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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

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.

Dave Wilkinson 6 Sep 2023

55 star rating

Very straight-forward and a compoetitive price.

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.

David Pibworth 3 Feb 2024

55 star rating

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

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.

Christine Davies 14 Sep 2023

55 star rating

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

darren birch 8 Jan 2024

55 star rating

used before and experienced great service, thats why im back

natasha badger 28 Oct 2023

55 star rating

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

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.

Michael Voyzey 4 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

Scott Selbie 8 Sep 2023

55 star rating

Very competitively priced and easy to complete website I would recommend to others

Julian Portman 26 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

Nick Cook 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Excellent experience all round. Bought policy online, but needed some help, so called the free phone number and within 2 minutes my question was answered. I bought from direct GAP…

Jonathan Milling 12 Jul 2021

55 star rating

Return customer. Affordable, hassle free insurance

Wendy Lakeman 17 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Which, recommended. Informative website. Competitive price. New car cover for upto 6 months after purchase. Can be deferred for 1st year. Helpful over-the-phone info.

Graham W Beds 6 Aug 2022

55 star rating

Nice website, clear & acurate descriptions plus its half the price of the car dealers!

Harvey Gee 28 Jul 2020

55 star rating

Brilliant when needed them even with the pressure of lockdown.

Jamie Stafford 7 Sep 2018

55 star rating

Took a policy with my previous car and even though it wasn’t needed it was nice to have the protection. Needless to say my new car is now covered.

nicola daly 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

I found the website easy to use and wasnt asking too much information to get a quote. Also the price beats all others out there. WIll be recommending this to others

Paul Blenkinsop 19 Jun 2019

55 star rating

Second time I have used direct gap for my car gap insurance. So simple to set up. Excellent cover policy to suit my needs and a great price too. Less than £200 for 4 years cover on…

David Small 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Excellent product low price.

Anne Myers 15 Dec 2021

55 star rating

This is the 4th policy that we have bought for different family cars in the last few years. The purchase process was easy, the insurance details were clear and documentation and co…

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.

Phil Bartle 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Simple and easy to find out what I wanted.

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.