When might I need temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance may be suitable if you need to borrow a car, take a test drive, cover a gap between annual policies or drive a car for a short period.

Can I get one day car insurance?

Yes, short-term car insurance is often available for periods as short as one day, subject to insurer criteria and eligibility requirements.

Does temporary car insurance cover me fully?

Temporary car insurance policies are usually comprehensive, but the exact level of cover and any exclusions depend on the insurer and policy terms.

Will temporary car insurance affect my no claims bonus?

Temporary car insurance policies are usually separate from any annual car insurance you hold and typically do not affect your no claims bonus, but this depends on the insurer’s terms.

Temporary Car Insurance

Q: What is temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance is short-term car cover that provides insurance for a limited period, usually from one hour up to 28 days. It is designed for occasional or short-term car use without committing to an annual policy.

There are many reasons why temporary car insurance may be needed but whatever they are, we are here to help.

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Temporary Car Insurance Online

Temporary Car Insurance is a short-term car policy providing flexible cover from 1 hour to 28 days, with years of expertise in the field, Performance Direct stands out as an expert vehicle insurance intermediary.

We have partnered with Go Shorty, who help thousands of motorists across the UK each week to find great value short-term coverage solutions.

Temporary car insurance is handy for those times when you may need to borrow a friend or relative’s car for a few days or weeks, test drive a car, or perhaps if you need a bigger vehicle to help transport people or belongings. Go Shorty’s Temporary is fully comprehensive, and available for any roadworthy vehicle from the value £1 to £65,000 (some limitations apply). Your cover can be tailor-made to suit the length of time you need, whether you need cover from 1 hour to 28 days.

Hiring another vehicle and arranging insurance can work out expensive and time consuming, so sticking to a short-term car insurance policy can be a great way to avoid this. Temporary insurance can help if you need emergency insurance or just need 24-hour insurance.

Temporary Vehicle Insurance For Short Term Car & Van Insurance

Our partner, Go Shorty, is one of the UK’s leading short-term car and van insurance providers. Whether you require temporary vehicle insurance for a house move or additional driver cover, Performance Direct partnered with Go Shorty can get you on the road in minutes. It’s the modern approach to insurance for those who don’t want to be tied down with a 12-month policy.

We provide insurance services to UK residents only.

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Temporary Car Insurance

Fully comprehensive cover

1 hour to 28 days flexible cover

Low Excess

Protect the car owner’s No Claims Discount

Drivers aged 19 to 75

Maximum car value is £65,000

*Terms, conditions & exclusions apply.

Why choose Performance Direct?

The latest digital systems. Our customers enjoy all the advantages of the digital world. We offer excellent web and app-based insurance services, including a fast, easy-to-use quote engine and automated customer services allowing hassle-free access to documents and information.
The peace of mind of a Chartered Broker. Everything we do is backed by a team of skilled, experienced insurance professionals. We’re a Chartered Insurance Broker, a family company with a proud 40-year history, so we’re bound by a personal and professional code to deliver the best service for our clients.

We’re independent. Because we’re not tied to any brand or product, we can search the car insurance market to get you the best policies—from third party policies to fully comprehensive cover. Whenever you ask for a new or a renewal quote, our systems search a panel of up to 100 leading UK underwriters to ensure you get the lowest price and the best policy.
We’re on your side. If you need to make a claim, because we’re completely independent, we work with you to sort everything out and to make sure your claim is paid. Whether you need to sort out a hire car or a new windscreen, our claims service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Here for you. Your Online Insurance Account, support features, and on-line quotations are available 24/7, and our office is open 6 days a week.

Combining the advantages of the latest technology with real world experience, Performance Direct promises the lowest prices with the most efficient service.

Temporary Car Insurance FAQs

What is temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance is a fully comprehensive, standalone motor policy that covers a driver for a specific period of time, from as little as one hour up to 28 days, without any commitment to a 12-month annual policy. Because it operates as a completely independent policy, any claim made under it will not affect the No Claims Discount on any existing annual car insurance held by the driver or the vehicle owner. Performance Direct arranges temporary car insurance for UK drivers aged 19 to 75, on cars valued between £1 and £65,000, with cover available to start immediately. If you need short-term cover for any reason, get a quote online in minutes.

How long can I insure a car on a temporary basis?

Temporary car insurance is available for durations ranging from one hour to a maximum of 28 days per policy. The driver chooses the exact start date, start time, and duration at the point of purchase, meaning cover can be precisely matched to the period it is actually needed. Performance Direct provides access to temporary car insurance with this full range of durations, and a new policy can be arranged if cover is needed beyond 28 days. For cover requirements beyond one month, an annual policy is likely to represent better value, our team can help compare both options on 01708 609 331.

