In partnership with GoShorty
Short-term vehicle insurance, sorted in minutes
Cover from 1 hour to 28 days, arranged online. Useful the moment you buy a car and need to drive it home — and plenty of times besides.
- From 1 hour to 28 days
- Quote in minutes
- Cover starts when you need it
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Cover length
- From
- 1 hour
- Up to
- 28 days
- Quote in
- Minutes
- Vehicles
- Cars & vans
Common reasons
When people use short-term cover
-
Driving a car home
You have just bought a vehicle and need cover for the drive back, before the annual policy starts.
-
Borrowing a vehicle
Using someone else's car for a weekend without touching their no-claims bonus.
-
Test drives and viewings
Cover for a private-sale test drive, where the seller's policy will not extend to you.
-
Sharing the driving
Adding yourself to a long journey without changing the main policy for the whole year.
-
Vans and moving day
A hired or borrowed van for a house move or a one-off collection.
-
A car sitting between policies
Bridging a gap so a vehicle stays legally insured while you sort longer cover.
What short-term insurance actually is
A short-term policy is a standalone insurance contract that runs for a fixed, short period — anything from an hour to a few weeks — and then simply ends. It is not an add-on to somebody else's policy and it does not renew.
Because it stands alone, a claim on it does not touch the annual policy on the same vehicle. That is the main reason people use it when borrowing a car: the owner's no-claims bonus stays where it is.
When it is worth it — and when it is not
Short-term cover is priced per day, so it is excellent value for a genuinely short need and poor value if you actually need months of it.
| Situation | Short-term | Annual policy |
|---|---|---|
| Driving a purchase home | Right choice | Too slow to arrange |
| Borrowing a car for a weekend | Right choice | Not applicable |
| A few weeks between policies | Usually cheaper | Possible but inflexible |
| Two months or more | Gets expensive | Usually better value |
| Your own daily vehicle | No | Yes |
What to check before you buy
Short-term insurance is quick to arrange, which makes it easy to skim. These are worth reading.
- That the vehicle value and type are within the policy limits.
- Your licence type and how long you have held it — this affects eligibility.
- The excess, and whether you want to reduce it.
- Exactly when cover starts and ends, to the hour.
- Whether the use you need is covered — social, commuting or business.
And the obvious one: make sure the cover has actually started before you drive. Same-day does not mean instant.
How this relates to your finance
If you are financing a vehicle through Q-Finance, the lender will require the vehicle to be insured. Short-term cover is a legitimate way to be on the road immediately while you arrange the annual policy that will run alongside the agreement.
It is not a substitute for that annual policy. Check what your finance agreement requires — most expect fully comprehensive cover for the life of the agreement.
Common questions
Need cover today?
Get a quote in minutes and set cover to start whenever you need it.
GoShorty is a separate company and arranges the policy directly with you. Q-Finance introduces you and receives a commission if you buy. Cover is subject to eligibility and the insurer's terms.