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One day car insurance is temporary cover for a specific occasion on a specific single day. You set the start time, and the policy runs for 24 hours from that point.
It sits completely outside any existing annual insurance on the vehicle. The car owner's annual policy, their no-claims discount, and your own existing insurance are all untouched. Any claim goes through your 1 day cover, not theirs.
It is designed for single-occasion situations: borrowing a friend's or family member's car for the day, collecting a car you have just bought privately, helping someone move house, or any scenario where you need to be properly insured for one specific day.
Your insurance documents arrive by email and on screen as soon as you purchase. Cover starts at the time you have chosen - same-day, this evening, or a future date.
The honest answer is that it depends, which is why a quote is worth getting rather than going on a headline figure. Price is driven mainly by four things: your age and driving experience, the vehicle you're covering, where you live, and, for other durations, how long you need cover for.
Looking at Covertime's one-day policies sold between January and June 2026, 25% of customers paid less than £20.96, and half paid less than £26.81. There's a genuine spread either side of that too. Some customers paid closer to £17, others closer to £51, depending entirely on their own circumstances. That range is normal and expected - it's exactly why two people covering the same car on the same day can end up with different prices.
None of this tells you what you specifically will pay. Your age, your car, your postcode and the day you need cover for will all move the number, sometimes by a fair amount. The only way to find out where you land is to run your own details through a quote.
Get a price in under a minute. No need to phone anyone or wait for a callback. Your documents arrive immediately and cover starts at the time you choose.
Choose exactly how long you need, from one hour to 28 days. No need to pay for time you won't use.
Daily car insurance from Covertime covers you, your passengers, the car you're driving, and any third-party damage or injury.
Need to drive a new purchase home? A daily policy gives you cover from the moment you take the keys, while you sort something longer-term.
Get a quote in under a minute and have your documents available immediately after purchase. Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
One day cover is the right choice when you have a specific thing to do on a specific day and need to be properly insured to do it.
The common factor is a single defined occasion. You need cover for this day - not several separate days spread across a period.
If you need exactly 24 hours from a precise time (which could cross midnight), 24 hour car insurance sets the clock from the exact moment you start. If you need cover across several consecutive days, daily car insurance lets you pick the exact number of days you need.
One day car insurance, 1 day car insurance, and daily car insurance all describe the same product - a 24-hour policy that runs from the start time you choose.
The terms reflect how people tend to think about what they need:
Whichever term brought you here, the policy is the same: comprehensive cover in your own name, with no effect on any existing insurance on the vehicle.
One day car insurance covers standard private cars registered and kept in the UK.
The most common use is borrowing a car. You can take out a one day policy on a friend's, family member's, or partner's car, provided you have their permission. The policy is in your own name and the owner's annual cover is unaffected throughout.
When you buy a car through a private sale, you may not yet have annual cover arranged. A one day policy lets you drive the car home legally while you sort a longer-term arrangement.
Moving house in a borrowed vehicle, a day trip in a relative's car, or using a car while yours is being serviced - these are all standard one day use cases.
One day car insurance is for private personal use. It does not cover vans, commercial vehicles, hire and reward, delivery work, or motorcycles. Cover for these vehicle types is available through dedicated short-term products.
Yes. You set the start time, and the 24-hour window runs from that exact moment. Cover does not have to start in the morning and does not reset at midnight.
This makes one day car insurance the right choice when the timing matters as much as the date:
Set the start time when you get your quote. Documents arrive by email immediately and cover starts at the exact time you have chosen.
One day car insurance is a type of short-term car insurance - both describe temporary cover that is separate from any annual policy. The difference is scope.
Short-term car insurance covers the full range of temporary cover, from one hour to 28 days. One day car insurance is the specific version for a single 24-hour window.
When one day cover is right
One day insurance is the most precise option for a single defined occasion: borrowing a car for the afternoon, collecting a car you have just bought, or covering a specific event on a specific calendar date. You pay for that day only.
When you need more than one day
If your need stretches beyond 24 hours, there are longer options within the same temporary category:
All are comprehensive, separate from annual cover, and in your own name. Read more about temporary car insurance here but if you're looking for cheap one day insurance now then get a quote with us and see if we can provide a cheap 1 day insurance quote for you.
Not all temporary policies are the same. A few details are worth confirming before you commit.
Policies specify what type of driving is covered. You must select the correct class when buying - using the vehicle for a purpose not listed could invalidate your insurance.
