Want to insure a car for 1 day?
- Insure a car or van for just one day
- Insure a vehicle you don't own
- Lend your own car to another driver
- Comprehensive cover
- Get a quote in seconds
- Buy online immediately
- Guaranted best price
- Some foreign driving licences accepted
Need to insure a car for just a single day? Whether you want to test drive a car, borrow one from a friend for the day, take over as driver at short notice or need a temporary insurance policy for many other reasons it is possible for most motorists to buy a policy very quickly, with the minimum of formalities.
What information will I need?
You'll need the registration letters (number plate details) of the car you want to insure, and your driving licence details. If the vehicle you want to insure belongs to someone else you'll need to have that person's permission to drive the car.
What does it cost?
Just as with yearly motor insurance, the premium will vary according to the driver, and the vehicle to be insured. However, getting a quote only takes a few seconds so you can soon get a personalised quotation.
Which driving licences are accepted?
The insurers will consider motorists with full driving licences issued in The UK, all countries of the EEC, plus Australia, Canada, The Falklands, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Learner drivers from the UK can apply, also.
Can visitors to the UK apply for a policy?
Yes, if your driving licence was issued by one of the countries listed above. To get a quote you will need your driving licence and passport details. When asked for a postcode please enter the postcode of the address of where you are staying in the UK, not your home address. A hotel address, or the address of a friend or relative you are staying with is acceptable.
Can a hired car be covered?
No. Only a vehicle that the driver owns, or has borrowed with the owner's permission.
What cover is available?
The cover is comprehensive for all journeys within the UK. Cover for journeys within the rest of the EEC is included at third party level only but this can be extended to comprehensive cover for a small extra premium.
Is roadside assistance included?
Not as standard but it is available as an optional extra.
Which cars or vans can be insured?
Each insurer has a list of vehicles that can be insured and some can only be covered if the driver meets certain qualifications (such as age, driving experience, accident-free record etc). However, again it only takes seconds to get a quote so you could soon see whether or not you would be accepted.
Which drivers can be insured?
- Age range 19-75 (learners from 17 upwards)
- Full licence holders should have held that licence for a minimum of one year
- No more than six penalty points within the last five years
- No pending prosecutions, or pending police enquiries
- No more than two accidents, losses or claims witin the past three years
- No criminal conviction record, or pending police enquiries
- No disqualifications or licence revocations within the past five years
- Applicants must be employed, self employed or retired - not unemployed
- No insurance policies cancelled, or renewals refused
- No refused insurance claims
- No couriers, or parcels/fast food deliverers
- No sports people or anyone in the entertainments industry
- No involvement in the motor trade, scrap collection, carriage of dangerous goods.
What are the vehicle limitations?
- They must be on the insurer's approved list (get a quote to check)
- They must be worth more than £1500, and less than £45,000
- No more than eight seats, including the driver's
- Right hand drive only
- First registered, and normally kept, in the UK
- No taxis/minicabs, horseboxes, mobile homes, catering vans, lorries, tippers, refrigerated vehicles
- No racing, pacemaking, speed trials etc
- No use in hazardous or off-road locations
- No vehicles subject to a SORN
- No modified vehicles, unless modified to suit a disabled passenger or driver, or to run on LPG
- Not owned by a car hire or claims management company.
What usage will be covered?
- Social, domestic and pleasure purposes.
- Commuting to and from a place of work
- Personal business use (subject to the restrictions detailed above)
What can I use it for?
- Sharing the driving of a car on a long journey
- test driving a car you may wish to buy
- Driving a car home after you have bought it
- Taking over as driver at short notice
- Borrowing a car for business or holiday use
- Lending your own car to a friend
Very important!!!
It is important to remember that if a driver in a borrowed car is stopped by the police, and is found to be uninsured, then the person who lent the car will be charged and end up in court too! That is because, in the UK, it is a criminal offence to allow someone to drive your car unless you know that insurance is in place - see this UK government site for driving without insurance penalties. It is not enough to believe that the driver was insured; you have to make absolutely sure. Buying a short term car insurance could save both of you a large fine, possibly a disqualification from driving or even a prison sentence too. The answer is to buy a short term insurance policy, which you can get for as little as one single day.