Comprehensive 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 Comprehensive temporary car insurance?
Comprehensive temporary car insurance gives you quick and easy short term coverage for driving a car.
Whether it’s your own car or one belonging to a friend or family member, you can get insured quickly for exactly the time you need. Cover can begin right after payment or at a specific time within the next 30 days.
Our comprehensive temporary car insurance will cover you, the car you're driving, as well as other people and other vehicles.
Comprehensive 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; claims relating solely to the damage of glass (windscreen repairs)
How to get comprehensive temporary car insurance
Getting comprehensive 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 comprehensive temporary car insurance?
Many people mistakenly believe that all comprehensive car insurance policies automatically let you drive other cars.
If you have an annual comprehensive policy in your name, you might be covered to drive someone else’s car under what's known as the Driving Other Cars (DOC) extension.
But this isn’t guaranteed. DOC cover isn’t included in every comprehensive policy, and even if it is, it’s usually limited to emergency situations, not day-to-day driving.
It’s also worth noting that most drivers under 25 typically don’t get DOC cover at all. Always check with your insurer before assuming you're covered.
It’s important to know that if you use Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover to drive someone else’s vehicle, your level of protection drops from Comprehensive to Third Party Only (TPO). This means you’re only covered for damage to other people or their property; not the car you’re driving.
If you don’t have your own insurance, you can be added to someone else’s policy as a named driver. But keep in mind: if you have to make a claim, it could affect the main driver’s No Claims Discount (or No Claims Bonus) and might lead to higher premiums when they renew.
If you only need a car for a short time, a Covertime temporary car insurance policy can be a simpler option. It also protects the car owner’s No Claims Discount, giving them peace of mind while you’re behind the wheel.
Who is comprehensive 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 comprehensive temporary car insurance cost?
The cost of your comprehensive short term car insurance will depend on factors like your age, driving history, location, when you need cover, the car you’ll be driving, and how long you need to drive it.
If you only need cover for a short period such as 24 hours, a temporary policy could be a cost-effective option. But the longer you need to be insured, the higher the premium will be.
You can take out multiple temporary policies over the year, but if you’re regularly using the same car, switching to an annual policy may eventually be more economical.
How can you get the cheapest comprehensive temporary car insurance?
The golden rule to get the cheapest comprehensive temporary car insurance is: Only buy the cover for the time you need.
The great thing about temporary car insurance is that it starts exactly when you need it and ends when you're done.
By only covering the time you’re actually behind the wheel, you can keep costs low and avoid paying for insurance you don’t need.
You can choose cover from just one hour up to 28 days. If you need more time later, simply take out another temporary policy.
Do everything from your phone easily & quickly
Short term car insurance
Takes less than 60 seconds!
Benefits of comprehensive 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.
Pay securely and easily
Comprehensive temporary car insurance FAQs
Comprehensive temporary car insurance gives you complete flexibility. You can drive a friend or family member’s car and choose exactly how long you need cover for.
Whether it’s just for an hour or up to 28 days, you’re in control of how long you’re insured.
Yes, you can insure yourself to drive someone else’s car with comprehensive temporary car insurance; it’s one of the most common reasons people use it. Just be sure you have the car owner’s permission before taking out a policy.
Yes, you can take out multiple comprehensive temporary policies throughout the year, but there comes a point where it may be more cost-effective to switch to an annual policy.
No you can't take out comprehensive temporary insurance on a hire vehicle. Comprehensive short term insurance allows you to borrow a car and insure it, rather than insure a hire car.
Temporary car insurance is ideal for short-term use, but if you need cover for an extended period, an annual policy might offer better value.
It won’t cover you for driving a rental or hire car, you’ll need specialist hire car insurance for that. It’s also not suitable for taxi work, courier jobs, or making deliveries, as those require commercial policies.
You also can’t use temporary insurance to release a car from a police or local authority impound, to learn to drive, or for travel outside the EU/EEA. The car must be in the UK when the policy starts and ends, and the cover can’t be used for importing or exporting vehicles.
With annual car insurance, you're paying for a full year of cover, even if you only drive occasionally. Comprehensive temporary car insurance, on the other hand, lets you pay just for the time you actually need, which could work out cheaper depending on your situation.
There are a few ways to help lower the cost of your temporary cover:
Skip extras you don’t need - you might already have things like breakdown cover through your bank or another provider
If you can choose between different cars to borrow, get quotes for each - some vehicles are cheaper to insure than others
Gain driving experience - the longer you’ve held your licence without claims, the better your chances of a lower premium
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.