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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

natasha badger 28 Oct 2023

55 star rating

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

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.

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.

Julian Portman 26 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

Michael Voyzey 4 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

David Pibworth 3 Feb 2024

55 star rating

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

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.

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.

Brian Richards 12 May 2021

55 star rating

A great easy process at a great price would recommend to family and friends and would definitely use direct gap again

Karen Wynne 19 Mar 2021

55 star rating

Fabulous and easy. Your company was recommended to me.

Helen Lawrence 4 Jun 2021

55 star rating

These guys are very help full with any questions and made me feel at ease with my purchase of this insurance

Darren yates 1 Apr 2022

55 star rating

Very easy to do only took 5 mins to set up and the offer direct debit if you don't want to do it in one hit.. Great !

Mr C E Battensby 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Superb service to back up attractive product seen on a well presented website. Above all, though, an outstanding personal service delivering a well - explained product at a competi…

Clive Richardson 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Product highly recommended

Richard Alan Smith 28 Jul 2021

55 star rating

This is my second policy, just as easy has the first. No Hassle, first class service at a very competitive cost.

Richard Phillips 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Peace of mind. Before buying you answered my queries about the policy, very fast and efficient.

Anthony Webster 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Advised by dealer to research and find online. Your site was clear and easy to understand

Peter Michael Payne 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Wonderful value. Saved £276 on dealer quote. Excellent service on 'phone from Elizabeth. Will certainly recommend you to my family and friends.

Peter Bailey 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Obtained quotes from Direct Gap and 2 other companies, yours was the best price. Info on website about outstanding finance had to read 3 times to fully understand

P Johal 17 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Wish I had heard of you when I last bought my car and policy from the dealer. They charged me £500 and did not explain the product anywhere as well as you

James Mc Hugh 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

A fair price, very good net service and documents sent via net immediately

Roger Allen 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Very satisfied when previously took out gap insurance some 4 years ago. So came straight to you this time. Premium very acceptable. Advice on deferment given without any further ha…

Joan Buttle 6 Jun 2018

55 star rating

All my questions were answered clearly and I was left knowing exactly which policy to buy. I am happy with the purchase I have made which was cheaper and over a longer term than th…

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.