Temporary Car Insurance

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Temporary Car Insurance

24 Hours to 28 Day Car Cover

  • Fast,flexible affordable car cover
  • Compare quotes
  • Takes 2 minutes
  • Instant cover
Temporary Car Insurance Quotes »
Cover Terms
Instant Cover
Applicable Age
18 - 78

Tempcover Car Insurance

Cover Terms
Learner Drivers
Applicable Age
17 - 22

Tempcover Learner Car Insurance

Temporary Car Insurance

There are many circumstances where obtaining temporary car insurance is useful:

  • If you have purchased a new car or a car at auction and you need instant cover to drive it away then a temporary car insurance policy could help you.
  • Many parents wish to insure their children for a short period of time whilst they are home from university or have just learnt to drive. Because insurance for young drivers can be expensive, this could be the cheaper option you are looking for.
  • If you need to rent a larger vehicle than the one you own to pick something up. (E.g. furniture, baggage or even people!)
    If you wish to use another car for a business trip or a holiday.

If you are involved in a road accident and have a standard yearly insurance policy, it is likely that your premiums will sky rocket. However, with temporary car insurance policies your no claims bonus is not affected.

Temporary Car Insurance

24 Hours to 28 Day Car Cover

  • Fast,flexible affordable car cover
  • Compare quotes
  • Takes 2 minutes
  • Instant cover

Temporary Car Insurance Quotes »

So maybe you have borrowed a friend’s car or are using a hire car for a week – temporary car insurance is typically available from 1 day to 28 days and provides flexibility without a 12 month term car insurance contract. Some of the benefits of temporary car insurance include:

  • No long-term commitment – Cover from 1 to 28 Days
  • Pay By Debit/Credit Card
  • Quick and simple to set up

So, if you need to set off soon, you can get the cover you need quickly and easily with temporary car insurance cover.

What is temporary car insurance?

This type of motor insurance is designed for everyday short term needs and typically allows you to be covered on a vehicle from 1 hour up to 30 days. Sometimes called day car insurance you decide on the exact time you need cover for.

How does temporary car insurance work?

Cover can be arranged on a short term basis for car, van and motorbikes as well as people learning to drive.

Insurance can be arranged on a comprehensive basis so the policy works just like a standard 12 month policy but for a shorter term. There is no long term contract. Once the short term car insurance policy expires it does not automatically renew.

You will receive a reminder that your policy is due to expire so you can renew if you want to. So if you just want cover for 1 hour, you can select the minute it will start.

What situations is temporary car insurance useful in?

Typical situations where temp cover for a vehicle might be useful include:

  • When you need to borrow a car from a friend or family member – Being added to the vehicle owners existing insurance policy can be expensive, so this type of short term cover can be more cost effective and gives you greater control on exactly how long you want the insurance for. If you have an accident then the good news is that this type of cover will not impact the vehicle owners no claims discount. This is often a concern for vehicle owners as a claim on a policy can have a significant financial impact on annual premiums e.g. 5 years of no claims can reduce an annual car insurance policy by up to 65%.
  • When you buy a new carMillions of drivers buy a new car every year and the last thing you want to worry about is what happens if you have an accident when you drive the car home. Car dealerships will look to sell you insurance for this but this can be an expensive option. Drive away insurance is short term cover that can be arranged very quickly (in less than 2 minutes) and means you can drive your new vehicle home with peace of mind.
  • Young driversfor drivers aged 17 to 22 average insurance costs are high. When it comes to temporary insurance for younger drivers premiums can be very expensive or insurers don’t offer cover at all due to the perceived higher risk. The good news is that a number of insurers offer temporary car insurance for young drivers on a comprehensive basis with no claims discount protection. Insurance for learner drivers is also available from the age of 17.

What to look for when selecting a temporary car insurance provider?

Use a service where policies are compared so you get the best policy at the right price.

Using a comparison service means that you are benefiting from a panel of insurers who will cover a range of options for driving histories, professions, locations, ages and vehicle types (car, motorbike & van insurance).

Most providers will also offer additional options such as breakdown cover for the UK and Europe if required.

Providers providing insurance should be authorised & regulated by the financial conduct authority.

Who can get temporary insurance?

You can get cover if you are:

  • Aged between 18 and 78
  • Learner cover from age 17
  • Hold a full UK or EU driving licence
  • Have held the licence for at least 6 months
  • Vehicle is valued between £800 and £65,000
  • Driver with penalty points – time limits & certain restrictions may apply

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Car Insurance in the UK is compulsory under the 1988 Road Traffic Act and it is an offence to take a car onto a public highway without at least third party insurance in place.

