Sometimes you only need car insurance for a short time. Maybe you're borrowing a friend's car for the day or picking up a new car you've just bought. That's where day insurance comes in. It's a type of temporary car insurance that lets you get covered quickly without paying for a whole year.
Day insurance is car insurance that covers you for a short period of time. It can last from just one hour up to around 28 days, depending on the provider. You only pay for the time you need, which makes it a flexible option when you don't need a full annual policy.
Most day insurance policies are fully comprehensive. This means you get the highest level of cover. You're protected if the car is damaged, stolen, or set on fire. It also covers damage you might cause to other people or their cars.
There are many reasons people take out short-term cover. According to Confused, the most common reason is to test drive, buy, or sell a car. In 2023, over 400,000 temporary insurance policies were sold for this reason alone, making up about 35% of all policies sold.
The second most common reason is borrowing a vehicle. Nearly 300,000 policies were taken out for this in 2023, which is about 23% of all temporary policies. Other popular uses include sharing the driving on a road trip, moving house with a borrowed van, letting someone else drive your car for a day, and learner drivers practising in a family member's car.
The cost depends on things like your age, driving history, the car you want to insure, and how long you need cover for. According to Confused, most temporary car insurance policies are affordable. Of the 1.25 million policies sold in 2023, over 60% cost less than £50, and around 75% cost less than £75.
Day insurance does cost more per day than an annual policy would. But if you only need cover for a short time, it can work out much cheaper than paying for a whole year of insurance you won't use.
Quick to arrange: You can get covered in as little as 15 minutes and start driving straight away.
Only pay for what you need: Choose cover from one hour to 28 days, so you're not paying for time you won't use.
Protects no claims bonus: If you make a claim on a temporary policy, it usually won't affect the car owner's no claims discount.
Fully comprehensive cover: Most policies give you the highest level of protection as standard.
If you’re looking for an annual fully comprehensive policy make sure to compare via Brumble.
There are some things day insurance won't do. You can't build up a no claims discount with a temporary policy, so it won't help you get cheaper insurance in the future. If you need cover for more than a few weeks, an annual policy might work out cheaper overall.
You'll also need to meet certain requirements. Most providers require you to be aged 18 to 75 and to have held a valid full UK driving licence for at least three to six months. Some providers offer cover for learner drivers too, but this varies.
According to Confused, the most common age group for temporary car insurance is people aged 30 to 34, who make up about 18% of all policyholders. Those aged 25 to 39 together make up nearly half of all temporary insurance buyers. It's not just for young drivers – it's a useful option for anyone who needs flexible, short-term cover.
Whether you need day insurance or a full annual policy, it's always worth comparing your options to see how much you could save.
• Day insurance lets you get covered from one hour to 28 days
• It's most used for buying cars or borrowing vehicles
• Most policies cost less than £75 and offer fully comprehensive cover
• You can't build a no claims discount with temporary cover
• For longer needs, an annual policy may be cheaper
Day insurance is a quick and flexible way to get covered when you only need car insurance for a short time. Whether you're borrowing a friend's car, test driving a new vehicle, or sharing the driving on a long journey, it lets you pay for exactly the cover you need without committing to a full annual policy. Most policies are fully comprehensive and cost less than £75, making it an affordable option for many drivers. If you need cover for longer than a few weeks, it's worth comparing annual policies to see if you could save money in the long run.
Compare many types of policies via Brumble to find the best one for you.
1. Confused.com – Temporary Car Insurance Statistics
2. MoneyHelper – What Is Temporary Car Insurance
3. Compare the Market – Temporary Car Insurance
4. NerdWallet UK – Temporary Car Insurance
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