Weekend Car Insurance
Short-Term Weekend Car Insurance Quotes
Short-term cover for the weekend.
Compare insurance quotes from the UK’s leading temporary car insurance providers including:
What Is Weekend Car Insurance?
Weekend car insurance is a short-term motor policy that covers you to drive a car for 2-3 days, giving you fully comprehensive protection without affecting the vehicle owner's existing annual policy.
It's a type of temporary car insurance designed for situations where you need to borrow or drive a car over a Friday-to-Sunday (or Saturday-to-Monday) window. You get the same level of cover as an annual policy, just for the days you actually need.
Policies are bought online in minutes, documents arrive by email, and there's no impact on the car owner's car insurance or no-claims bonus.
How To Get Weekend Car Insurance
Getting a quote takes 2-3 minutes and cover can start immediately or be scheduled for a future date.
Enter your details
Provide your name, age, postcode, and UK driving licence information. You'll also confirm your claims and convictions history from the past five years.
Add the vehicle
Enter the car's registration number or select the make and model manually. Specify whether it's your car, a friend's, a family member's, or one you're buying.
Set your dates
Choose your start date and time, then select 2 or 3 days of cover. Most providers let you pick any 48-72 hour window, not just a traditional Friday-to-Sunday.
Compare and buy
Review quotes from our insurer panel, check the cover details, and complete your purchase securely. Documents arrive by email within minutes.
When Would You Need Weekend Car Insurance?
Any time you need to drive a car that isn't on your own policy for a couple of days.
Road trips and weekend breaks
Borrowing a friend's more spacious car for a weekend away, or sharing the driving on a long trip where only one person is insured.
Visiting family
Driving a parent's car while staying for the weekend is one of the most common use cases. Student car insurance covers longer holiday stays if you need more than a weekend.
Moving house
Borrowing a friend's van or larger car over a weekend to shift furniture. Two or three days of cover is cheaper than hiring a removal service.
Car sharing
If a colleague drives to work and you want to borrow their car for the weekend while they don't need it, weekend cover keeps everything legal and protected.
Test driving over a weekend
Some private sellers let you keep a car for a weekend before deciding. Test drive insurance covers shorter test drives, but weekend cover lets you live with the car for a couple of days.
Collecting or returning a vehicle
Picking up a car you've bought, or driving one to a buyer. If the trip is shorter, hourly car insurance or a one-day policy might be more cost-effective.
What Does Weekend Car Insurance Cover?
Most weekend policies provide fully comprehensive cover, the highest level of motor insurance protection available in the UK.
What's included
| Cover Element | What It Means |
| Third-party liability | Damage you cause to other people, vehicles, and property |
| Own damage | Repairs or replacement for the car you're driving if you're at fault |
| Fire and theft | Protection if the car is stolen or damaged by fire during your policy |
| Windscreen cover | Chip and crack repair or full replacement (policy dependent) |
| Personal injury | Medical costs if you're injured in an accident |
What's not included
Breakdown assistance, personal belongings, mechanical failure, and wear-and-tear are typically excluded. Pre-existing damage and modifications beyond manufacturer spec may also void cover.
Always check the policy summary before purchasing, because exclusions vary between providers.
How Much Does Weekend Car Insurance Cost?
Weekend car insurance typically costs between £40 and £150 for 2-3 days of cover, depending on your age, driving history, and the car.
What affects the price?
| Factor | Impact on Price |
| Your age | Under-25s pay more; drivers aged 30-65 get the cheapest rates |
| Driving history | Claims or convictions in the past 5 years increase cost |
| The car's insurance group | Higher groups cost more to cover temporarily |
| Duration | 3 days costs more than 2, but less per day |
| Start time | Some providers price differently for overnight start times |
Is it cheaper than being added as a named driver?
For a one-off weekend, almost always yes. Being added to someone's annual policy can cost £50-£200 in admin fees, plus a permanent premium increase for the policyholder.
If you borrow the same car every weekend, your own annual fully comprehensive policy would work out cheaper within a month or two.