Most basic car insurance policies cover third party, fire and theft covering third party liabilities as well as damage to the car caused by fire or loss due to theft. Comprehensive car insurance which is more expensive covers third party, fire and theft but also covers any damage caused by the driver to the car being driven.

According to the Motor Insurers Bureau uninsured drivers (approximately two million motorists according to the department of transport) inflict approximately £380 million of damage on UK roads which is passed on in higher insurance premiums.

Under the law a car must have a valid car insurance policy if it is taxed or not or whether it is kept on a public highway or not and whether it is driven or not.

If a car is not being used its tax disc must be redeemed and the relevent declaration (SORN) completed to confirm that the car is being kept off public roads. The scheme will provide a new fixed penalty for people who ignore official reminders that their insurance has expired. the maximum penalty for offenders is £5,000 and an automatic endorsement of your driver license with 6 to 8 penalty points.

See below for different types of car insurance:

Type of Car Insurance

Car Insurance Features

Comprehensive Car Insurance

As the name suggests provides cover both to third parties but also to you and your own car and passengers in the event of an accident. This type of cover usually allows you to drive another car (may only be on a third party basis).

Car Legal Expenses Insurance

Normally sold as an add on to car insurance and provides legal expense cover in the event of a dispute e.g. if you are in an accident that is not your fault you may wish to claim back uninsured losses and legal expense cover will help you fund the legal costs.

Third Party Car Insurance

Third party car insurance is the minimum cover required by UK law on a vehicle used ona public highway. If you have an accident this cover will protect you from having to pay for damage to other vehicles. You cannot make a claim against your own vehicle.

Third Party Fire and Theft Car Insurance

In addition to covering third party liabilites this cover also provides financial protection in the event of damage to your car in the event of fire or loss due to theft.

As with many things in life the more time you put into something the more you will get out and with buying car insurance spending some time understanding what to look out for can save you both time and money in the long run and should ensure that you end up with the right cover.

Things to consider:

Age

If you are under 25 you will generally pay more for car insurance. For teenagers the cost of car insurance can be very high. Some insurers provide young driver car insurance schemes e.g. The Co-op and Young Marmalade provide specialist insurance for younger drivers

Voluntary Excess

To keep the cost of car insurance down many insurers provide you with the option of a voluntary excess on any claim. This is paid over and above any compulsory excess on the policy.

Gender

In the past specialist women’s car insurance providers could offer a better deal. Women generally tend to make less expensive claims than men, and so insurance companies historically reflected this in offering cheaper premiums. However, in March 2012, the European Court of Justice ruled that insurance providers cannot discriminate on gender. This ruling came into effect from December 2012.

Car Mileage

Some car insurers will adjust their car insurance premium based on the mileage you do. It is important you give an accurate indication of expected annual mileage to ensure you are not paying more than you need to.   Check with your existing car insurer (if relevant) – If you already have an existing car check with your existing insurer about adding a second car onto the policy. Some car insurance companies will provide you with a discount for including a second vehicle – often called multi car insurance.

Using a Comparison website

Online comparison websites provide a useful and easy way of getting car insurance quotes. No car insurance comparison website covers the whole market so it makes sense to use more than one source to ensure you are getting the right cover at the right price. You should also note that some insurance companies do not appear on comparison websites e.g. Direct Line Car Insurance and Aviva Car Insurance

Using a Car Insurance broker

If you are not sure what cover you need or want somebody to help you through the process there are many car insurance brokers who will be happy to help. A good insurance broker will not help you in buying car insurance but also provide support in the event that you need to make a claim.If you intend to use a broker you should check their FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) registration on the FCA website.

Providing correct information

In assessing the insurance risk an insurance company will rely on the information that you give as being accurate. Information provided will determine whether insurance is provided and the cost of premiums. It is therefore important that any information you provide is correct e.g. information on any driving offences where you have been given points can have a material impact on the premium you are required to pay. Non disclosure of such information at the time of application can result in a non payout in the event of a claim. If you are using a car insurance broker this is where valuable advice can be provided.

Cheapest is not always best

With insurance you generally get what you pay for so before you sign up to an insurance policy you should be aware of what you are covered for and what is excluded. You should consider what you need and ensure you are adequately covered. This may mean you have to pay more to get what you want.

Automatic Renewal

When you buy car insurance and you pay by direct debit some insurance companies will automatically renew your car insurance policy at the renewal date. You should receive a written notice of the car insurance renewal and any increase in the premium. If you are not happy you need to be proactive and shop around before the renewal date and cancel the existing policy before renewal.

Changing your mind

You have the right to change your mind within a set period normally 14 days from purchase of the car insurance policy and have your money returned.