One day car insurance
Comprehensive 1 day car insurance sorted from your phone in minutes.
Get a price in under 60 seconds!
Why choose
Covertime?
- Do everything online
- Comprehensive cover
- Protect existing No Claims Discount
- Get on the road in minutes
- Insure only for the time you need
- Docs available right after purchase
- Cover from one hour to 28 days
- Quick and flexible
What is one day car insurance?
One day car insurance - also called 1 day car insurance - is temporary cover for a specific occasion on a specific 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 one 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 as soon as you purchase. Cover starts at the time you have chosen - same-day, this evening, or a future date.
How much does one day car insurance cost?
The price of 1 day car insurance depends on several factors:
- Your age and driving history
- The car's make, model, and insurance group
- Where the car will be kept overnight
- Whether you have any penalty points or claims in the last three years
Younger drivers or those with points on their licence will pay more. Covertime shows your price before you commit — no obligation.
One day car insurance is comprehensive
What is covered?
- Damage to the car you are driving
- Theft or attempted theft
- Fire damage
- Third party: damage to other vehicles, property, and injury to others
What is not covered?
- More than one driver on a single policy
- Delivery, courier or taxi work
- Theft or damage due to neglect, such as leaving the car unlocked
- Sole damage to the windscreen
How to get one day car insurance
- Enter the car's registration number
- Confirm your driving licence details
- Choose your start date and time - today, this evening, or a future date
- Pay and receive your documents instantly by email
Get a price in under a minute. There is no need to phone anyone or wait for a callback. Your documents arrive immediately and cover starts at the time you choose.
Who is
temporary car cover suitable for?
Benefits of car insurance by the day
Your cover, your duration
Choose exactly how long you need, from one hour to 28 days. No need to pay for time you won't use.
Comprehensive cover
Daily car insurance from Covertime covers you, your passengers, the car you're driving, and any third-party damage or injury.
Useful when buying a car
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.
Straightforward from start to finish
Get a quote in under a minute and have your documents available immediately after purchase. Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
When do you need one day car insurance?
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.
- Collecting a car you have just bought privately and driving it home
- Borrowing a family member's or friend's car for the day
- Helping someone move house in their vehicle
- Using a relative's car while yours is in for a service or repair
- A day trip in a borrowed car
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.
Is one day car insurance the same as daily car insurance?
They are different in intent, even though the underlying product is the same.
One day car insurance is occasion-driven: you have a specific day in mind and a specific reason. The date matters, and the 24-hour window starts and ends on a calendar day.
Daily car insurance is rate-driven: you want to pay by the day and choose exactly how many days you need - one, three, a week. It suits recurring or multi-day arrangements more than a single defined event.
24 hour car insurance is clock-driven: you set an exact start time and cover runs for precisely 24 hours from that moment. That makes it the right choice when your window crosses midnight or when you are thinking in hours rather than dates.
What vehicles can I insure for one day?
One day car insurance covers standard private cars registered and kept in the UK.
Cars you do not own
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.
Cars you have just bought privately
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.
Cars used for a specific occasion
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.
Vehicles not covered
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.
One day car insurance vs short-term car insurance
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:
- Two day car insurance - for an overnight or long weekend trip
- Weekly car insurance - seven consecutive days
- Monthly car insurance - up to 28 days
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.
One day car insurance FAQs
Can I get car insurance for just one day?
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.
Does 1 day car insurance affect my no-claims bonus?
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.
Can I insure someone else's car for one day?
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.
Is one day car insurance the same as 24 hour car insurance?
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.
Is car insurance for one day comprehensive?
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.
How quickly can I get one day car insurance?
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.
What is 1 day car insurance?
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.
How much does one day car insurance cost?
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.
Can I use one day car insurance to tax a car?
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.
Can I get one day car insurance on a car I have just bought?
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.
Is one day car insurance available for learner drivers?
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.
Did you know?
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.