Looking for short term or temporary car insurance? Short term insurance can be ideal if you need to cover a car you are borrowing or putting back on the road for just a few days. Here are a few circumstances when temporary car insurance comes into its own:

• Your car is off the road and uninsured but you now want to use it for a few days (remember you may need to tax the car too in this situation).
• Family or friends who own a car have offered to lend it to you. Borrowing will probably be a lot cheaper than hiring - but don't risk their car or their insurance policy - your own short term car insurance policy will protect the owner's no claims bonus.
• You are about to lend your car out to friends or family. Ensure your no claims bonus is safe - especially as it will possibly be on unfamiliar roads and a different vehicle for them. Take out a short term car insurance policy and you are covered.

See our specialist article if you are looking at short term insurance to cover a visitor to the UK.

Different companies do appeal in different circumstances, hence it's well worthwhile trying a few before deciding which is for you. Prices can vary considerably according to your circumstances too.

Short Term Car Insurance

Day Insure

Day Insure offer flexible policies providing cover from just one hour up to 30 days (although you can take another policy if you need it for longer). Day Insure also offer comprehensive cover for trips to Europe if this is required, and you can add another driver to the policy as well. So this makes them ideal if you need a car for a specific trip or even a few weeks. Insurance quotations from Day Insure are provided online only.

Temp Cover

Good at covering younger and less experienced drivers, as well as those with points on their licence. Temp Cover offer the additional option of allowing you to buy comprehensive cover on some policies if you are planning on taking the car to another EU country. The company have a range of packages covering areas such as AA breakdown cover and excess protection and their online quotes are provided for most drivers from 17 to 77.

Safely Insured

Safelyinsured.co.uk offer a similar product. They will also allow you to protect the excess that you would be liable for in case of accident or theft of the vehicle, which is a worthwhile benefit to consider. Safely Insured will also cover hire cars rented without insurance cover provided. Their quotation process is also only available online.

Do consider Car Hire instead

Also think about renting a car instead - although for most people short term car insurance is the more affordable option - for a few it might be cheaper! Try our car hire comparison service for great rates, and don't forget - before you pay for expensive excess insurance at the Car Hire station we also offer that cheaper through our Car Hire Excess Insurance comparison service.