Temporary car insurance
Cover in no time
Takes less than 60 seconds!
Why choose Covertime?
Do everything online
Insure only for the time you need
Comprehensive cover
Docs available immediately after purchase
Protect existing No Claims Discount
Cover from one hour to 28 days
Get on the road in minutes
Quick and flexible
What is temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance gives you quick and easy short term coverage for driving a car.
Whether it's your own or a car that belongs to a friend or family member, you can get insured quickly for the exact amount of time you need. It can start immediately after you've paid or a chosen point within 30 days.
Our temporary car insurance is comprehensive so it will cover you, the car you're driving, as well as other people and other vehicles.
Short term car insurance can be seriously handy for lots of different situations such as:
Driving a friend's or family member's car to help them out or for your own use
Driving a new car home before you sort an annual policy
Test driving a new car before you buy it
Driving a second car that you don't use very often
Sharing the drive on a long trip
Using a car in an emergency
Our policies are Comprehensive
What is covered?
Damage to the car you're driving
Theft or attempted theft
Fire damage
Third party: damage to other vehicles / property / injury to others
What isn't covered?
More than one driver on a temporary policy
Delivery, courier or taxi work
Theft or damage due to neglect; such as leaving the car unlocked
Wear and tear
How to get temporary car insurance
Getting temporary car insurance really couldn't be easier!
Forget the days of filling out pages of relentless questions for your annual car insurance quote. With our simple quote process, you can get a quote in a couple of minutes in just a few simple steps...
1
Just let us know the vehicle reg and a few details about yourself
2
Then we need to know when you need the cover and how long for
3
Get your quote, check the terms, choose how you want to pay and you're off!
Do I need temporary car insurance?
There is a common misconception that all comprehensive insurance policies allow you to drive any other car.
If you already have an annual comprehensive car insurance policy in your name, you might be covered to drive someone else's car under the 'Driving Other Cars' (DOC) rules.
However, this is not standard and not everyone has this cover in their Comprehensive policy. If you do have DOC, it is only meant for emergencies and not regular use.
Drivers under the age of 25 will not usually have DOC cover, so make sure you check with your insurer.
It's important to be aware that when you drive someone else's car under Driving Other Cars, the cover changes from Comprehensive to only covering damage to the other car or other people if you have an accident - referred to as Third Party Only (TPO).
If you don't have your own insurance then you can be added as a second driver or 'named driver' to another person's policy.
However, if a second driver has to make a claim on this policy then it would impact the main driver's No Claims Discount (also known as No Claims Bonus). It could potentially increase their insurance premium at renewal.
If you only need to use a car for a short period of time, then choosing a Covertime temporary car insurance policy could be more convenient. It also avoids risking the car owner's No Claims Discount; which will give them peace of mind when you borrow their car.
Who is temporary car cover suitable for?
Personal use
Ages 21-75
Full UK licence holders
Vehicle value from £1,500 to £65,000
*Other terms and conditions apply.
How much does temporary car insurance cost?
The premium you will pay for your short term car insurance will depend on things such as your age, experience, where you live, when you need cover, the car you'll drive and how long you need to drive it for.
If you only need to drive a car for a small amount of time, then a temporary car insurance policy might be an affordable option for you. However, the longer you need to insure yourself on the car for, the more it will cost.
You can buy multiple temporary car insurance policies throughout the year, but at some point an annual car insurance will become more cost effective, if you're always using the same car.
How can you get the cheapest temporary car insurance?
The golden rule to get the cheapest temporary car insurance is: Only buy the cover for the time you need.
The beauty of temporary car insurance is that you can insure yourself at the exact time you need to start driving and set it to end when you need it to.
By only insuring yourself on the car for the time you need to drive it, you can keep your short term car cover costs to a minimum.
Choose from as little as one hour all the way up to 28 days. If you need more time after one policy ends, then you can take out new temporary car policies.
Temporary car insurance specialists
We're specialists in short term car insurance...
We may be relatively new in the temporary insurance market but we're absolute specialists in providing short term car insurance in the UK. All our team have been working in the insurance industry for decades, with most of us working for temporary insurance providers for 20 years!
We decided to start a new and fresh temporary insurance provider and do everything in the best way possible.