The excess is the amount you contribute if you make a claim. With temporary insurance the compulsory excess is set by the insurer and cannot be adjusted. Some providers also offer a voluntary excess option. Check the total before buying so you know what you would pay in the event of a claim.
All UK insurance policies include Insurance Premium Tax (IPT), a government levy on insurance premiums. The price shown at the quote stage is the total price including IPT - there are no additional taxes to pay on top.
Before buying any temporary insurance policy, check the provider is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can verify any UK insurer or broker on the FCA register. Some sites mimic comparison platforms without offering genuine coverage - always verify before entering payment details.
Yes. Temporary car insurance can be taken out from one hour up to 28 days. A one day policy gives you 24 hours of comprehensive cover, starting at the time you choose. You receive proof of insurance documents immediately.
No. Because a one day temporary policy sits entirely outside any existing annual policy, making a claim on it has no effect on your or the car owner's no-claims discount. This is one of the main advantages over being added to someone else's annual policy.
Yes. You can take out one day insurance on a car you do not own. You need the registration number, your driving licence details, and confirmation that the car owner is happy for you to drive it. The policy is in your name and the owner's annual cover is unaffected.
Closely related, but the framing differs. One day insurance is occasion-based - a specific day, a specific event. 24 hour car insurance is clock-based - it runs for exactly 24 hours from a precise start time, which can cross midnight. If you need cover from 9pm to 9pm the following day, the 24-hour option is the more natural fit.
Yes. All Covertime temporary policies are comprehensive, including one day cover. Damage to the car you are driving, third party liability, fire, and theft are all covered. You are not limited to third-party-only cover.
Covertime provides a quote in 60 seconds. You enter the car's registration, confirm your details, choose a start time, check the terms and conditions, then pay. Documents are available on screen immediately and emailed to you. Cover is available to start the same day, including evenings and weekends.
1 day car insurance is a single-day temporary policy giving you 24 hours of comprehensive cover from the start time you choose. It is entirely separate from any annual insurance on the vehicle - the car owner's policy, their no-claims discount, and your existing insurance are all unaffected. A claim is handled through your temporary policy only.
The price depends on your age and driving history, the car's make and model, and where the car is kept. Younger drivers and those with penalty points on their licence typically pay more than experienced drivers with a clean record. Covertime shows your price before you commit - there is no obligation to buy after getting a quote.
Yes. The DVLA checks the Motor Insurance Database (MID) when you tax a vehicle online, and Covertime policies are registered on the MID. A valid one day policy satisfies the insurance requirement for taxing. Note that there can be a short delay after purchase before your policy appears on the MID - it is worth confirming it is showing before taxing. You will also need a current MOT if the car is over three years old.
Yes. A one day policy is a straightforward way to drive a privately bought car home before your annual cover is in place. The policy is in your name, starts at the time you set, and gives you 24 hours of comprehensive cover for the journey. Once home, you can arrange longer-term insurance without having driven uninsured.
No. Learner drivers need specialist learner driver insurance. A standard temporary car insurance policy - including one day cover - requires a full UK driving licence. Learner insurance is a separate product designed for provisional licence holders driving under supervision.
Yes. You choose the exact start time when you get your quote. The 24-hour cover runs from that moment, whether it is morning, afternoon, evening, or overnight. There is no requirement to start at midnight or any other fixed time. If you need cover from 9pm to 9pm the following day, set 9pm as your start time.
You can take out another policy when your first ends, or choose a longer duration from the outset. Covertime offers short-term cover from one hour up to 28 days. For cover across several consecutive days, weekly car insurance lets you set the exact number of days in one go rather than buying multiple single-day policies.
Yes. Daily car insurance and one day car insurance are different terms for the same product - a 24-hour policy in your own name. Both provide comprehensive cover starting at the time you choose, with no effect on any existing insurance on the vehicle. The terms are used interchangeably.
No. A one day car insurance policy covers one driver on one specific vehicle. If more than one person needs to drive the same car - for example, sharing the driving on a longer trip - each driver needs their own separate policy on that vehicle. Because each policy is independent, a claim by one driver has no effect on the other's cover or no-claims record.
No. Once a policy has started it cannot be extended. When your cover ends you can buy a new policy straight away - there is no waiting period and cover can start immediately, so there is no gap. If you think you might need longer from the outset, it is often simpler to choose a two day or longer duration at the time of purchase.
Driving someone else's car on your own annual policy usually only provides third-party cover. A one day temporary policy gives you comprehensive protection — and leaves the owner's no-claims bonus completely untouched.
