Temporary Car Insurance

Temporary Car Insurance has changed from being expensive, complicated and difficult to get, into a mainstream product that is now enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of motorists every year. It could not be easier to arrange; since it is bought online it is available 24 hours a day seven days a week and all it takes is to fill in a simple form, submit credit card information and the policy can be issued immediately. This means it's absolutely ideal for last-minute requirements, or motorists can plan ahead by booking a policy up to 28 days before the date when it is actually required.

It is okay whether the vehicle to be insured belongs to the person who intends to drive it, or has been borrowed from someone else, provided that it has not been hired. Policies can be arranged in daily increments between one and 28 days, and there is a maximum usage of 118 days in any calendar year. Documentation is delivered by e-mail to be printed out on a home printer; since the MID may not be updated for as long as 48 hours after a policy is issued, depending upon the time and date when the booking is made, it is advisable to get these documents printed and carried at all times, just in case of possible problems if the vehicle is stopped by a police officer for any reason. This is an important point since many police forces now confiscate cars as a matter of routine if the driver's insurance details are not on the MID, and said driver cannot prove that insurance is in force.

Like every insurance policy there are certain terms and conditions, and here are some of the main ones. Firstly, the motorist must be over 21 with a full driving licence which has been held for at least a year, and must be reasonably honest; no offences of dishonesty within the last five years and no serious motoring offences within the last three. Certainly a few scallywags accidentally 'forget' about the odd offence but most insurance companies do make strenuous checks before paying out on a claim so this is self-defeating. Secondly; the vehicle has to have a valuation of less than £75,000 (that will exclude most members of Parliament then): be in good roadworthy condition with a current MOT certificate; be unmodified from the makers specification; have no more than eight seats and must weigh less than 3.5 t GVW. So sorry, armoured personnel carriers cannot be covered.

The vehicle can be used for the insured person's social, domestic, pleasure and business use but goods are passengers cannot be carried for hire or reward, and the vehicle cannot belong to a car hire company. Very reasonably, dangerous or illegal materials cannot be carried, and the vehicle should not be driven at hazardous locations. These include power stations, nuclear facilities, bulk storage or factories producing explosives, ammunition or pyrotechnics, refineries, bulk storage or plants producing oil, gas or chemicals, Ministry of Defence premises, or military bases.

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