Short term or temporary car insurance in the UK is a type of car insurance that provides cover for a short period of time, typically between one hour and 30 days. It is an affordable option if you only need to drive a car for a short period, such as when borrowing a friend’s car, moving house, or testing out a new car.
Benefits of Temporary Car Insurance
Temporary car insurance offers several advantages for UK drivers:
- Flexibility: Temporary car insurance can be purchased quickly and easily online, and you can choose the exact dates you need coverage for.
- Affordability: Temporary car insurance is typically less expensive than annual car insurance, as you are only paying for the time you need coverage.
- Convenience: Temporary car insurance can be a convenient option if you only need to drive a car occasionally.
- Peace of Mind: Having insurance in place provides financial protection in case of an accident.
Disadvantages of Temporary Car Insurance
There are a few cons to consider when taking out temporary car insurance, including:
- Limited cover: Temporary car insurance policies typically have lower coverage limits than annual car insurance policies.
- No NCB: Temporary car insurance will not earn you any No Claims Bonus (NCB). This means that you will not be able to reduce your annual car insurance premiums by taking out temporary cover.
- Higher premiums: Per-day premiums for temporary insurance are generally higher than annual policies when calculated on a yearly basis. In addition, young drivers typically pay higher premiums for temporary car insurance than older drivers.
- Not suitable for long-term use: Temporary car insurance is not suitable for long-term use, as it will be more expensive than annual car insurance.
Types of Temporary Car Insurance
There are several types of temporary car insurance available that are designed to meet different types of needs. They include the following:
- 6-Month Car Insurance: A 6-month car insurance policy is a type of auto insurance that provides coverage for a vehicle for six months at a time. This type of policy is often more affordable than a 12-month policy, but it may not be the best option for everyone.
- Month to Month Car Insurance: This is a popular insurance policy. Most insurers offer 6-months or 12-months insurance payment schedules. This makes many people wonder if month to month car insurance exists. Yes, it does. Month to month car insurance is not common. However, you can still get it in the market. It may not be as flexible and cost-effective as anyone would assume, but what you can do is getting a 1-month car insurance and renew as you go.
- Car insurance for 3 months: This type of insurance has almost the same features with car insurance for 6 months. If you don’t use your car throughout the year, then it is not feasible and economical to renew your licence for the whole year. In such a case, a flexible 3 months car insurance is well available.
- Temporary van insurance: If you are delivering goods or moving a house in the short term, it is cheaper to get a cheap short term van insurance cover. If you are driving the van for just a day, then get van insurance for 1 day and if you are driving it for between 1 and 28 days, get a monthly van insurance cover.
- One day car insurance: The one-day car insurance is mostly offered by specialists such as Insure4aDay.uk. A single day car insurance has been available for several years now, and short term insurance like this is a tried and tested product with hundreds of thousands of regular users. Prices are very reasonable.
- Temporary Third Party Car Insurance: This is an alternative to the 12 months insurance cover, but it is a short term policy for day or weekly driving. It is more economical to buy a temporary Third Party Car Insurance than it is to buy an annual insurance policy. It is applicable, for example, when you want to borrow a car which is not covered by the existing insurance. Temporary Third Party Car Insurance covers you against the cost of repairing a car or property belonging to a third party.
- Temporary Car Insurance Under 21: If you are a young driver, it may be cheaper to be insured on your parent’s car rather than buying and insuring your own. This is because insurance companies typically charge higher premiums for young drivers, as they are statistically more likely to be involved in accidents. If you don’t drive very often, you may want to consider pay-as-you-go insurance. This type of insurance is based on how much you drive, so you’ll only pay for the miles you put on your car, which is handy for drivers with low mileage. Also see our article on Temporary Car Insurance Under 21 for the listed options open to you.
- Short term car insurance for new drivers: Car insurance can be challenging, especially for new drivers facing high premiums and limited coverage options. While securing cheap car insurance for a new driver presents a challenge, temporary car insurance is an effective strategy to reduce costs. Few providers such as Tempcover provide temporary car insurance for new drivers.
- Learner Driver Insurance: This insurance type is specifically designed for individuals who have not yet passed their driving test and are learning to drive. Learner driver insurance typically provides coverage for a limited period, ranging from a few hours to a few months, and it is typically less expensive than traditional annual car insurance.
- Temporary car insurance for students:Temporary car insurance for students is a type of short-term car insurance that is designed for students who need to drive a car for a short period of time, such as during school breaks or summer vacations.
Is there a temporary car insurance for rental cars?: For rented or hired vehicles, standard short-term insurance is not applicable. Hire car insurance is specifically designed for these situations. Similarly, if you intend to utilize your vehicle for taxi services, standard short-term insurance is not suitable. Instead, taxi insurance is required. Fortunately, flexible temporary cover options are available for taxi drivers as well.
Average Cost of Temporary Car Insurance in UK
The cost of temporary car insurance varies depending on several factors, including vehicle type, driver’s experience, and policy duration. Generally, premiums start from around £20 for one hour of coverage and can increase to £500 or more for a month’s coverage.
When considering temporary car insurance, it’s crucial to compare prices among providers to find the best deal. For example, InsureDaily temporary car insurance costs £16 for a day, £40 for a week, and £100 for a month, while RAC costs £30.26 for a day, £92.86 for a week, and £186.55 for a month.
Temporary Car Insurance Quotes
If you’re looking for a simple overview of temporary car insurance quotes then well-known comparison websites such as Money Supermarket are a good place for you to compare various quotes. However, there’s an increasing the number of insurance companies that are not on comparison sites.
Cheap Short Term Car Insurance in UK
Here are some of the cheapest short term car insurance providers in the UK:
- Adrian Flux. The company offers temporary insurance for your van, car or bike. The policy coverage period can range from one-day insurance, weekly, one month, or even 6-months insurance.
- Aviva short term car insurance. Aviva is among the largest providers of temp car insurance in the UK, offering a wide variety of insurance products, including the popular Aviva learner driver insurance.
- Admiral temporary car insurance. It provides coverage for a shorter period than a standard 12-month policy, and it can be used for business vehicles.
- Dayinsure: It offers one of the cheapest temporary car insurance in the UK. You can apply for temporary car insurance if you are aged between 19 and 75 years. You can apply, pay and manage the policy completely online. Furthermore, a driver with up to 6 points can be insured.
- Veygo temporary car insurance: This is one of the cheapest short term car insurance for people with shared driving. The cover is available for between 1 hour and 60 days. You can buy the policy online and build on your No Claims Bonus.
- RAC: RAC Temporary Insurance is a short-term car insurance policy that can be purchased for as little as 1 hour and up to 30 days at a time. It offers comprehensive coverage for leisure or business use, with the flexibility to add extra days online.
- Tempcover: This insurance provider offers temporary car insurance from 1 hour to 28 days. They also offer a range of add-ons, such as breakdown cover and temporary car insurance abroad.
Is Temporary Car Insurance Good for You?
Temporary car insurance is a good option for drivers who only need cover for a short period of time. While it may come with slightly higher premiums per day compared to annual policies, its cost-effectiveness and suitability for specific situations make it a good choice for drivers in the UK.
However, it is important to be aware of the limitations of temporary cover before you take it out. If you are unsure whether temporary car insurance is right for you, you should speak to an insurance broker.