Short Term Car Insurance
Compare Temporary Car Insurance Quotes
Buy temporary car insurance from 1 hour to 28 days from UK insurers.
Compare insurance quotes from the UK’s leading temporary car insurance providers including:
What Is Temporary Car Insurance?
Temporary car insurance is short-term cover that lets you legally insure a vehicle for a fixed period, such as as one hour, one day, or up to several weeks, instead of buying an annual policy.
Temporary policies are designed for specific situations where you only need cover briefly. This might include borrowing a car, driving a newly purchased vehicle home, or covering a short gap between annual policies.
Most temporary policies provide comprehensive cover for the named driver and listed vehicle only. Once active, the policy is recognised as valid UK insurance and is usually recorded on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). The cover ends automatically when the selected duration expires.
How Does Temporary Car Insurance Work?
Temporary car insurance works by letting you buy fully valid cover for a set nuimber of hours, days, or weeks, without taking out an annual policy.
Most drivers arrange temporary cover online in minutes. You enter the vehicle details, choose how long your need insurance for, and select a policy that starts at your chosen time.
Once confirmed, the cover applies only for the selected duration and ends automatically when the time runes out.
Enter your details
Provide the driver’s information and the vehicles registration.
Choose when cover starts
Select your start time and how long you need insurance for, from 1 hour to several weeks.
Confirm and get insured
Complete your payment online* and receive confirmation once your cover is active.
Policies are arranged by GoShorty, a specialist temporary insurance provider, in partnership with SimplyQuote.
When Do You Need Temporary Car Insurance?
You may need temporary car insurance when you only need to driver a vehicle for a short time, such as for a day, a weekend, or a one-off journey, without taking out an annual policy.
Temporary cover is designed for specific situations where short-term insurance is more practical than changing an existing policy or arranging full-year cover.
Borrowing a car
If you need to drive a friend or family member’s vehicle briefly.
Driving a new car home
Cover for collecting a newly purchased car before arranging annual insurance.
One-off journeys
Useful for short trips where you do not need long-term cover.
Between insurance policies
A simple way to cover short gaps when switching providers.
Test drives or short-term use
Insurance for situations where a vehicle only needs to be driven briefly.
Emergency last-minute driving
Cover when you unexpectedly need to get on the road quickly.
Temporary policies are usually designed for named drivers only and end automatically when they selected duration expries.
What Does Temporary Car Insurance Cover?
Most temporary car insurance policies provide comprehensive cover for the selected period, including protection for damage to the insured vehicle and third-party liability.
The exact level of cover can vary between insurers, so it’s important to check the policy details before buying.
Temporary cover usually includes:
Third-party liability
Cover for injury or damage caused to other people, vehicles, or property.
Damage to the insured vehicle
Protection if the vehicle is damaged in an accident, subject to excess.
Fire and theft
Cover if the vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire during the insured period.
Legal UK road use
Valid insurance to drive on UK roads once the policy is active.
What’s Not Included with Temporary Car Insurance?
Temporary car insurance is designed for short-term personal use and usually comes with limits that differ from annual policies.
Cover details vary between insurers, but there are common restrictions to be aware of before buying.
Temporary policies usually do not include:
Automatic renewal
The policy ends when the selected time expires and does not renew.
Additional drivers
Cover normally applies only to the named driver.
Business or commercial use
Most policies are for social, domestic and commuting use only unless stated otherwise.
High-value or heavily modified vehicles
Some cars may not qualify for short-term cover.
Driving abroad
Cover is usually limited to UK road use unless EU travel is specifically included.
How Much Does Temporary Car Insurance Cost?
Temporary car insurance costs vary depending on the driver, the vehicle, and how long you need cover for, with prices typically starting from around £15–£25 for very short-term policies.
Short-term insurance is priced individually, so the cost of cover for one hour, one day, or one week can differ significantly between insurers.
The quickest way to see an accurate price is to compare quotes based on your exact details, as factors like age, location, vehicle type, and driving history all affect the premium.
Typical temporary insurance starting prices (examples)
| Policy duration | Starting price* |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | From £16 |
| 1 day | From £22 |
| 3 days | From £29 |
| 1 week | From £30 |
| 2 weeks | From £22 |
*Prices are examples only and will vary depending on the driver, vehicle, insurer, and eligibility.
Vehicle and Driver Eligibility
Temporary car insurance is available for many UK drivers, but eligibility depends on insurer rules around the driver, the vehicle, and the type of cover needed.
Most temporary policies are designed for standard cars used for social and domestic driving. Some vehicles and driver profiles may not qualify, especially for very short-term or immediate-start cover.
Vehicle Eligibility (Typical requirements)
Temporary cover is usually available for vehicles that are:
- UK-registered and road legal
- Standard cars or vans (up to 3.5 tonnes)
- Not heavily modified or high-performance
- Within insurer value limits (often up to £60,000–£65,000)
- Covered for social, domestic and commuting use
Temporary insurance is not normally available for hire vehicles, motor trade use, track driving, or impound release unless arranged separately.
Driver Eligibility (common criteria)
Most insurers require drivers to:
- Be aged roughly 19 to 75
- Hold a UK or EU/EEA driving licence
- Have a permanent UK address
- Have no serious recent driving convictions
- Have no history of cancelled or refused insurance
What Should You Check Before Buying Temporary Car Insurance?
Before buying temporary car insurance, you should check the cover level, excess amount, driver restrictions, and any exclusions, as short-term policies can vary between insurers.
Temporary insurance is designed to be flexible, but not all policies offer the same terms. Taking a moment to review the key details helps ensure the cover is suitable for your specific situation.
Key things to check before you buy
- Cover type
Most temporary policies are comprehensive, but always confirm what is included. - Excess amount
Short-term policies can come with higher excesses than annual insurance. - Driver age limits
Some insurers only offer cover to drivers over a certain age. - Vehicle restrictions
High-performance, imported, or modified cars may not be eligible. - Usage limits
Temporary cover is usually for social, domestic and commuting use, not business or commercial driving. - Start time and duration
Make sure the policy begins when you need it and lasts for the full period required.Temporary car insurance is fast to arrange, but checking the small details upfront helps avoid unexpected exclusions later.
Temporary car insurance works best for genuine short-term needs. Drivers should check eligibility rules carefully, as age limits, vehicle restrictions and excess levels can vary significantly between insurers.
Chris Richards , Insurance Specialist, SimplyQuote
Frequently Asked Questions
Temporary car insurance provides cover for a fixed period, ranging from as little as one hour up to several weeks, depending on the insurer and the policy available.
Yes. Many insurers offer very short-term policies, including hourly and one-day cover, although availability depends on the driver, vehicle, and eligibility criteria.
In many cases, cover can begin within minutes once the policy is purchased and confirmed. Some insurers allow you to choose a future start time as well.
Most temporary policies are comprehensive, but the level of cover can vary. Always check what is included before buying.
Temporary cover is designed for short-term or one-off driving needs. It is not intended as a long-term replacement for an annual insurance policy.
Temporary insurance can be cost-effective for short periods, but it is usually more expensive per day than annual cover. Whether it saves money depends on how long you need insurance for.
Temporary policies usually do not build a no-claims bonus. However, any claims made during the cover period may still be recorded on your driving history.
Temporary policies end automatically. If you need more cover, you normally have to take out a new policy rather than extend the existing one.
