Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for UK drivers. The roads are filled with people travelling home, visiting friends or family, and heading to festive events. In many cases, it can be beneficial to do this travelling by car rather than relying on public transport.
If you don’t have your own car, don’t worry. Short-term car insurance is the perfect solution, allowing you to drive someone else’s car quickly and easily. In this guide, we’ll explain how short-term car insurance works, who can use it and how it can make your travelling easier over the festive season.
What short-term car insurance is and how it works
Short-term, or temporary, car insurance is a fully comprehensive policy that allows you to drive a vehicle for a specific time, from just 1 hour up to several weeks. It’s the perfect solution for situations when you don’t need a full annual policy, but you still want proper protection and peace of mind on the roads.
Unlike being added as a named driver, short-term cover is separate from the vehicle owner’s existing annual insurance policy. This means that the owner’s no claims discount (NCD) is protected, if the owner is not yourself, if you need to make a claim under your short-term policy.
What short-term car insurance covers
Short-term car insurance generally includes fully comprehensive cover, meaning it protects both you and the vehicle you’re driving. Dayinsure’s standard short-term car insurance covers comprehensive aspects for social, commuting, and certain business uses (single-destination trips). Our policies cover:
- Damage to other people’s property
- Loss or damage to the vehicle
- Accidental damage cover
- New vehicle replacement
- Glass
- Personal belongings
- Child seats
- Emergency treatment costs
- Replacement locks
- Personal accident
For a full detailed list of inclusions and exclusions, see our acceptance criteria for Aviva and Mulsanne.
How long you can get cover for
A huge benefit of short-term car insurance is that you can choose exactly how long you need cover for, whether that’s one hour, one day, one weekend, or up to 30 days.
This flexibility works well at Christmas and over the festive season when plans can change quickly or you might only need a car for a short period of time, such as picking up a Christmas tree, going Christmas present shopping or visiting a Christmas market.
When short-term insurance is a good fit
Short-term car insurance is a great solution when:
- You’re borrowing a car, especially at short notice.
- You don’t drive often, but need a vehicle for an occasional journey
- You’re sharing the driving on a long festive road trip
- You’re test driving or collecting a new car
- You’re travelling home and don’t have your own vehicle
- You need to collect something that is too big to fit in your current vehicle
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Why short-term car insurance helps at Christmas
Christmas brings with it different driving situations, with many of us changing our routines to visit family, meet friends for festive days out or travelling longer distances than usual. Temporary car insurance can make these situations over the festive season easier and less stressful.
Borrowing a car to drive home for the holidays
Short-term car insurance is a great fit for driving home for the holidays. Students travelling home from university in time for Christmas can share the driving, and people who have moved away from home and don’t own a car or don’t want to rely on public transport can borrow a friend’s car to drive home for the festive season.
With short-term cover, you can borrow a car without changing the owner’s annual policy or risking their no claims discount. It gives you the short-term freedom to travel home and be with your loved ones over Christmas
Sharing the driving on long Christmas journeys
Depending on your journey, it can be a long and tiring road travelling home for Christmas. Sharing the driving helps to prevent fatigue and keeps everyone safer. Short-term insurance lets someone else get behind the wheel legally, even if they’re not named on the vehicle’s annual policy.
Acting as the designated driver for festive events
If you’re heading to Christmas parties or festive events, having a sober designated driver is one of the simplest ways to stay safe. Short-term insurance means a designated driver can legally drive someone else’s car for the night, without having to make permanent changes to the policy.
Borrowing a bigger or more suitable car
The festive season often means transporting gifts, picking up a Christmas tree or carrying luggage. If you need a larger or more practical car, short-term cover allows you to borrow one from a friend or family member quickly and safely.
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Short-term car insurance vs named driver or adjusting annual cover
Short-term car insurance can be ideal for one-off festive events, especially if you only need a car for a short time frame. Because the owner’s annual policy is separate to the short-term cover, it avoids any admin on their part.
However, if you know you’ll be borrowing someone’s car regularly or you need cover for several months, becoming a named driver might be more cost-effective. It all comes down to choosing the option that best fits your situation.
The advantages of short-term insurance include:
- Quick and simple set up
- Flexibility for last-minute plans
- Pay for only the time you need
- No need to amend long-term policies
Eligibility and what you need to get covered
Short-term car insurance aims to be simple, quick and accessible for drivers, especially during the Christmas period. However, there are some important criteria you will need to meet in order to get cover.
Who can get short-term car insurance?
Dayinsure offers short-term car insurance to drivers aged 18-75, with a valid full UK driving licence. Some vehicles or driver histories may have restrictions, but eligibility is usually broad enough for use in many Christmas situations.
What details you need for a quote
To get a short-term car insurance quote with Dayinsure, you’ll typically need:
- The vehicle registration number
- Your driving licence details
- The dates and times you want cover to start and end
You should also ensure you have permission from the vehicle owner to borrow their car.
Can I get short-term cover if I don’t own the car?
Yes. Short-term insurance is designed for instances exactly like this. You just need the owner’s permission and the correct details to get cover.
Christmas travel planning and winter safety tips
Christmas travel can be unpredictable. Roads are busier, the weather can be more challenging and plans often change at the last minute. We’ve put together some simple tips to help you stay safe on the roads and to make the most of flexible short-term cover when you need it.
Beware of busier roads
Traffic peaks in the days before Christmas and between Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. Try to travel early in the morning or later in the evening when roads are quieter. If you’re borrowing a car for the trip, short-term insurance gives you the freedom to choose the safest travel time.
Sharing the driving
Long journeys can be tiring, especially in dark, wintery conditions. Sharing the driving helps prevent fatigue and keeps everyone alert. Short-term cover makes it easy to share the driving with someone else and allow others time behind the wheel, even if they’re not on the annual policy.
Transporting presents
Make sure gifts are stored securely so they don’t move around the car. Avoid stacking parcels high so that they block your view. If you need a larger vehicle to transport everything safely, short-term insurance gives you the option to borrow one for the day.
Heading overseas
If you’re driving to Europe for Christmas, check whether you need additional documentation or European cover. You can learn more in our European travel guide and find out more information around our European travel cover.
Decorating your car
Festive decorations can be fun, but they must not obstruct your view or create hazards. Avoid anything that could distract you or other drivers.
Car maintenance
Before any festive road trip, check your tyres, lights, oil and windscreen wipers. Winter weather can make small issues far more risky, You can take a look at our guide to driving during the winter season for a full list of tips.
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Get a quote for short-term Christmas car insurance
Short-term car insurance can make your Christmas driving simpler, safer and more flexible. Whether you’re borrowing a family member’s car, sharing a long journey, or need cover for a last-minute trip, short-term insurance gives you peace of mind without altering an annual policy.
You can get cover in minutes, choose a duration that suits you and even save money by using our helpful app. Get a quote today and you can be on the road in minutes.
