Why would I need a one day car insurance policy?

One day car insurance

Most drivers are happy to insure their car for 12 months on a standard car insurance policy, but what if you only need temporary cover? You might want to insure your car for just a week, or maybe even for a single day.

MoneySupermarket has this covered, having teamed up dayinsure.com and tempcover.com to offer our customer one day car insurance cover. 
 

A number of specialist insurers offer one day car insurance which can prove useful in a number of different circumstances. Perhaps your own vehicle is in the garage and you want to insure a courtesy car for the day. Or maybe you want to use your parents' car to move your belongings to a new flat.

Whatever the reason, you will need car insurance cover on the vehicle and a one day car insurance policy is one option.

One day car insurance alternatives

An alternative to one day car insurance is adding a named driver to a car's existing motor insurance policy. However, an additional driver can work out expensive. It can also jeopardise the policyholder's no claims discount in the event of an accident.

It may also work out more expensive as this person will then be covered over the duration of the policy. In addition to this, some car insurance companies may charge an admin fee if any changes are made to the policy.

Is one day car insurance available to everyone?

It is normally quick and easy to apply for one day car insurance. However, most insurers insist on a minimum driver age of 21, with a typical maximum age of 75.

Applicants must also have held a full UK licence for at least 12 months, though many firms will accept an EU licence.

Crackdown on uninsured drivers

Car insurance for one day can be a cost-effective solution to your short term needs. After all, there is no point in paying out for insurance for 12 months if you can buy cheap car insurance for one day. Just make sure you don't fall foul of the regulations on Continuous Insurance Enforcement.

The government is cracking down on the estimated 1.3 million motorists who drive without insurance. It is therefore an offence to keep a car that is not insured, even if it is locked in the garage for 11 months of the year. The only way round the legislation is to apply to the DVLA for a Statutory Off Road Notification, or SORN.

Midnight strikes

If you take out a one day car insurance policy, take care not to drive the car for more than one day. If you are still behind the wheel when the clock strikes midnight, the policy will run out and you'll be in as much of a spot as Cinderella.

Basically, once the clock ticked past midnight you would be driving without cover, which is illegal. The insurer would also not pay out in the event of any claim, which could be financially ruinous for you. If there is a chance that you will need the car for more than one day, it is probably better to opt for a longer policy, just to be on the safe side. 

You can check out the other temporary car insurance policies we offer on our short term car insurance page.

Source: MoneySupermarket