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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

Katie Sharp 3 Sep 2025

55 star rating

Great support on the phone earlier :)

Michael Dietz 13 Nov 2025

55 star rating

Have used on a previous vehicle, policy gives a great peace of mind.

Janine Withers 23 Dec 2025

55 star rating

This is the 3rd policy I have brought from Direct Gap, their staff are always so friendly & helpful, I keep coming back to them.

Chris R 4 Oct 2024

55 star rating

Excellent Customer service and support. Quick and easy to set up. Great price. Would highly recommend based on my personal experience.

Phillip Bee 27 Sep 2025

55 star rating

Great company, easy to use customer portal. Been using this company for about 8 years now.

Edward McLeod 6 Jan 2026

55 star rating

thank you, 3rd or 4th policy I bought

Stephen Webb 10 Nov 2025

55 star rating

I've used Direct Gap for my previous vehicle, so it was an obvious choice for the new car.

Graham Anderson 17 Dec 2024

55 star rating

Fantastic service, great technology. We've been using direct gap for years. Always very helpful on the telephone as well

Nic_C 17 Sep 2025

55 star rating

Quick and easy process with friendly advice when I rang to check I had chosen the correct policy

Lee Appleyard 3 Feb 2025

55 star rating

Hayley on the phone was great

Angela B 20 Sep 2025

55 star rating

Have used Direct Gap for a few years now. Always quick, easy and competitive.

Liam Boyle 6 Nov 2025

55 star rating

1st - GREAT! price 2nd - quick and easy 3rd - did i mention the GREAT pricing?

Barbara Stewart 4 Dec 2024

55 star rating

Hayley was brilliant 🤩 I had done everything on line & it wouldn’t let me in to do my password so Hayley sent me a link. Also she amended my cover from 3 to 4 yrs. Very pleased w…

Alpesh Patel 23 Oct 2025

55 star rating

Great service this would be the 5th time now

Heather Smith 28 Oct 2025

55 star rating

Used several times only claimed once due to car being stolen, excellent customer service and speedy service in payment

David Smith 18 Nov 2025

55 star rating

Great service and Hayley was very helpful when I phoned for more information, thank you.

PHD Mail Limited 2 Nov 2025

55 star rating

I use Direct Gap for all my Company Car fleet. Easy to use website and competitive rates.

Stephen Collins 18 Jul 2025

55 star rating

Dealt with Company for 20 years always excellent.

Mehvish Mirza 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Excellent & pleasant service, was able to find all answers on FAQ page. Happy!

Clifford Watts 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Best web site we visited for this insurance

Richard Jenkinson 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Great web site, plus price is miles cheaper than main dealer offer

debbie fellows 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

This is the second time I have purchased the gap policy with you, you are the most competitive with the best service.

Rob Hannah 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Combination of site (presentation / functionality / customer journey) and product at the price. Good use of your independant five star rating ;)

Lyn Walker 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

I saw it listed on the Which Gap Insurance site. Very easy to use, even for a pensioner!

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.