Our previous temporary insurance experience has shown us how to do things the right way and of course, somethings we learnt are the wrong way, so that's what Covertime is here to sort out!
When it comes to our temporary car insurance with Covertime, you can choose exactly the right amount of time you want to insure the car for. You'll be able to set up short term cover on a car you own or don't own, in just a matter of minutes.
You can get a temporary car insurance quote in less that 60 seconds, we took out all of the unnecessary questions and made it almost effortless to get a short term car insurance quote with us!
We don't have a huge call centre with long wait times to get through; instead we opted to make it so easy to deal with us, that you can fully get your temporary car insurance online in no time!
If you are stuck and have some temporary car insurance questions, then we are available on live chat. If you decide that you really must speak to us, then we will happily give you a call if you request it.
We're proud to be offering UK drivers one of the quickest and easiest methods of insuring a car; we put our customers interests at the heart of everything we do. You've just found your favourite temporary car insurance company.
Do everything from your phone easily & quickly
Short term car insurance
Takes less than 60 seconds!
Benefits of temporary car insurance
Choose your time
You decide when your cover starts and ends, providing complete control and flexibility.
Comprehensive cover
Our short term car insurance protects you, your passengers, your car as well as other people, property and vehicles.
Great for emergencies
In a hurry? Get on the road in minutes, driving a car you don't own (with the owner's permission of course!).
Quick, easy and affordable
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.
What types of cars can insure in the short term?
We can cover a huge variety of cars with our temporary car insurance ranging from the value of £1,500 all the way up to £65,000.
Here are the types of cars we can insure on a temporary basis in the UK. The best part is, you just enter the reg and we'll do the rest!
No need to start finding the exact make, model, vehicle value etc. we've got clever technology in place that will look that information up accurately in the blink of an eye...
Hatchback
Small to mid-size cars with a rear door that opens upwards, offering practicality and good fuel economy.
Examples: Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i20, SEAT Ibiza, Mini Cooper, Honda Jazz
Saloon
Four door cars with a separate boot, often offering comfort and refinement for longer journeys.
Examples: BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Tesla Model 3, Jaguar XE, Skoda Superb, Lexus ES, Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry
Estate
Extended versions of saloons or hatchbacks with increased boot space and practicality.
Examples: Volvo V60, Ford Mondeo Estate, Skoda Octavia Estate, Audi A6 Avant, BMW 5 Series Touring, Mercedes E-Class Estate, Peugeot 508 SW, Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer
SUV (stands for Sport Utility Vehicle)
Larger, taller vehicles offering more space, higher seating, and optional (never used) off-road capability.
Examples: Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sorento, Land Rover Discovery, Hyundai Tucson, BMW X5, Audi Q7, Skoda Kodiaq, Volvo XC90, Toyota RAV4, Ford Kuga
Crossover
A blend of a hatchback and SUV, crossovers are compact and suited to urban driving.
Examples: Ford Puma, Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Kia Niro, Hyundai Kona, Toyota C-HR, VW T-Roc, MG ZS, SEAT Arona
MPV (stands for Multi-Purpose Vehicle) sometimes called a People Carrier
Designed for families, these cars offer flexible seating and extra space for passengers and luggage.
Examples: Citroën Berlingo, Vauxhall Zafira, Ford Galaxy, Volkswagen Touran, SEAT Alhambra, Renault Scenic, Toyota Proace Verso, Peugeot Rifter
Convertible
Cars with retractable roofs, made for open top driving and enjoying the rare sunny weather in Great Britain!
Examples: Mazda MX-5, BMW Z4, Audi A5 Cabriolet, Mini Convertible, Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet, Porsche 911 Cabriolet, Fiat 500C
Coupe
Stylish two door cars with sporty design and sloping rooflines, often performance oriented.
Examples: Audi TT, BMW 2 Series Coupe, Mercedes CLA Coupe, Toyota GR86, Ford Mustang, Lexus RC, Porsche Cayman, Honda Prelude (classic)
Sports
High performance vehicles built for speed, handling, and driver enjoyment.
Examples: Porsche 911, Jaguar F-Type, Nissan GT-R, Aston Martin Vantage, Lotus Emira, Toyota Supra, Audi R8, Chevrolet Corvette, BMW M4
4x4
Vehicles built for rough terrain with four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and rugged features.
