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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

Lee Haworth 28 Sep 2025

55 star rating

Excellent. Easy to buy. Much cheaper than dealership GAP

Michael Dietz 13 Nov 2025

55 star rating

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

Neil Porteus 23 Jul 2024

55 star rating

Excellent value gap insurance. In the past my daughter has had to make a claim under a Direct Gap policy and it lived up to its expectations. Also very easy to purchase online.

Mark Tait 23 Nov 2025

55 star rating

Used Direct Gap for years. Friendly, efficient service , great prices and fantastic customer service.

Alan Stewart 20 Oct 2025

55 star rating

Excellent website which is easy to use and a range of policies to suit your needs. The price of the policy I chose was very competitive and cheaper than most. I also liked the high…

Phillip Bee 27 Sep 2025

55 star rating

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

Mark Troth 19 Nov 2025

55 star rating

I have been with Direct Gap for over 7 years and had three different cars. Website is easy and updating details is hassle free Thanks

jennifer Savage 10 Oct 2025

55 star rating

so easy , called the office as well to check something very helpful staff . impressed!

Kerry Parry 1 Mar 2024

55 star rating

Easy process that is what you want, Diane was nice

Rachael McCormack 28 Feb 2025

55 star rating

This is 3rd policy weve taken out, much cheaper than dealership and easy to complete

Julian Portman 26 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

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

GEOFFREY HARDMAN 4 Nov 2025

55 star rating

Easy to set up, used this firm over many years

Katie Sharp 3 Sep 2025

55 star rating

Great support on the phone earlier :)

David Pibworth 3 Feb 2024

55 star rating

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

Lee Appleyard 3 Feb 2025

55 star rating

Hayley on the phone was great

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.

Anthony Mackenzie 14 Nov 2025

55 star rating

Full marks for very easy to use application form. Your help line was friendly and a pleasant girl gave me all the information I needed. I have purchased the Gap insurance I need no…

J Brearley 17 Dec 2013

55 star rating

The price was very much lower than the insurance offered by the dealer and the cover was equally as good.

Tim Turnage 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

competitive price and ease of purchasing no need to phone and waste more time and money.

Sophia Starr 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Choice of polices and flexibility of cover. Helpful person on phone when rang up to make some queries before buying, easy website to use and that you are protected by fsa.

Guy P 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Ease of use re quote and purchace, together with the positive feedback on-line

Christine Calder 23 Dec 2013

44 star rating

Clear information and pricing

Louise Keeble 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Much cheaper than a dealer quote for the same product - great customer service even when having to make changes

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.