexible and cost-effective solution should you need to drive a car or van for a short period of time. You can choose a timeframe that suits your needs, without having to go through the hassle and cost of being added as another named driver on someone’s vehicle. 

Fast to arrange, it will also protect the no claims bonus of whoever’s vehicle you will be using.

Can I get Short Term Car Insurance for new drivers?

Yes, you can. 

We can provide fully comprehensive policies for new drivers from age 18. This can be as short as 1 hour to 28 days.

Find out more about Insurance for Young and New Drivers.

Is there Short Term Learner Car Insurance?

Yes, we do provide Short Term Learner Car Insurance.

We know that some learners like to get in a little extra practise, which means being able to take a friend or family member’s car out for a supervised spin. We therefore offer Short Term cover for those aged 17 to 25. 

This is fully comprehensive and can range from just 1 hour to up to 24 weeks.

Is Short Term Car Insurance for students available?

Of course! If you’re a student home for the holidays, you can take out our Temporary Car Insurance for those aged under 21. This will enable you to drive a family member or friend’s car while you are home. In even better news, this temporary insurance will not affect the car owner’s no claims bonus.

Find out more about Insurance for Young and New Drivers.

What is the minimum age for a Short Term Car Insurance policy?

This depends on the type of Short Term Car Insurance policy you need.

If you are looking for Learner Driver Car Insurance, the minimum age is 17. 

However, if you need a policy for driving a private car after you’ve passed your test, you will need to be at least 18 years old. This rises to 19 if you are intending to drive a car for business reasons.

For Short Term Van Insurance, you need to be at least 21 years old.

Can I get one-hour Car Insurance?

Yes, you can!

Sometimes we need to run a quick errand, or there’s an emergency and you need to get somewhere quickly. In this case, getting Hourly Car Insurance can be ideal. 

Once purchased, your insurance documents will be emailed to you for instant cover. Alternatively, you may be given a cover note.

Read more: What is a cover note?

What is the policy excess?

The policy excess for Short Term Car Insurance depends on several risk factors. These include your age, the type of licence you have, how long you have had it for and the type of vehicle you are driving.

Can I get Short Term Car Insurance for driving in Europe?

No, you can’t. To be insured with one of our policies you must stick to journeys within the UK.

Who is eligible for Short Term Car Insurance?

Your eligibility for Short Term Car Insurance depends on whether you are looking at a policy for learners and whether you are going to be driving for personal use or for work.

For a Short Term Learner Driver Insurance policy, you will need to be:

  • Aged 17 to 25
  • Hold a UK provisional driver’s licence
  • Have no claims, whether they were your fault or not
  • Without penalty points
  • Resident in UK for at least 12 months
  • Have a permanent address
  • Without any policy cancellations or refusals
  • Without a criminal offence or any possible pending prosecution
  • Supervised by a suitable person aged over 25

If you have a full driver’s licence, you will need to be:

  • Aged 18 to 75 to drive for personal use or 19 to 75 to drive for business purposes
  • Have a current permanent address
  • Without any policy cancellations or refusals
  • Without a criminal offence or any possible pending prosecution
Is this the same as Driveaway Insurance?

Driveaway Insurance is a type of Short Term Car Insurance. It is designed so that you can drive a newly purchased vehicle back to your home or business. Once purchased, Driveaway cover is immediate.

But Short Term Car Insurance doesn’t have to just cover these kinds of trips. It can also be used so that students can drive during the holidays, you can share the driving on a long trip or practise your driving skills outside of your lessons.

How much is Temporary Car Insurance?

The cost of Temporary Car Insurance will depend on several factors. This includes:

  • How long you want the policy
  • How old you are and your driving experience
  • The vehicle you are intending to drive

To get a quote online, visit our partners at GoShorty.co.uk.

To get a Short Term Car Insurance quote online, visit our partners at GoShorty.co.uk.

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