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Short Term Car Insurance

Temporary or short-term insurance is comprehensive car cover that lasts from 1 hour up to 28 days. It’s the modern approach to insurance for those who don’t want to be tied down with a 12-month policy.

You may find short term motor insurance useful if you are:

  • collecting a new vehicle
  • test driving a new vehicle
  • a young driver back home from university
  • borrowing a friend's car or van
  • sharing the driving on a one-off trip

What are the benefits of Short Term Motor Insurance?

  • Temporary car insurance for drivers 19 - 75
  • Cover available from 1 hour to 28 days
  • All policies are fully comprehensive
  • Get a quote and cover in minutes
  • Coverage for vehicles with a value up to £65,000
  • Provided by trusted & established insurers

Why choose Direct Gap for your Short Term Car Insurance?

We have partnered with GoShorty to provide market-leading short-term motor insurance. GoShorty are one of the UK’s leading short-term car insurance providers, and we help thousands of motorists across the UK each week to become insured on a car from just 1 hour to 28 days.

•  Flexibility: Comprehensive car insurance when you need it.

•  Responsibility: All Direct Gap policies and those of our partners, GoShorty, are fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and we hold ourselves to the very highest standards.

•  Integrity: Our team do not make any commission from sales of Short Term Car Insurance – we’ve only got your best interests in mind.

•  Service: We hold over 11,000 5-star Feefo reviews alongside GoShorty's 4.9 (Excellent) rating on Trustpilot.

See what our customers are saying about us

MARK HURDLEY 28 Oct 2023

55 star rating

Brilliant, a lot cheaper than getting it through the dealer and so easy to set up, will tell my family to use you in the future.

darren birch 8 Jan 2024

55 star rating

used before and experienced great service, thats why im back

Gary (Manchester) 31 Oct 2023

55 star rating

Straight forward & easy to use website. Explained what was covered, easy to understand & complete purchase. Much better value than what was offered by car dealership.

Ranjit Ghag 11 Dec 2023

55 star rating

I have previously used this service and find it amazing, competitive prices and cheaper than buying direct from dealers.

Michael Voyzey 4 Jan 2024

55 star rating

Really easy to purchase a Gap Insurance Policy this is my second one with Direct Gap

Julian Portman 26 Jan 2024

55 star rating

Very easy to arrange. Competitive price. Used with two previous cars.

Peter Egerton 1 Feb 2024

55 star rating

It’s so easy to set up and I’m confident in the policy that it covers all my costs.

Christine Davies 14 Sep 2023

55 star rating

Straightforward application process. Competitive premium rates. Have dealt with company before.

natasha badger 28 Oct 2023

55 star rating

Easy to use and half the cost the dealership wanted for a gap policy

David Pibworth 3 Feb 2024

55 star rating

Easy to complete and far cheaper than quoted by the main dealer

michael clough 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

chose Direct Gap due to a personal recommendation and reviews

Megan Porteus 21 Jan 2020

55 star rating

Easy to purchase. Had a previous policy and received excellent service and so was quite happy to use DirectGap again.

Lewis Smith 12 Jan 2019

55 star rating

Very quick & easy to do... very straightforward. Would definitely recommend from a purchasing point of you. Clear guidance, very easy to understand.

Stewart Woroch 30 Mar 2017

55 star rating

Easy to apply for. Fantastic savings over dealership. Able to defer start of cover because my comprehensive car policy covers me 'new for old' in the first 12 months. And a quick p…

A Rogers 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

After comparing different providers of gap insurance I found Direct Gap to have the best choice, experience and prices.

Laurie Page 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

The dealership were going to charge £399 for the same cover! Can't fault your service/products

A BRINSDON 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

1. Key facts of insurance details clearly visible on the front page before buying the insurance. 2. Appears to provide better coverage than competitor policies.

Roger Gaskell 9 Feb 2022

55 star rating

Very easy to navigate the website and excellent customer service communication. :-)

Mrs Marion Lambert 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

As well as a competitive price, your website and the terms and conditions were easy to use and understand.You also featured in a "Which?" guide to gap insurance.

G Shuan 3 May 2017

55 star rating

Great service, great advice given over the phone. Very easy transaction!

mrs rekha patel 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

i phoned yesterday and spoke to ray davis he explained all my concern polity and honestly for that reason i brought the policy 

John Walsh 20 Feb 2019

55 star rating

Great cover, great price and great service. Thank you

Daniel Coleman 4 Dec 2019

55 star rating

Easy smooth transaction and better value than the dealers. So glad I chose you guys and didn't fall into the dealer trap. Lets just hope I never have to use the Insurance.

Maxine B 17 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Fast & easy just as you said. Looked at other providers but you had the best service.

FAQ

What does short term motor insurance cover?

Short term motor insurance, also known as temporary car insurance, is a fully comprehensive cover for shorter periods. This type of insurance includes coverage for loss, theft, or damage to the vehicle, accident recovery, and legal liability.

When is short term motor insurance not suitable?

Short term motor insurance may not be suitable in certain situations, such as:

  • Hiring or renting vehicles, as these require specialist insurance from the rental company.
  • Use for taxis or commercial transport of goods.

What does short term motor insurance cost?

The cost of short term motor insurance varies based on several factors, including your age, the vehicle type, and the length of the policy. Other considerations may include your driving history, such as points on your license.

Why choose Direct Gap and GoShorty to insure with?

Choosing Direct Gap and GoShorty ensures quality insurance products and excellent customer support. Our partnership with GoShorty reflects our shared values, and both companies boast exceptional reviews. Feel free to contact us or GoShorty for any questions before getting a quote or purchasing a policy.

What is the shortest time I can insure my vehicle for?

The minimum coverage period for our short term motor insurance is 1 hour.

What’s the longest time I can insure my vehicle with this insurance?

The maximum coverage period for temporary car insurance is 28 days.