TEMPORARY CAR INSURANCE
Temporary car insurance from 1 hour to 30 days
- Flexible – add extra days online
- Quick – get short-term car insurance within minutes
- Comprehensive – fully covered for leisure or business use
Existing customer? Log in to manage your account 24/7
Temporary car insurance cover
Say hello to flexible short term car insurance from Vizo
Super flexible
Comprehensive
Quick and easy
How does temporary car insurance work?
What's included with temporary car insurance?
Everything you’d expect from an annual car insurance policy. Business and leisure usage are included as standard. Whilst your policy is temporary, your cover is comprehensive.
Can I get temporary car insurance on a friend's car?
How much is temporary car insurance?
The cost of short-term car insurance will vary depending on your situation and vehicle.
- Location: your postcode and where the car is kept overnight will be considered. If it’s parked in a safer location, like a locked garage or driveway, the impact on your premium is likely to be less. The risk of theft or vandalism may be higher in certain postcodes.
- Policy duration: the price of your policy is largely determined by the duration of time you need cover.
- Type of car: cars are grouped by make and model. Usually the higher the group the more expensive and powerful the car. They’re seen by insurers as a greater risk of being stolen or being involved in an accident.
- Driving history: if you’ve had any previous convictions or claims, it’ll impact your temporary car insurance premium.
These are our average prices
How long can you have temporary car insurance for?
Hourly insurance
Day insurance
Weekly & monthly insurance
What’s covered in our temporary car insurance?
What's covered
- Loss, theft, fire or vandalism
- Child seat replacement
- Replacement locks
- New car replacement - Of the same make, model and specification2
- Accident recovery - And an approved repair service3
- Legal liability - If another person is injured or dies, or their property's damaged
- Personal accident - Up to £2,500 per claim (or £5,000 per insurance year)
- Legal Expenses cover - Up to £100,000 cover for legal expenses following an accident that wasn’t your fault or if you need help with a motoring legal dispute
- Personal belongings - Cover up to £150
What's optional
- Vizo Breakdown Cover - You can add Vizo Breakdown Cover to your temporary insurance purchase
- European car insurance cover - If you want to drive your car in the EU, you can add cover for that when you buy your policy
- Excess Protection - You can add excess protection when you buy your policy. It reimburses any excess charges, if you need to make a claim
What's not covered
- Unattended / keys in ignition - Loss or damage if the vehicle was left unattended with the engine running or the keys in the ignition
- Wear and tear - Electrical and mechanical breakdown or gradual deterioration
- Confiscation, requisition, or destruction - By or under order of any government, public or local authority
- Courtesy car
Am I eligible for temporary car insurance?
As the driver, you must
- be aged 17 to 75 years
- hold a full, valid UK driving licence
- have a current permanent address
- have permission from the vehicle owner to drive it and you’ve agreed to insure it
- have had no more than 1 fault claim in the last 12 months
- have had no driving offences in the last 3 years starting with the code DR, CD, DD, UT or DG
- have never been refused insurance or had a policy cancelled
Your vehicle must
- be registered in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man
- have no more than 8 seats in total
- not be a seized vehicle or in a police compound
- not be imported from another country through channels other than the maker’s official distribution system
- not be a heavy goods vehicle (HGV)
- not be over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW)
Am I eligible for temporary car insurance?
What are the alternatives to temporary car insurance?
If you’re borrowing someone else’s vehicle, they could add you as a named driver on their policy. Or you could take out an annual policy on another vehicle and cancel it when you no longer need it. However, these options are likely to cost more than temp cover for you or the car owner. And they could impact the owner’s Protected No Claims Discount in the event of a claim by the person driving it.
- Temporary van insurance: it could be that you need to borrow a van to move house or transport furniture. Our temporary van insurance works much like our short-term car policy, where you only take cover for the time you need. We also cover motorhomes and campervans.
- Temporary car insurance for business use: if you need to take a business trip but aren’t covered to use your car for business on your existing annual policy, our temporary car insurance will cover for temporary business use. You can also purchase business breakdown cover from Vizo for longer term usage.
- Test drive insurance: if you’re buying a car privately and want to test drive it, or if you’re setting up test drives for a car you’re selling, we’ll cover that.
Temporary car insurance explained
? How long does it take to get temporary car insurance?
Getting temporary car insurance is quick and easy to do online. You can be covered to drive within 15 minutes. Get a quote.
? Will I build up my no claims discount with temporary car insurance?
No. You cannot build up your NCD (No Claims Discount) with temporary car insurance. This is because Vizo Temporary Car Insurance is a flat-rate policy for a short, fixed period. You will not, however, affect the no claims of the owner in the case you make a claim.
? Can I get temporary insurance if I already have an annual policy?
Yes, that’s not a problem. And if you needed to make a claim on your temporary policy, it won’t affect the no claims discount on your annual policy. You just need to make sure you declare the claim to your annual insurer.
? Can new drivers get temporary car insurance?
Yes, new drivers can get temporary car insurance. This is a great option for those looking to borrow a car, take over driving on a long trip or just get some more practice in. Temporary car insurance is quick and easy to set up online and flexible. You can get cover for an hour, or up to 30 days. Under Vizo Temporary Car Insurance, drivers must hold a current, valid, full UK driving licence and have done so for at least 6 months (reduced to 3 months if aged over 25).
? Can I drive to Europe when I’m temporarily covered?
