Do you need to insure a car or a driver for a short period of time? If so, then short term car insurance – sometimes called ‘temporary car insurance’ - could be what you’re looking for.
How does short term car insurance work?
Short term car insurance typically lets you do one of two things:
- Insure yourself on another car for a short period of time
- Insure another driver on your car for a short period of time
For example, you may be picking up a car on behalf of someone else or taking a new car for a test drive. Or, you may be sharing the driving on a long journey.
In these situations you can take out a temporary or ‘short time’ car insurance policy to ensure you and the car are protected.
The cheapest short term car insurance policy can also cost you less than adding a named driver to your existing car insurance policy. And, they can help you protect your no-claims bonus. If you add a named driver to your policy and they have an accident then your no-claims could be affected. A temporary car insurance policy in their own name means your no-claims is safe.
What to look for when you compare short term car insurance
Whether you are looking for short term car insurance for under 21 year old drivers or for experienced motorists, it’s important that you shop around for the most appropriate cover.
When you compare short term car insurance policies you should consider:
- The minimum and maximum number of days you can take out short term cover for
- Whether the insurance includes foreign use
- Any minimum age for the policyholder (some insurers have a minimum age of 21 or 23)
- Any maximum value of the car to be insured
- What the standard policy excess is (the amount of any claim you have to pay yourself)
Finding the cheapest short term car insurance
With dozens of policies in the market, one of the easiest ways to find the cheapest short term insurance policies is to compare car insurance quotes online. You will need to compare both the prices and features of short time car insurance policies.
While the cost may be your primary concern, it’s also important to consider the quality of the cover. If you don’t, you could find that the policy won’t pay out if you have to make a claim.
