Pay as you go 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
Things to know about pay as you go car insurance
Whether it's for one hour, two, or twelve... if that is how much cover you need, that is how much you should pay for. You decide.
If you only need to drive for an hour or two, why pay for a whole day? With flexible options made to suit your schedule, you can drive with peace of mind. You are protected for exactly the time you need and not a minute more. Pay as you go car insurance is perfect for drivers who want to keep things flexible.
There are plenty of reasons why you might need pay as you go car insurance. You may need to borrow a friend's car to run some errands, share the driving on a long trip, or you might need cover for an hour or two to drive a new car home.
Short-term cover might be quick, but it is also powerful! Our policies are comprehensive, meaning they cover you, the car you are driving, other people, and other vehicles.
Our pay as you go 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 / 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
Sole damage to the windscreen
How to get pay as you go car insurance
The good news is that taking out pay as you go car insurance is simple and only takes a few minutes.
Need cover right now? No problem. Just select the option to start your cover straight away. It usually only takes a few minutes to get set up. We do not waste your time with never-ending questions; we only ask for the info we actually need and let our technology do the rest.
Planning ahead? If you are organised, you can set up your cover in advance. Simply pick the exact date and time you want your insurance to start, up to 30 days in the future.
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!
Who needs pay as you go car insurance?
This type of short but mighty comprehensive insurance is for drivers who want pay as you go car insurance and do not want to pay for more than they use.
Whatever the reason - whether it is an emergency, spontaneity or necessity - pay as you go temporary car insurance is a quick way to get the cover you need. You do not even need to own the car to take out a policy, though you will need the owner's permission!
You might use pay as you go car insurance for:
Sharing the drive on a long trip
Driving family to the airport
Borrowing someone else's car (with their permission)
Test driving a car before you buy it
Driving a new car home from the dealership
Who is pay as you go 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 pay as you go car insurance cost?
Pay as you go car insurance is a great way to keep costs down. Because you only pay for the hours you need, you are not wasting money on extra time.
The cost of your policy will depend on a few factors - about you, the car, and how long you need cover.
These are used to calculate your pay as you go insurance premium:
How long you need it: The length of time you need insurance will impact the price. Longer periods of cover will usually cost more.
The car you are driving: The make, model, power and value of the car you want to insure could affect the cost of your cover.
You and your licence: Your driving experience will also play a factor in your premium.
How can you get the cheapest pay as you go insurance?
To get the best price, make sure you only buy cover for the exact amount of time you need.
With pay as you go car insurance, you can start your cover the moment you get behind the wheel and end it the moment you arrive. You can choose from one hour all the way up to 28 days. When you get a quote, use the slider to change the duration to find the best value for your trip.
Do it even faster in our app.
Pay as you go car insurance
Takes less than 60 seconds!
Benefits of pay as you go car insurance
The choice is yours
Choose how long you need cover, from 1 hour to 28 days - why pay for more?
Comprehensive cover
Our pay as you go car insurance protects you, your passengers, the car you are driving, as well as other people, vehicles and property.
Great for borrowing cars
Need to borrow a friend's or family member's car? Get covered quickly without affecting their No Claims Discount.
Quick, easy and affordable
Get a quote in minutes and keep costs to a minimum by only paying for the time you actually need.
Pay as you go car insurance FAQs
Pay as you go car insurance is a flexible type of cover that allows you to buy insurance only for the time you actually need. Instead of a standard 12-month policy, you can buy cover for as little as one hour, a few days, or a couple of weeks. It is designed for people who borrow cars, share driving on long trips, or only drive occasionally.
Yes. This is one of the biggest benefits. Because our pay as you go car insurance is a separate, standalone policy, any claim made would not usually affect the car owner's annual insurance or their No Claims Discount (NCD). This makes it much safer to borrow a car from a friend or family member.
You can be covered instantly. Once you have finished the quick quote process and paid for your policy, your cover can start immediately. Your details are then uploaded to the Motor Insurance Database (MID), which is the system the police use to check if a car is insured.
Absolutely. Many people use pay as you go car insurance to cover the gap between buying a car and setting up a long-term annual policy. It is a quick and legal way to get a new or second-hand car home from a dealership or a private seller.
Yes. All our pay as you go car insurance policies are comprehensive. This means you are covered for damage to the car you are driving, damage to other people's property or vehicles, fire and theft, and personal injury to others.
To get a quote for pay as you go car insurance, you only need three things: the registration number of the car, your name, address, and date of birth, and your UK driving licence details.
Yes, we offer options for learners. It is a popular way for those learning to drive to get extra practice in a friend's or parent's car without the risk of affecting the owner's main insurance policy. Check out our temporary learner insurance for more details.
Do it even faster in our app.
Get a quote in under two minutes
Takes less than 60 seconds!