What does temporary car insurance cover?
Short term cover through GoShorty is comprehensive as standard.
Exact terms can vary slightly across the underwriter panel, so you should always check the policy wording and the Insurance Product Information Document before you buy.
In general, you can expect:
Third-party damage: damage you cause to other vehicles or property.
Own vehicle damage: protection against accidental and malicious damage.
Theft and fire: theft, attempted theft and fire-related damage.
EU travel: some policies include third-party cover in the EU, provided the journey starts and ends in the UK.
Business Class 1 use: included as standard, covering journeys such as meetings and business travel beyond commuting.
Optional extras you can choose
You can build the policy to fit your plans by adding cover upgrades when you buy. Options include:
Breakdown cover (from £1.49 through GoShorty), including recovery, roadside assistance and transport costs.
Excess protection, covering up to £500 of your compulsory excess in the event of a claim.
Legal cover, which helps recover costs if you are involved in a non-fault accident.
Choose your cover duration
Cover runs from 1 hour to 28 days, so you can match the policy to the exact time you need the car:
Hourly: from one hour, for a quick, single journey.
Daily: a full 24 hours, a weekend, or single days at a time.
Weekly: one week up to four weeks.
Monthly: up to 28 days in one policy.
Protecting the car owner's No Claims Discount
The main reason temporary cover works so well for borrowing and lending is that it is a standalone policy with its own schedule, certificate and reference numbers.
If the temporary driver has an accident, the claim is made and handled entirely under the temporary policy.
The owner's annual insurer is not involved in that claim, and the owner's No Claims Discount stays intact and unaffected. This keeps the arrangement simple and keeps both drivers protected.
Who can get temporary car insurance?
As a guide, to qualify for temporary car insurance, a driver must:
Be aged 19 to 75.
Hold a full, valid UK driving licence (DVLA or DVA), or an EU or EEA licence with at least 12 months' UK residence.
Have a current permanent UK address.
Never have been refused insurance, or had a policy cancelled or voided.
Have no criminal conviction and no prosecution pending.
The car must weigh up to 3.5 tonnes, be valued between £500 and £65,000, hold a valid MOT, not be declared SORN (unless you are driving to a pre-booked MOT), not have been seized by the police, have no more than seven seats, and not be a rental, hire, imported, left-hand-drive or modified vehicle.
Factory-fitted extras, adaptations for a disabled driver or passenger, and LPG conversions are acceptable.
How much does temporary car insurance cost?
The price depends on the car, your personal details such as age and address, and your driving history.
Prices start from £11.72 for cover of up to three hours, based on the lowest sold prices between December 2025 and May 2026 (GoShorty).
Starting prices then rise with duration, for example from £21.87 for one day and from £46.59 for one week over the same period (prices correct at 02/07/2026)
These are starting points only, so the most accurate figure comes from a personalised quote.
How to get a quote
You can get a quote in under two minutes by clicking the Get A Quote button above.
You will need the car's UK registration number, your personal details (name, UK address, date of birth and employment status), and your driving licence number.
Complete the online quote form, choose your options, and buy online for instant cover.
Your documents are emailed to you straight away, and cover can start immediately.
Why cover matters: the legal position
In Great Britain, a vehicle must be insured at all times unless it is declared off the road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
This rule is called Continuous Insurance Enforcement, and it means you can be penalised as the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle even when it is not being driven, according to GOV.UK.
Insured vehicles are recorded on the Motor Insurance Database, now known as Navigate, which the police and the DVLA use to identify uninsured vehicles (Motor Insurers' Bureau).
Northern Ireland has different rules. Temporary cover is one way to stay insured for exactly the period you are driving.
About Performance Direct
Performance Direct is a Chartered insurance broker, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 307002, company number 1167043), and a trading name within the Grove and Dean group.
Performance Direct provides an online quote platform for short term car insurance powered by GoShorty.
Its Chartered status and FCA regulation describe Performance Direct as a firm and do not extend to arranging, advising on, administering or underwriting this temporary car insurance policy, all of which are carried out by GoShorty and its panel insurers.
Author: Andrew Mc, Senior Product Manager.
Compliance review: Ryan Kirwan ACII, Senior Risk and Compliance Officer. Date of next review: 30 January 2026
