Temporary car insurance age 17

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Temporary car insurance can be a cheap and useful option if you only need to use a car for a day, a single trip or a few weeks. To take out a policy first get permission from the car's owner, then:

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Temporary (or short-term) car insurance can be used when you only need to take a car on the road for a short time. This could be for an hour, a single day, a few weeks, or somewhere in-between.

You can apply in a few minutes and get covered almost as fast. Short-term policies offer fully-comprehensive cover as standard, although extras like breakdown cover are usually an optional extra.

Temporary insurance may be useful as a cheap, convenient and more flexible alternative to amending your existing car insurance policy if you need to drive a different car. On the other hand, it may not be suitable for you – you need to compare prices and know exactly the level of cover you need in order to find out.

It’s illegal to drive in the UK without insurance, but if you only need to drive for a brief period, a short-term policy may be the best way to ensure you’re covered.

For example, one-day car insurance could be a good option if you’re:

Can I get temporary car insurance?

Your age

Insurers may set a minimum and maximum age to take out a one-day policy.

The car’s value

The maximum vehicle value you can get cover for - as cars costing more than this will not be covered.

The excess

Temporary car insurance is quick and easy to set up. If you’re arranging it yourself to use someone else’s vehicle, you’ll need their permission.

You’ll need to share some information with the temporary car insurance provider to get a policy. This includes:

The cover you get as part of a comprehensive temporary car insurance policy will usually be identical to that of a comprehensive annual policy, although a few companies will only offer third-party cover on short-term policies.

If you don’t know which kind you need, you can compare the two levels of cover to see which suits you best.

What is not included with short-term car insurance?

As with all insurance policies, there are some exclusions that apply to short-term car insurance. These include:

• damage or theft because the keys were left in the ignition

• the car being driven by someone not named on the insurance

• the type of vehicle not being covered by the policy

• using the vehicle for a purpose that’s excluded in the policy’s terms and conditions

There are also rules as to who can get temporary insurance. You’re likely to struggle if you:

• have any motoring convictions or points on your licence, or pending prosecutions

• are a new driver who’s had their licence less than a year

• are under 21 or over 75

• are looking to drive a vehicle that exceeds a certain value

"It’s not a replacement for an annual policy, and almost always costs more per day than traditional insurance, with limits on how often you can use it as well."

The average cost for a one-day policy is just £42¹, but how much you pay will depend on how much of a risk the insurance company considers you to be. If you’re younger or have less experience, then you may end up paying more than an older driver.

There are ways to bring the cost down, such as paying a larger up-front fee, opting for a higher excess or driving a less valuable or less powerful car.

What about three- to six-month car insurance?

If you need short-term cover for longer – for example, for three to six months – it can be cheaper to take out and subsequently cancel an annual policy, but you do need to factor in cancellation costs.

Find out whether you need short term car insurance

You can, but a temporary car insurance policy bought for the UK isn’t likely to give you as much cover in Europe. A fully comprehensive UK policy might only offer third-party cover in Europe, for example. That means you could face a huge bill if you need to claim, and you’d also have to find a way to get the car back to the UK.

The factors that might influence the price of your daily car insurance include:

How to find cheap daily car insurance

It’s the right cover – not the cheapest price – that should be the most important factor to consider. You can compare short-term car insurance policies to find out which cover is appropriate.

Alternatives to temporary car insurance

There are three main ways to cover yourself to drive a car in the short term. You could:

By comparing car insurance, UK car owners could save money on their policy. The best value car insurance will offer the cover at an affordable price. Choose a cover plan from the best UK car insurance companies and see the online discounts they offer.

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