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Fast and affordable temporary car insurance
Join 1.5 million+ drivers across the UK getting a great deal on short-term cover. Drive for hours, days, or weeks with affordable, fully comprehensive policies. It’s quick, easy, and all sorted from your phone.
14 million+ policies sold
3 million+ cars insured
5 million+ app downloads
Get on the road in minutes with Cuvva
Cuvva was the first app to sell temporary car insurance in the UK. We're super proud that since 2015 we've sold 14 million+ policies, helping 1.5 million+ drivers get on the road.
So whether you need temporary car insurance to drive for a short period, hourly learner driver insurance to practice those pesky manoeuvres, or temporary van cover to help shift a load, we’ve got you covered.
Cuvva’s short-term car insurance is also great for borrowing a car, test-driving a new ride, insuring a driver on an international licence, or protecting your new car until you find longer-term cover.
Temporary car insurance
Ultimate flexibility
Fully comprehensive cover
Policies from 1 hour up to 28 days
Instantly extend your cover in the app if you need more time
Drive someone else's car
Separate policies mean the car owner’s no claims bonus is protected
Business class 1 cover
Learner driver insurance
Perfect for practising
Hourly cover for learners with a provisional licence
Up to 3 hours per day with a supervisor
For practising in someone else’s car or your own
Owner’s NCB protected
Usually cheaper than being added to your parent's insurance
Temporary van insurance
Get the job done
For commuting, driving to sites, and carrying your own equipment
Carriage of own goods cover
Business class 1 cover
Fully comprehensive
Lend to a colleague or borrow their van
How much does hourly, daily, and weekly insurance cost?
Quotes are always personalised and will depend on your own driving history and the car or van you want to insure. Here are some ballpark figures though, to give you more of an idea of what to expect. (*Price paid by 10% of Cuvva customers. Terms apply.)
| Temporary car insurance | Temporary van insurance | Hourly learner insurance |
|---------------------- |-------------------- |---------------------- |
| 1 hour from £12.55 | 1 hour from £12.03 | 1 hour from £12.95 |
| 6 hours from £14.53 | 6 hours from £13.88 | 2 hours from £13.61 |
| 1 day from £18.14 | 1 day from £17.32 | 3 hours from £13.62 |
| 1 week from £43.97 | 1 week from £44.40 | Max 3 hours per day |
How to drive a car or van for a short time
At Cuvva, we’re all about making things quick and easy. Forget waiting around for policy docs in the post or filling out endless forms and paperwork. We’ve made it super simple to get insurance whenever you need it - all sorted with a few swipes and taps on a snazzy, easy-to-download app on your phone. Nice.
1
Create an account
Download the free Cuvva app and sign up with a few simple steps.
2
Get a quote
Enter some details about you, the car and trip to get your quote.
3
Get driving
Buy your policy, hop in and enjoy fully comprehensive cover.
How long does temporary car insurance last?
The best thing about temp cover is that it lasts only as long as you need it to! So if you only need to drive for 1 hour, that's fine. Want something longer? Get temporary cover for days or weeks. It's all about flexibility and convenience.
1
Hourly insurance
Get coverage from just 1 hour, perfect for quick trips or unexpected errands. You can get your quote immediately, too.
2
Daily insurance
Got something longer in mind? Day insurance could be perfect. If you need longer, you can extend your policy, too.
3
Weekly insurance
If you need to drive a bit more regularly, insuring a car with weekly insurance might work best.
What our temporary car insurance customers think
It's always great to hear what our customers think and how they used Cuvva's temporary car insurance. For more, check out our reviews on Trustpilot (where we're rated 'Excellent').
