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Short-Term Car Cover
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Short-Term Car Cover
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Flexible Van Insurance for Short-Term Use
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Borrow a car with the owner’s permission and the right insurance.
Get your quote online.
The price shown in your quote is for the driver, vehicle and period you select. Compare the options available for the time you need, including any excess and optional extras. Temporary insurance may suit occasional use; an annual policy may be better value if you drive the vehicle regularly.
Choose enough time for the whole journey, including the return trip. Check the quoted start and end times rather than relying on a label such as ‘daily’ or ‘monthly’. If your plans change, make sure valid cover is in place before continuing to drive.
Have the vehicle registration and the driver’s details ready. Choose when you need cover, then review the price, eligibility and policy terms before buying.
You decide when your cover starts and ends, providing complete control and flexibility.
Our short term car insurance protects you, your passengers, your car as well as other people, property and vehicles.
In a hurry? Get on the road in minutes, driving a car you don't own (with the owner's permission of course!).
Get a quote quickly, with a minimal amount of questions for just the length of time you need to drive to keep costs to a minimum.
A friend agreeing to lend you their car does not automatically insure you to drive it. Check whether an existing policy covers you; if it does not, explore a temporary policy for the named car and the period you need. DayCover’s quote checks the driver and vehicle information before an offer is made.
Being added to an annual policy and buying separate temporary insurance are different arrangements. Compare their terms and costs for your situation. Do not rely on Driving Other Cars cover without checking its restrictions.
One of the best things about temporary car insurance is its flexibility. If you’re needing to borrow a car for a period between 1 hour and 28 days, this may be the solution for you. You can get insured on someone else’s car hourly, daily, weekly or up to 28 days.
If you’re likely to be borrowing someone else’s car very regularly or for longer periods of time, it might be worth looking to get your name added to their annual policy as an option.
Whether you’re borrowing a car for a few hours or a few weeks, having the right insurance in place ensures you are legally compliant and financially protected. It takes a couple of minutes to arrange the appropriate coverage which can save you from a lot of stress and potential legal issues down the road.
Yes, you absolutely can insure yourself on someone else’s car with temporary car insurance, that is one of the main reasons people get it. Just make sure you have the owner’s permission.
Yes you can take out multiple temporary policies in a year, but there will come a tipping point that it would make more sense cost-wise to take out an annual policy.
Eligibility depends on the policy. The existing DayCover car information states a minimum licence-holding period, so newly qualified drivers should check acceptance before planning to borrow the car.
Some comprehensive car insurance policies include something called DOC cover, which stands for Driving Other Cars. This allows the policyholder to drive someone else’s car, provided they have the owner’s permission. Sounds great right? However, there are some things to keep in mind…
Not everyone is eligible for DOC cover, and it is typically available to those over a certain age, usually 25 years and above. It might also be limited to specific policyholders with a proven driving record.
Look out for the type of cover that’s included, as DOC typically provides third-party only insurance. This means that if you are involved in an accident while driving someone else’s car, the insurance would only cover damage to third parties, not the car you are driving or yourself. Some policies can also include restrictions on the type of cars you can drive, such on high-value or high-performance vehicles.
Temporary car insurance is perfect for short term needs, but if you require coverage for a longer duration, an annual policy may be more cost effective.
It doesn’t cover you for driving a rental or hired car; you’ll need a specific hire car insurance policy for that.
Short term cover also is not suitable if you’re planning on using it to be a cabbie – you’ll need proper taxi insurance to do that. It’s also not to be used for deliveries or courier work.
Temporary car insurance is also not suitable for releasing a vehicle from a Police or Local Authority impound, learning to drive, driving outside of the EU/EEA and for importing / exporting cars; the vehicle must be in the UK at the start and end of the policy.
With annual insurance you pay for the full 365 days of cover on your car insurance, whereas with temporary car insurance you only pay for the time you need. That is why it’s worth checking to see if a short term policy is cheaper for you.
There are also a few ways that you can try and get the cheapest temporary car insurance.
– Don’t purchase add-ons you don’t need; for example, you may have breakdown cover with your bank account
– Have a choice of cars to borrow? It might be worth getting quotes to see which car produces the cheapest quote for you
– Build your experience; the longer you’ve held your licence claim-free, the better
No need to worry about being caught out without cover – we’ll send you an email letting you know when your cover is about to expire.
We can’t extend our policies, but if you need more time on the road you can get a new quote online anytime.
Your annual policy may not insure you to drive another person's car. Where Driving Other Cars cover is included, it often provides third-party-only protection. Check your certificate and policy wording before relying on it.