Examples: Land Rover Defender, Jeep Wrangler, Toyota Land Cruiser, Suzuki Jimny, Mercedes G-Class, Ford Bronco, Mitsubishi Shogun, Isuzu D-Max (off-road trim)
City
Ultra compact cars designed for city driving, easy parking, and excellent fuel efficiency.
Examples: Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo X, Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto, Volkswagen Up!, Peugeot 108, Citroën C1, Smart ForTwo
Electric Vehicle (often referred to as an EV)
Fully electric cars available across most body types, offering zero emission driving.
Examples: Tesla Model 3 (saloon), Kia EV6 (crossover), MG4 (hatchback), Nissan Leaf (hatchback), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (SUV), BMW i4 (saloon), Renault Zoe (supermini), Volkswagen ID.4 (SUV), Polestar 2 (fastback)
Whatever it is that you drive, simply pop your registration plate into our site and we'll get your temporary insurance quote seriously fast and get you covered in minutes.
What cover and uses should I be aware of for temporary car insurance?
Can you use temporary car insurance for commuting?
Temporary car insurance can be used to commute. It's important to remember that the definition of commuting for insurance purposes, means travelling to or from a single or permanent place of work, for either all or part of the journey i.e. driving to a train station as part of the commute.
If you have a job where you must travel to more than one single place of work, then you will need what is referred to as 'Business Use'.
Can you use temporary car insurance for Business Use?
Unfortunately, you cannot use temporary car insurance for Business Use purposes. The definition of Business Use is driving / commuting to multiple locations, such as visiting clients or prospects. It's again different to 'Commercial Use'.
Can you use temporary car insurance for Commercial Use?
You cannot use temporary car insurance for Commercial Use. Commercial Use means using your car for transporting goods or people for what is referred to as 'Hire or Reward' which basically means when you're being paid for it, i.e. as a job / source of income.
Can I use temporary car insurance in Europe?
Yes, you can use temporary car insurance for Europe, but you must start and end the journey in the vehicle in the UK. Our temporary insurance is comprehensive but when you drive in Europe it will revert to the minimum level of cover required in that country.
Check what the minimum level of cover is in the country you’re travelling to / driving in, and whatever that is, is what the policy will provide. As a general rule of thumb, the minimum level of cover required in most European countries is Third Party Only.
You must also double check the country you are travelling to is covered in your policy booklet. You can view our IPID on our quote page before you purchase a policy which shows the country exclusions and inclusions. You can view our Policy Wording on our declaration page before purchasing a policy, where you can read the full terms and conditions of the policy.
How do I know my car is insured when using temporary car insurance?
When using a reputable and reliable temporary car insurance such as Covertime you can be safe in the knowledge that you are properly insured. We use a trustworthy panel of insurers, who are experienced in providing short term insurance to UK drivers. Y
Simply check your policy confirmation email that we send over to you and refer to the documentation contained within it for further info.
You can also look at the Motor Insurance Database (MID). The MID is the UK's official provider of insured vehicle data.
Due to the fast nature of temporary insurance, your policy may begin before your insurance is showing on the MID, but as long as you have access to your Certificate, you are covered and safe to drive.
What levels of cover does temporary car insurance have?
When you take out your annual car insurance policy you will usually select either Comprehensive, Third-Party Fire & Theft (can be referred to as TPFT) and then the lowest level of cover that allows you to drive legally on UK roads, Third Party Only (sometimes referred to as TPO).
Third Party basically means people other than yourself, so if you have Third Party Only cover your insurance will only cover other people's vehicles, injury and property, not your own. TPFT will be the same as TPO but also covers your vehicle for fires and theft.
Comprehensive is the higher level of cover of the three and covers you, your vehicle and the levels included in TPFT and TPO.
When you take out temporary insurance with Covertime, we only offer Comprehensive cover. The Cambridge Dictionary states that the definition of the word comprehensive is 'complete and including everything that is necessary' which is why it's used in insurance terminology. It covers you in the most complete way of all the three main levels of cover.
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Temporary car insurance FAQs
Did you know?
Driving other cars using an annual policy usually only insures you for Third Party claims, meaning damage to the car you are driving is not covered.