Harry from London
I recently visited my parents for the weekend and got insured on their car for 4 days for less than £40, and it took less than 5 minutes to get insured. They live quite rural so having access to a car is a game changer. It has made our lives so much easier. Plus I get to drive a nice car for the weekend, which is a real treat. (September 2024)
Ovi from south Wales
Cuvva's short-term insurance has been a lifesaver for me. I can easily borrow my mum’s car for a few hours or for a long weekend with friends. I even use it to run local errands like going to the gym. With Cuvva, I can get a policy for around £12 for a few hours, which is great for keeping costs down. (June 2024)
Chloe from Manchester
I use the Cuvva app to borrow my sister’s or mum’s car whenever I need to drive. Since selling my own car, I’m now saving around £350 per month, which is ideal for me as a student. I’ve made a deal with my sister – she lets me drive her car if I pay for the petrol! (September 2024)
The expert's view on temporary car insurance
Adam Kent is our Senior Underwriting Lead and Insurance Expert. He joined in 2022 and has a 19-year track record helping insurtechs, brokers, and direct insurers.
When it comes to temporary car insurance, he says: "In the past, if you needed to borrow someone's car, it meant tedious phone calls, an expensive insurance policy for longer than you need, or more often than not, just staying where you were because you couldn't get insured in time."
"Temporary car insurance has changed all that. It's now practical, affordable and easy to drive a car for a short time."
"There's another upside, the big rise of short-term policies may even help bring down the cost of insurance. £500 million is paid out in claims relating to uninsured driving every year. And we all end up paying for this in higher premiums. Open the app, get yourself covered, and sorted in minutes."
Read more about temporary car insurance
We're pretty passionate about temporary car insurance... in fact, we've written 100+ articles about it! Check some of them out below, or head straight to our 'How Insurance Works' knowledge hub.
Can you insure a car you don't own?
How does age impact your temporary car insurance price?
What are insurance groups and how do they impact your temporary car insurance price?
What should you do if your car isn't insured at all?
How to get your new car home with temporary car insurance
How do I cancel my annual car insurance?
Sort it all from your phone in minutes
Buy insurance, extend your policy, set MOT and tax reminders, speak to customer support… all sorted from our super-quick app. You can also lend your car or van, set up your own car club, and earn some extra money by referring a friend to Cuvva.
Trusted by 1.5 million+ drivers
We’ve insured 3 million+ cars, sorted 14 million+ policies, and supported 1.5 million+ drivers. We're rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, 4.8 out of 5 on Google Play, and 'Excellent' on Trustpilot (check out our 4,300+ reviews!). Plus, we're FCA regulated (our number is 690273).
The Sunday Times
''You’re fully insured to drive another person’s car but don’t need to worry about affecting their no-claims bonus if you have an accident.''
The Daily Express
''Insurance needs to be simplified for drivers, and that is where Cuvva comes in.''
Naomi Metzger - British Athlete
''Cuvva is a great option for me as it allows me to easily get a policy with a click of a button... complete peace of mind and flexibility''
Find out more about Cuvva
Real human customer support
Sick of hold music? So are we. It’s why we made sure real people are there to help you. We’re available 365 days a year.
Car insurance explained
We know insurance can seem complicated, so we’ve done our best to simplify it. Our ‘How Insurance Works’ library has 150+ guides about everything from excess to renewals.
About us
Cuvva was the first insurance provider to sell short-term cover via an app. Since selling our first policy in 2015, we've helped 1.5 million+ drivers get on the road. Find out more about our story.
Peace of mind, every time you drive
Our policies are always fully comprehensive, so you're totally covered. Plus, you can add breakdown cover to your policy, with nationwide roadside assistance. And our customer support team are on call 365 days a year.
Cuvva's free car checkers
Get MOT, car tax, vehicle data, vehicle history, and insurance group info in seconds. It's totally free, just enter the number plate.
Spread the love (and get a tenner!)
It pays to be nice. Refer a friend to Cuvva and you’ll both get £10 when they buy their first temporary policy.
Now it's time to hit the road...
What sort of temporary insurance are you looking for?
1 hour insurance
Our hourly policies are perfect for if you want to drive someone else’s car (or lend your own). Cover begins at £12.55 and can start instantly or you can book it ahead of time.
1 day insurance
Hit the beach, head across town to visit a friend, or smash out that to-do list. 1 day’s cover starts from £18.14 - and it’s fully comprehensive as usual.
Cover for international drivers
Drive using your full licence from lots of different countries. Perfect for new arrivals, expats, tourists, business visitors, and more.
Drive away insurance
When you buy a new vehicle, you’ll need insurance right away to get it home. That’s where Cuvva’s drive away cover comes in.