Yes. You will need to buy our additional cover for Europe (this is an optional extra). Journeys must start and finish within Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the Isle of Man, and cover is only available for cars registered in the UK. We can only provide temporary car insurance for travelling to countries within the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. See the government website for a list of countries. It’s worth getting European breakdown cover for your trip so you can get help if you break down abroad. The Vizo offers the best cover in the market for UK drivers in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy or anywhere in Europe. Temporary car insurance is quick and easy to set up online and flexible. You can get cover for an hour, or up to 30 days. Under Vizo Temporary Car Insurance, drivers must hold a current, valid, full UK driving licence and have done so for at least 6 months (reduced to 3 months if aged over 25).
? Can you insure a car without MOT?
In most cases, you can't insure a car without a valid MOT. And driving an uninsured car, even to get an MOT, is illegal. Thankfully, you can get temporary car insurance for short periods. Even if it’s just for an hour to drive your car to the garage for its MOT. But check your temporary insurance policy carefully. Some might not cover driving to the garage without an MOT – making your insurance invalid. It’s worth getting European breakdown cover for your trip so you can get help if you break down abroad. The Vizo offers the best cover in the market for UK drivers in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy or anywhere in Europe. Temporary car insurance is quick and easy to set up online and flexible. You can get cover for an hour, or up to 30 days. Under Vizo Temporary Car Insurance, drivers must hold a current, valid, full UK driving licence and have done so for at least 6 months (reduced to 3 months if aged over 25).
? Can I tax a car with temporary insurance?
Yes, you can get your car taxed with temporary insurance. Just keep in mind that, if you’re taxing your car online, you’ll have to wait for the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to update. We notify the MID of all new insurance policies within 24 hours. It’s still legal for you to drive during these 24 hours – but it’s always worth double-checking that you’ve received and checked your insurance documents.It’s worth getting European breakdown cover for your trip so you can get help if you break down abroad. The RAC offers the best cover in the market for UK drivers in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy or anywhere in Europe. Temporary car insurance is quick and easy to set up online and flexible. You can get cover for an hour, or up to 30 days. Under RAC Temporary Car Insurance, drivers must hold a current, valid, full UK driving licence and have done so for at least 6 months (reduced to 3 months if aged over 25).
? Can I insure a car instantly?
Yes, temporary insurance will begin immediately once you’ve taken it out. This process usually takes 15 minutes. Get a quick quote. You can manage the policy in your online account 24/7 and top up if you need more time, up to 30 days maximum.Temporary car insurance is quick and easy to set up online and flexible. You can get cover for an hour, or up to 30 days. Under Vizo Temporary Car Insurance, drivers must hold a current, valid, full UK driving licence and have done so for at least 6 months (reduced to 3 months if aged over 25).
? Can you get temporary car insurance on a car that's already insured?
Yes you can. Also, if you need to make a claim while you have a short term car insurance policy on somebody else's car, their no claims discount won’t be affected.
? Is temporary car insurance more expensive?
Temporary car insurance tends to cost more day-by-day than an annual policy. But if you don’t need car insurance for a whole year, then it’s usually much cheaper to just get temporary car insurance for the time you need it.
? Can I get temporary car insurance without main insurance?
Yes. You don’t need another insurance policy to be eligible for temporary insurance – for example, if you’re getting temporary insurance to cover your car until you’ve arranged a normal insurance policy. But cars have to be insured at all times, unless they have a Statutory Off-Road Notice (SORN). So unless your car has a SORN, you can’t just get temporary car insurance for whenever you drive your car, and leave it uninsured the rest of the time.
Your temporary car insurance policy FAQs
? Can I cancel my policy?
Yes, you can cancel your policy at any time. You’ll be entitled to a full refund of your premium, if you cancel the policy before cover has started. If you cancel the policy after cover has started, you’ll be entitled to a partial refund.
? How do I extend my insurance policy?
You can extend your temp car insurance policy quickly and easily online. Simply log in to your account to add more time.
? How does the claims process work?
For more information on how to make a claim, see our Existing Customers page. Our claims line provides 24-hour temporary car insurance support. You must contact the police if the car has been stolen or if anyone has been injured as the result of any claim.
? Does temporary car insurance show up on ASKMID?
We guarantee to update the Motor Insurance Database (MID) every 7 days and in some cases more often, but we recommend always having a copy of your Insurance Certificate with you during the period of cover. You can drive the vehicle legally between the dates and times shown on the insurance certificate issued to you.
? What happens if I have an accident while I’ve got temporary cover?
You’ll be covered in the case of any crashes or damage to the vehicle up to the car’s current market value. Also, the no claims discount of the vehicle’s owner won’t be affected, so you don’t need to worry about that. Repairs are covered and will be carried out by an approved provider3.
? Why have I been declined temporary car insurance?
When you're declined temporary car insurance, it's usually because of a few things. It might be because of where you live or not meeting age rules. It could also involve past convictions or modifying your car. Also, if your previous car insurance got cancelled, other insurance companies may say no to covering you.
? How do I find out my temporary car insurance expiry date?
The quickest way to find out when your RAC Temporary Car Insurance expires is by checking your online account. To find out when your car insurance expires, you can also check your policy documents or insurance certificate. Or in your emails for e-receipts. Also, if your previous car insurance got cancelled, other insurance companies may say no to covering you.
? Can I add an additional driver to my temporary car insurance?
No, you can’t add an additional driver to your temporary car insurance. If you want to add an additional driver, they will have to take out a separate policy.
? Can I get temporary car insurance on a car that’s already insured?
Yes you can. Also, if you need to make a claim while you have a short term car insurance policy on somebody else's car, their no claims discount won’t be affected.
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