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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

David Pibworth 3 Feb 2024

55 star rating

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

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.

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.

Michael Voyzey 4 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

Syed Mubarak Syed Ahmad 16 Aug 2023

55 star rating

It was very easy to get the cover and the whole transaction took less than 10 minutes to complete.

Gary Smith 13 Jul 2023

55 star rating

Competitive rates and very straight forward to use. Thank you

Stuart Weatherdon 8 Jun 2023

55 star rating

Straight forward to buy & much cheaper than the dealer...👍 hopefully I will never need it, but its peace of mind if the unthinkable should happen...

Surjit Pangli 15 Mar 2023

55 star rating

Easy to use site. Considerably less than dealer's quote.

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.

Susan Smith 13 Mar 2023

55 star rating

Much cheaper than other quotes. Easy to do. I phoned to talk to an adviser as never needed this type of insurance before. No hold time and very helpful.

Dave Wilkinson 6 Sep 2023

55 star rating

Very straight-forward and a compoetitive price.

natasha badger 28 Oct 2023

55 star rating

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

Scott Selbie 8 Sep 2023

55 star rating

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

Richard. Alan. Smith 16 Jul 2023

55 star rating

Second time used for gap insurance, no hassle just straight forward application process and a sensible cost. Would highly recommend.

darren birch 8 Jan 2024

55 star rating

used before and experienced great service, thats why im back

clive williams 14 Jul 2023

55 star rating

As always great first class customer service. Have always used and will continue to do so. !! Thanks

A Bowers 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Simple to purchase and clear advice and access to the policy documents

Andrew norris sherborn 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Dealer offered expensive policy when I bought the car new. I decided I wanted to protect the value of the car for the early years of ownership, so I searched the Internet and found…

Peter Emsell 2 Sep 2021

55 star rating

Very easy to set up and piece of mind. Good value compared to Dealership

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…

Darren Garwood 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Clearly registered with the FSA and very competitive price, the best over the terms in fact.

Gillian Millar 12 Jan 2023

55 star rating

Nice and easy website and good value compared to main dealer.

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.