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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

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.

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.

Julian Portman 26 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

darren birch 8 Jan 2024

55 star rating

used before and experienced great service, thats why im back

Scott Selbie 8 Sep 2023

55 star rating

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

Dave Wilkinson 6 Sep 2023

55 star rating

Very straight-forward and a compoetitive price.

Gary Smith 13 Jul 2023

55 star rating

Competitive rates and very straight forward to use. Thank you

Surjit Pangli 15 Mar 2023

55 star rating

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

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.

Michael Voyzey 4 Jan 2024

55 star rating

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

Noel Egbury 22 Jun 2023

55 star rating

Very quick to obtain a quote and much, much cheaper than the main dealer price offered at the point of sale.

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

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.

Martin Priest 26 Jan 2023

55 star rating

Polite and informative, easy to contact and talk to and the products are cheaper than the dealer

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...

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.

David Pibworth 3 Feb 2024

55 star rating

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

Jack Lyons 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Easier and better to use than a slightly cheaper rival!

Freya Chambers 2 Jun 2021

55 star rating

FAST and very straight forward to set up. Great product to protect your investment.

Christopher Fear 23 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Extremely good price and very informative website with ease of use.

Jane Evans 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Best Value

Peter Emsell 2 Sep 2021

55 star rating

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

Ms D Jones Beere 18 Dec 2013

55 star rating

Direct Gap has the most user-friendly website - simple, clear and easy - and the most competitive rates to protect my beautiful new car!

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.