Short Term Car Insurance
Temporary or short-term insurance is comprehensive car cover that lasts from 1 hour up to 28 days. It’s the modern approach to insurance for those who don’t want to be tied down with a 12-month policy.
You may find short-term motor insurance useful if you are:
- collecting a new vehicle
- test driving a new vehicle
- a young driver back home from university
- borrowing a friend's car or van
- sharing the driving on a one-off trip
Short-Term Motor Insurance, also known as Temporary Motor Insurance, provides flexible cover to drive a car or van for as little as one hour or up to 28 days, without committing to an annual policy.
It can be useful in various situations, such as borrowing a van to move house, practising as a learner driver, driving someone else’s car in an emergency or test-driving a vehicle being sold privately.
Best of all, because GoShorty's policies are separate from any existing policies, the vehicle owner’s No Claims Discount (NCD) is never at risk.
Why Should I Consider Short-Term Car Insurance?
Short-Term Car Insurance provides comprehensive cover when you only need to drive a vehicle temporarily. As a separate, standalone policy, it offers a flexible alternative to changing an annual policy or making a long-term commitment.
It can be useful when borrowing or lending a car, sharing the driving on a long journey, taking a private test drive or needing another vehicle at short notice. You can also use it to cover your own car for an eligible journey or purpose that is not included under your existing insurance.
If you borrow someone else’s car, any claim by the temporary driver is handled under the short-term policy rather than the vehicle owner’s annual policy. This can help protect the owner’s No Claims Discount, provided no claim is made under their policy. The owner may still need to report the incident to their insurer in accordance with their policy terms.
When you might need Temporary Car Insurance
Whether you’re borrowing a vehicle for a short journey, sharing the driving on a longer trip or looking for an alternative to being added as a named driver, our short-term policies provide flexible cover for the time you need it. Here are some common situations where temporary car insurance may be useful.
Borrowing or Lending a Car
Whether you need to borrow a car for a short journey or lend yours to a friend for a few days, a standalone temporary policy provides separate cover without adding another driver to the owner’s annual policy. If a claim is handled under the temporary policy, this can help protect the vehicle owner’s No Claims Discount, although the incident may still need to be disclosed to their insurer.
Students Returning Home
Students returning home for the holidays can use temporary insurance to drive a family car without needing to be added to its annual policy for the entire year.
Private Test Drives
The seller’s insurance may not cover you to test-drive a privately sold vehicle. With the owner’s permission, temporary insurance can provide comprehensive cover for the test drive, subject to the policy terms.
Driving a Newly Purchased Car Home
Short-term drive-away insurance can cover you to collect a newly purchased car and drive it home. This gives you time to compare annual policies before arranging your longer-term cover.
Road Trips and Festival Travel
Long journeys can be tiring for one driver. Eligible additional drivers can arrange temporary cover to share the driving during a road trip, holiday or journey to a festival.
Moving House or Larger Errands
If your everyday car does not have enough space, temporary car or van insurance can allow you to borrow a larger vehicle for moving house, collecting furniture or completing another large errand.
Driving for Business Trips
Standard motor insurance may not cover journeys to off-site meetings, conferences or other temporary workplaces. Our short-term policies include Business Class 1 use as standard, subject to the permitted uses and other policy terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does short term motor insurance cover?
Short term motor insurance, also known as temporary car insurance, is a fully comprehensive cover for shorter periods. This type of insurance includes coverage for loss, theft, or damage to the vehicle, accident recovery, and legal liability.
When is short term motor insurance not suitable?
Short term motor insurance may not be suitable in certain situations, such as:
- Hiring or renting vehicles, as these require specialist insurance from the rental company.
- Use for taxis or commercial transport of goods.
What does short term motor insurance cost?
The cost of short term motor insurance varies based on several factors, including your age, the vehicle type, and the length of the policy. Other considerations may include your driving history, such as points on your license.
Why choose Direct Gap and GoShorty to insure with?
Choosing Direct Gap and GoShorty ensures quality insurance products and excellent customer support. Our partnership with GoShorty reflects our shared values, and both companies boast exceptional reviews. Feel free to contact us or GoShorty for any questions before getting a quote or purchasing a policy.
What is the shortest time I can insure my vehicle for?
The minimum coverage period for our short term motor insurance is 1 hour.
What’s the longest time I can insure my vehicle with this insurance?
The maximum coverage period for temporary car insurance is 28 days.