Temporary motorhome insurance
Insure your motorhome or campervan with fully comprehensive temporary insurance from 1 hour.
Impound car insurance
Cuvva’s impound insurance gives you the proof needed to release your car and get back on the road.
Temporary car insurance FAQs
What is temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance covers you to drive a vehicle for a short period — usually from 1 hour up to 28 days. It’s ideal if you’re borrowing a car, sharing a drive, or your own car is off the road. Cuvva’s temporary cover is fully comprehensive.
Is temporary car insurance legal and legit?
Yes — as long as you buy from a reputable provider like Cuvva. Since 2015, we’ve sold over 14 million policies, insured more than 3 million cars, and supported 1.5 million customers. We're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can find us on the FCA register under number 690273. We're also rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot.
Am I eligible for temporary car insurance?
There are some eligibility requirements. For example, to use Cuvva on a full UK licence for the first time, you’ll usually need to be aged 19–70. Learner drivers usually need to be 17–50. You can get an instant quote in the app to see if you’re eligible.
Can I insure a van with temporary insurance?
Yes — you can get temporary van insurance on many models. There may be vehicle restrictions depending on age, type, value, or modifications.
Can you buy breakdown cover on temporary car insurance?
Yes. You can add breakdown cover to your temporary policy. It includes roadside assistance across the UK.
Is it worth getting temporary car insurance?
It depends on how often you drive. If you only drive occasionally, temporary insurance can be a flexible and affordable alternative to owning a car or paying for an annual policy. But if you drive regularly, an annual policy (either your own or as a named driver) may work out better value.
Can you get insured to drive a car for 1 day?
Yes — temporary car insurance is flexible, so you can get insured for 1 day, if that's all you need. If it turns out you need more time, you can extend your policy in the app in just a few taps.
How much is 1 week's temporary car insurance?
The average Cuvva driver spends £43.97 for a week of temporary car insurance. Your quote will depend on factors like your age, driving history, and the vehicle you want to drive.
Can I just use temporary car insurance to insure my car or does it need an underlying policy?
A car must always have an underlying insurance policy unless it has a valid SORN. Temporary insurance can help if you’ve just bought a car or are between annual policies, but you can’t leave a car uninsured when it’s parked or not in use.
How does temporary car insurance work?
Temporary car insurance lets you drive a car for a short period with your own standalone policy. It doesn’t affect the car owner’s premium or their no claims bonus (NCB).
What vehicles can you get temporary car insurance on?
You can get temporary insurance on most cars. There may be vehicle restrictions depending on age, value, or modifications.
Can I tax a car with temporary car insurance?
Yes. You can tax a car or van using temporary insurance once your policy appears on the Motor Insurance Database (MID), which can take up to 24 hours. Your cover begins immediately if you start it instantly, and you can book policies in advance through the app.
Can you get temporary car insurance on someone else’s car?
Yes. Temporary insurance is ideal for driving someone else’s car — whether you're borrowing it, sharing a long trip, learning to drive, or driving a friend’s car. You’ll need a separate temporary policy for each car you want to drive.
Can you use temporary car insurance to drive a car in the EU?
Yes. Cuvva covers driving in the UK and throughout the EU, plus some additional European countries. While abroad, you’ll have the legal minimum cover (usually third-party). Policies must start and end in the UK, and the app only works in the UK. More details are here: driving abroad with Cuvva.
Is it better to get temporary car insurance or be added to someone’s policy as a named driver?
It depends how often you’ll use the car. If you plan to drive regularly, being added as a named driver might be cheaper. But this could affect the owner’s premium and puts their NCB at risk. Temporary insurance is often better if you only drive occasionally or want to protect the owner’s NCB.
Can I use temporary insurance to drive my car to a MOT?
Yes — you can use temporary car insurance to drive to a pre-booked MOT appointment.
What do I do if I have an accident while I'm driving on temporary cover?
You must report all incidents within 24 hours, even if you don’t plan to claim.
I don’t have a UK licence, can I still get temporary insurance?
Yes — you can use Cuvva with a UK licence or a full driving licence from most EU countries.