What level of cover is provided with temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance is provided on a fully comprehensive basis as standard, which is the highest level of motor insurance available under UK law. Comprehensive cover includes protection against accidental damage, fire, theft, malicious damage, and third-party liability for injury or property damage caused to others during the insured period. Performance Direct arranges temporary car insurance through a specialist panel of UK underwriters, with comprehensive cover included on every policy regardless of the duration selected. Your policy schedule, including any applicable excess, will be confirmed at the point of quotation before any commitment is made.

Who can apply for temporary car insurance?

Temporary car insurance is available to drivers aged 19 to 75 who hold a full, valid UK driving licence and have a permanent UK address. The car being insured must be roadworthy, hold a current MOT, and have a market value of between £1 and £65,000. Each application is assessed individually, and drivers who have previously had a policy cancelled, refused, or voided by an insurer are unlikely to be eligible for standard temporary cover. Get a quote online to confirm eligibility for your specific driver profile and vehicle, the process takes under five minutes.

Will making a claim on temporary car insurance affect my No Claims Discount?

A claim made on a temporary car insurance policy will not affect the No Claims Discount held on any existing annual car or van insurance policy, because temporary cover operates as a completely standalone policy entirely separate from annual insurance. This means the vehicle owner's NCD is fully protected when lending their car, and the borrowing driver's own annual NCD is equally unaffected if they hold one. Temporary car insurance is usually structured specifically as a standalone product for this reason, making it the safest way to lend or borrow a car without either party risking their accumulated no-claims history. All claims must still be declared when arranging future insurance, as insurers assess total claims history as part of risk assessment.

Can I use temporary insurance to drive someone else’s car?

Temporary car insurance can be arranged in the driver's own name to cover a car owned by someone else, provided the registered keeper has given their permission for the driver to use the vehicle. The temporary policy covers the named driver only for the agreed period and does not alter, void, or interact with any existing insurance the registered keeper holds on the car. Temporary insurance cover is for drivers borrowing cars from friends, family members, or employers, without affecting the owner's No Claims Discount. Get a fast online quote in your own name using the registration number of the car you intend to drive.

Is temporary car insurance suitable for collecting a new vehicle?

Temporary car insurance is one of the most practical ways to legally drive a newly purchased car away from the seller before a full annual policy has been arranged. A standalone temporary policy provides immediate, comprehensive cover from the chosen start time, giving the new owner time to compare annual insurance options without being pressured into a hasty decision. Performance Direct can help you to find a temporary driveaway policy in place within minutes of a quote being completed, provided the car is currently registered, roadworthy, holds a valid MOT, and is not subject to a SORN declaration. The car can be registered in either the buyer's or the seller's name at the time cover is arranged.

Can temporary car insurance include commuting?

Temporary car insurance can include commuting to a single, permanent place of work when this usage is declared accurately at the point of quotation. Travel between multiple work locations, visits to clients, or any other business use beyond straightforward commuting to one fixed workplace requires a higher class of use to be selected when obtaining a quote. GoShorty's temporary car insurance quote process started via Performance Direct, asks drivers to declare their intended usage before cover is confirmed, ensuring the policy is valid for every journey made during the insured period. Accurate usage declaration is essential, a claim made for a journey that falls outside the declared usage may not be paid

What cars cannot be covered under a temporary car insurance policy?

Standard temporary car insurance is not available for cars valued above £65,000, vehicles that are SORN declared, cars without a current valid MOT (unless the policy is specifically arranged to drive the car to a pre-booked MOT appointment), or vehicles that have been seized or impounded by the police. Cars used for motor racing, track days, or pace-making events are also excluded, as are heavily modified vehicles and those used for any form of hire and reward activity. Temporary car insurance arranged with Go Shorty via Performance Direct, is designed for standard, roadworthy personal cars valued between £1 and £65,000, if your vehicle falls outside these parameters, contact our team on 01708 609 331 to discuss whether alternative cover options are available.

How quickly can temporary car insurance be arranged?

Temporary car insurance can be arranged entirely online in under five minutes, with cover available to start from the moment the policy is purchased or from any future date and time selected by the driver. Policy documents are issued by email immediately on purchase, and the cover is recorded on the Motor Insurance Database (MID) so that the policy can be confirmed by the police or any other authority if required. Go Shorty's online quote process for temporary car insurance requires only the car's registration number, the driver's personal and licence details, and the desired start time and duration of cover. Get a quote now and be covered in minutes, our team is also available six days a week on 01708 609 331 if you prefer to arrange cover over the phone.