What is temporary car insurance?

Also known as short-term car insurance, temporary car insurance can cover you for a variety of situations. Whether you’re borrowing a friend’s car or picking up a vehicle you’ve just bought, it can cover you from one hour to one month. 

You can also use short-term car insurance if you want someone else to drive your car temporarily. Temporary car insurance typically offers fully comprehensive cover – the highest level of car insurance – which covers any damage you cause to other people and their cars, as well as you and your own vehicle.

How does short-term car insurance work?

Short-term car insurance allows you to quickly get temporary cover to suit you. You can cover cars, motorbikes, vans and motorhomes. It’s ideal for a one-off journey or if you only drive occasionally. 

If you’re borrowing a car, the owner doesn’t have to do a thing, and neither the vehicle owner’s no-claims discount nor your no-claims discount will be affected.

 However, if you do have an accident, it could affect your car insurance premiums in the future. 

If you need to insure a car several times in a year, you’re probably better off comparing quotes for annual car insurance instead.

How long or short a time can I get a temporary car insurance policy for ?

Short-term car insurance is typically available by the hour, day, week or month, although some policies will insure you for longer than this. You can set how long you want your policy to last when you take out your cover.

Once that time is up, you won’t be able to drive the car on public roads. If you need longer, you can ask your insurance provider to extend your cover for an extra cost.

8 Best Car Insurance Companies 2023.

The best car insurance companies give their customers more than just coverage they want at a reasonable price. They also provide a customer-first experience, including a headache-free way to manage policies and make payments. 

To pinpoint the best auto insurance companies, we looked at customer complaints data, consumer experience and financial strength. 

We also researched coverage offered and how easily you can interact with an insurer online when you’re getting a quote or filing a claim. Based on these factors, these are our top auto insurance companies for 2022.

How we ranked the top auto insurers ?

NerdWallet’s editorial team considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies. Our “ease of use” category includes factors such as website transparency and how easy it is to file a claim. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, this list of best auto insurance companies is likely to change.

Best car insurance companies: Pros and cons

Learn more about our top auto insurance companies by reading our brief summaries below. For more details, check out our comprehensive reviews.