Hourly1 hour to 28 days cover
£24
for 24 hours
£4
per hour (from)
Min age: 18
Cover type: Comprehensive
First-time user discount
Free, quick comparison
Compare temporary car insurance
Compare short-term car insurance from one hour to 28 days — ideal for borrowing a car, moving house, or covering a new driver temporarily without affecting the main policy.
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Hourly
Daily1 day comprehensive cover
Quotes sorted by indicative annual premium (low to high)
Prices shown are indicative UK market rates for comparison only. Your actual premium will depend on your vehicle, driving history, location and cover level.
What is temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance provides cover for a short, fixed period — from one hour up to 28 days — without affecting the main policyholder's no claims bonus or annual renewal date.
It's commonly used for borrowing a friend's or family member's car, moving house, driving a hire car abroad's return leg, or letting a new or learner driver get practice on a specific vehicle.
What are the benefits of temporary car insurance?
Protects your no claims bonus
Cover sits separately from the car owner's annual policy, so it isn't affected by any claim.
Instant, flexible cover
Policies can start within minutes and run for as little as an hour.
No long-term commitment
Pay only for the exact period you need the car, with no renewal to cancel.
What does temporary car insurance include?
Comprehensive cover
Most short-term policies offer fully comprehensive protection as standard.
Flexible duration
Cover from 1 hour up to 28 days depending on the provider.
Any driver, any car
Cover a named driver on almost any vehicle they have permission to use.
Instant documentation
Digital certificates issued immediately after purchase.
European cover
Optional add-on for driving in the EU during the policy period.
No impact on renewal
Doesn't affect the main annual policyholder's no claims discount.
How does short-term car insurance work?
You choose the car, the driver and the exact start and end time, and the insurer issues a standalone policy that sits alongside — not instead of — the car's main annual insurance.
Cover is bought and activated online in minutes, with an emailed certificate that's valid immediately.
Pricing depends on the driver's age, licence history and the length of cover, with per-hour rates typically higher than daily or weekly rates.
When do you need temporary car insurance?
It's useful when borrowing a car that isn't covered by your own policy, when moving house and needing extra trips in someone else's vehicle, or when a visiting relative needs to drive your car.
It also suits learner drivers wanting extra practice in a family car between lessons, without adding them to the main annual policy.
How to choose a temporary car insurance provider
Check the minimum and maximum age limits, whether the policy is comprehensive or third party only, and confirm the exact vehicle is eligible before buying. Some providers exclude high-performance or modified cars.
How to save money on temporary car insurance
Book cover for the precise hours you need rather than rounding up to a full day, and compare per-day rates against weekly rates once you need more than about five days of cover.
Related guides
These guides might help.
How your postcode affects your premium
Why two identical drivers a mile apart can pay very different amounts for cover.
No claims bonus explained
How to protect it, transfer it between insurers, and what it's really worth over time.
Black box insurance: is it worth it?
How telematics policies are scored, and who genuinely saves money using one.
FAQs
Our services are provided at no cost to you. We may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to, but this does not affect what you will pay for the product you choose.
Written by the Grow Your Business insurance team