What temporary car insurance is
Temporary car insurance allows visitors to the UK to insure a UK-registered car for a short period rather than arranging an annual policy. It is commonly used by visitors from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada who plan to borrow or occasionally use a vehicle during their stay.
Insurance is legally required for any vehicle driven on UK public roads. Temporary policies can last for as little as a single day right up to several months, and can be used to insure a motorist to drive someone else's car, provided that the owner gives permission.
What temporary insurance normally provides
Policies usually insure a named driver to use a specific UK-registered vehicle. Cover is usually comprehensive so includes protection against claims from other road users for injury or property damage, as well as damage to the insured car. Every insurer does of course have it's own acceptance criteria and terms and conditions, so the policy should be read carefully before purchase.
Benefits are:
- Legal protection if another person or vehicle is damaged
- Use of a borrowed or family vehicle during a visit
- Insurance active only for the selected dates
- No need to arrange a full annual UK policy
Why visitors often use temporary cover
Mainstream UK insurers normally insure drivers who live in Britain. Arranging annual cover with a foreign licence can be difficult and sometimes expensive for short stays, so visitors commonly apply for temporary insurance for the time they expect to drive.
This approach suits visitors who need occasional access to a car rather than permanent use.
- The driver should be aged between 25 and 70.
- The vehicle needs to be registered and normally kept in the UK
- The driver must hold a valid full driving licence recognised for UK use
- The vehicle must be roadworthy and legally permitted on UK roads
- The driver must meet the insurer’s age and driving history limits
How drivers normally qualify for temporary cover
As with all insurance, applications may sometimes be declined where the insurer cannot provide cover for the driver or vehicle. However it takes only a minute or so to apply for a quote and no personally identifying information is asked for at this stage.