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Who Can Get Weekend Car Insurance?
Most UK drivers aged 17-75 with a full or provisional licence can get weekend cover, though eligibility requirements vary between providers.
Typical requirements
You'll need a valid UK, EU, or international licence held for at least 6 months, no more than 2 at-fault claims in 3 years, and no serious convictions like drink-driving or dangerous driving.
Young drivers
Drivers aged 17-21 can get weekend cover but pay more due to higher statistical risk. If you're a young driver borrowing a parent's car for a trip, it's still cheaper than a named driver addition.
Learner drivers
Some providers cover provisional licence holders for weekend practice sessions. Learner driver insurance has dedicated options for longer practice periods.
How Does Weekend Cover Compare To Other Durations?
Weekend insurance sits in the middle of the temporary cover range, offering better value per day than hourly or daily policies.
Duration comparison
| Duration | Best For | Typical Cost |
| 1-3 hours | Test drives, quick errands, emergencies | £15-£60 |
| 1 day | Day trips, car collection, single journeys | £20-£80 |
| Weekend (2-3 days) | Road trips, visiting family, moving house | £40-£150 |
| 1 week+ | Holidays, waiting for annual policy to start | £60-£300 |
For anything shorter than a full day, hourly car insurance is more cost-effective. For stays longer than a weekend, a weekly policy through temporary car insurance gives better daily rates.
Does Weekend Insurance Affect The Owner's Policy?
No, weekend car insurance is a completely separate policy that has no connection to the vehicle owner's annual insurance.
If you have an accident during your weekend cover, the claim is made against your temporary policy. The car owner's no-claims discount stays intact and their premium isn't affected at renewal.
This is why temporary cover is popular with parents lending cars to children, and friends sharing vehicles for trips.
How To Save Money On Weekend Car Insurance
Weekend cover is already good value for short-term needs, but there are ways to reduce the price.
Choose 2 days instead of 3
If you only need the car Saturday and Sunday, don't add Friday. Every extra day increases the cost.
Pick a lower-group car
Borrowing a group 8 hatchback costs less to insure than a group 25 SUV. If you have a choice of vehicle, the insurance group makes a real difference.
Maintain a clean licence
Points and claims push temporary premiums up, just like annual policies. Three or more years claims-free gets you the best rates.
Compare quotes
Prices vary between providers for the same driver and car. Compare weekend car insurance quotes to find the best deal from our panel.
Book in advance
If you know you'll need cover next weekend, comparing a day or two early gives you time to find the cheapest option rather than rushing at the last minute.
Is It Legal To Drive Without Insurance For The Weekend?
No, driving without at least third-party insurance is a criminal offence regardless of the day or duration.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 requires insurance on every vehicle driven on UK roads. Penalties include a £300 fixed fine, 6 licence points, and potentially having the car seized.
All providers on our panel are regulated by the FCA, so any weekend policy you buy meets the legal minimum and above.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can buy cover for exactly 2 or 3 days. Most temporary providers let you choose any 48-72 hour window, not just Friday-to-Sunday.
Between £40 and £150 depending on your age, driving record, and the car. Drivers aged 25-65 with clean licences pay the least.
No, you can start your 2-3 day policy on any day of the week. The name is just a common use case, not a restriction.
Yes, you can buy another policy to extend. Some providers allow mid-policy extensions through their app or website.
You'll need to declare the claim when renewing your own annual policy, but the claim itself sits on the temporary policy. The car owner's policy is unaffected.
Yes, that's the most common use. You take out a policy in your own name on a car registered to someone else, with their permission.
Yes, the registered keeper must consent to temporary insurance being taken out on their vehicle.
Some providers offer it to provisional licence holders, though at a higher price. You must still have a supervising driver with you.
Most weekend policies are fully comprehensive, covering damage to the car you're driving as well as third-party liability. Check before buying.
Your driving licence number, the car's registration, and a payment card. Everything is done online and documents arrive by email.
