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Temporary business car insurance

Need temporary insurance for a company car to make a last-minute meeting? We’ve got you covered.

Buy our short-term business car insurance and get on the road.

How to buy short-term business car insurance

Buying temporary business car insurance with Confused is easy as 1, 2, 3

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Tell us a few details about you and your car

To provide you with your quote, we’ll need your name, age, address and driving history, along with the make and model of the car you want to cover.

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Choose the type and length of your policy

With Confused, you’re in the driver’s seat! Choose the type of business car insurance you want and how long you want your temporary policy to last.

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Decide when you want your policy to start

Now or not for a while? You can choose exactly when you want your short-term policy to start, so you’re not forking out for cover unnecessarily.

No, seriously…it really is that simple.

What is temporary business car insurance?

It’s a short-term car insurance policy that lets you use your car for work-related driving. This could be for a one-off business trip or going to meetings at a different office – any travel that’s outside your usual commute.

You can get instant cover for as little as 1 hour to 28 days.

If you need cover for longer than 28 days, you'll need a standard business car insurance policy that gives you cover for 12 months.

Alternatively, if you don't need cover for business use, and are just collecting a new car, you may need a drive away insurance policy.

Looking for longer-term cover?

You’ll probably want to check out a standard annual business car insurance policy.

How does it work?

Get covered in 3 simple steps:

  • Choose how long you need cover for and when you want your policy to start
  • Answer a few questions about you and the car you want to insure
  • Review your offer and buy your policy

You can get cover to start as soon as you've bought it, or choose to have the policy start up to 30 days in the future. This gives you the chance to plan ahead and be organised. You only pay for the time you need, meaning ultimate flexibility and a clear idea of costs.

Our policies are offered through our trusted partner Tempcover and are comprehensive.

When your policy expires, your cover ends. If you need more time, you can buy another policy to give you additional hours or days.

If you need to borrow a car or you've been asked to drive someone else's, you can get a policy on the car as long as you have the owner's permission. Whether it's your car or someone else's, any existing insurance policy isn't affected by you buying a temporary policy. Even if you have an accident, there's no risk to yours or the car owner's no-claims bonus.

We also provide temporary business van insurance with the same benefits.

Temporary vs annual insurance: Which policy type do you need?

Wondering whether to insure your car for a year or just a few weeks? Don’t sweat it; we’ve got you covered (no pun intended).

We can break business car insurance policies into two main categories: annual and temporary. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the situations when you might need one over the other.

Scenario Annual Temporary
Regular use of a company-owned car
Covering newly-purchased business vehicles
Insuring a fleet of company cars
Borrowing a colleague’s car for a day
Long-term vehicle ownership
Changing your company car for a few days

Why buy temporary business car insurance?

Why settle for one-size-fits-all? Buying temporary business car insurance means you can:

  • Get the best bang for your buck
  • Avoid being caught out by gaps in the cover
  • Only pay for what you need
  • Configure policy add-ons to avoid unnecessary spending

Yes, we all hate reading the small print. But reading it all before signing on the dotted line is key to making sure you’re getting the right temporary insurance policy at the right price.

Find short-term business car insurance from our partner Tempcover

What do temporary business car insurance policies cover?

We’re taking the faff out of finding the right insurance for your vehicle. This is why all (yes, all) of our temporary car insurance policies include comprehensive cover.

Going comprehensive means you can get from A to B to C with total peace of mind that everything* is covered if things take a wrong turn.

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You’ll benefit from:

  • Cover for yourself, your car, any involved third parties, and their property
  • Protection against non-collision risks, such as theft, vandalism, and weather-related damage
  • Cover if you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver
  • Reduced out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an incident
  • Legal liability cover
  • Cover for driving in the EU (third-party-only)
Cross

Certain things aren’t covered by temporary business car insurance policies. These include:

  • Driving other vehicles (e.g. someone else’s company car or another vehicle in your company’s fleet)
  • Additional drivers who want to hop behind the wheel (only the person named on the policy is insured)
  • Claims that happen outside of the car’s stated use

Our temporary business car insurance policies aren’t suitable if driving a vehicle is an integral part of your job, like couriers or delivery drivers (including food deliveries). For these, you’d need to buy specialist commercial car insurance.

If you’re a delivery driver looking for hire and reward insurance, we do offer that, but only as annual cover.

*Always check the policy wording and exclusions of your chosen insurer, as what’s covered can differ depending on the insurance provider.

Can I get temporary business car insurance?

To be eligible you need:

  • A UK address
  • A full UK driving licence, held for at least 6 months
  • To be aged between 18 and 80

Find short-term business car insurance from our partner Tempcover

What our expert says

"By getting cover for your car only when you need it, you can give yourself the flexibility to pursue all your business needs without having to pay for a lengthy, annual policy.

Need to use your own car or borrow someone else's with their permission for business use? A temporary business policy means even if you have an accident, yours or the car owner's no-claims bonus isn't affected."

Marc Pell, Managing Director at Tempcover
Managing Director | Tempcover

FAQs about temporary business car insurance

Still have burning questions about buying temporary cover for commercial journeys? Relax, we’re all over it! Here are expert answers to FAQs about temporary business car insurance.

How much does temporary business car insurance cost?

It depends on a few things, like how long you need it (one hour to 28 days) and what car you’re insuring. The good news? You’re only paying for the cover you actually need, so no scary annual premiums.

If you’re aged between 17 and 20, you’ll pay the most on average* – around £115 per policy.

Prices typically decrease as you get older and more experienced. 21-24-year-olds pay around the £60 mark, 25-34-year-olds pay £54, and people aged between 35 and 54 pay between £55 and £40.

*Average policy prices for the age groups provided based on 2023 Tempcover data.

How soon can I get temporary business car insurance?

Quicker than you can say, “Jack Robinson?”! Okay, maybe not that fast (who even is that guy, anyway?), but you can get covered in just a few minutes. Perfect for those “ I forgot I need insurance!” moments.

Can I buy temporary business car insurance for someone else?

Yep, you can! Just make sure they want it, and you’ve got all the details about their car and driving history, and then you’re good to go. It’s like giving them the gift of hassle-free cover (but maybe don’t try wrapping it).

Will claiming on a temporary business car insurance policy affect my no-claims bonus?

Nope, not even a little. Your no-claims bonus stays safe, sound, and untouched (like a certain coconutty chocolate in the box of Celebrations). And if you’re driving someone else’s car, their policy is safe too. It’s insurance that plays nice.

Can I have more than one temporary insurance policy at a time?

Absolutely! If you have multiple cars to insure, you can take out separate policies for each one. However, each car must have its own individual policy to ensure compliance with legal requirements – you can’t share policies between vehicles.

Can I extend my temporary car insurance policy?

You can’t extend an existing policy, but you can buy a new one in a matter of minutes as soon as the old one ends. Think of it like a fresh start (but with way less paperwork).

Confused.com's temporary cover solution is provided by Tempcover LTD. Tempcover LTD are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 746985. Tempcover LTD is registered in England No. 9923259 at office: 2nd floor, Admiral House, Harington Way, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 4BB. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives a percentage of commission received by Tempcover LTD.