Temporary van insurance

Short-term van insurance allows you, or a nominated driver, to get temporary cover in just a few minutes.

Temporary van insurance applies if you’re borrowing or lending a van, but not if you’re hiring one. In that situation, you need van hire cover instead.

Short-term van insurance makes it simple to drive someone else’s van when needed. The van’s owner doesn’t have to do a thing apart from give you permission. You can then take care of the rest.

Temporary van insurance also allows you to lend your van to someone else who isn’t a named driver on your existing van insurance policy.

And don’t worry about it impacting your no claims discount. A short-term van insurance policy won’t affect any other policies that are currently in place.

But if you have an accident, it could impact your car and van insurance premiums in the future.

Tempcover compares temporary van or car insurance to help you find short-term comprehensive cover in under two minutes.

Shopping around and comparing a range of policies is one of the easiest ways to find cheap temporary van insurance. With short-term cover available from one hour to 28 days, you only pay for the time you need.

Tempcover has sold almost four million policies. And, thanks to its award-winning customer service, it has an 'Excellent' customer review rating on Trustpilot, as of September 2024.

Find out more about Tempcover.

There are many situations when short-term van insurance can come in useful. It can be used for social and domestic situations as well as by small businesses and sole traders.

You might want to take out temporary van insurance if:

• You’re moving home or helping someone else move house – if you can borrow a van, you can avoid the cost of hiring one or paying a removal company to do the job. You can even get one-day van insurance for quick jobs.

• You’re transporting large items such as furniture, sports equipment or any industrial materials or tools required for work. This could also include garden waste and any items that need to go to the local tip or recycling centre.

• You’re buying or selling a van – cover yourself for test driving a van before you buy or get drive-away cover after you’ve bought it.

• You want to share the driving on long trips – add another designated driver on a temporary basis.

• You’re lending out your van for a short time – either for personal or commercial use.

• You’re a young driver who only drives a van occasionally and can’t afford the higher premiums of annual cover.

• You need it for business use, for example:

  • Providing cover for temporary or stand-in staff if someone is off sick or on holiday.

  • Borrowing a van while yours is being repaired.

Because many businesses run on tight margins, cheap temporary van insurance can be a real lifesaver for cashflow. Especially as it can be arranged at short notice.

Am I eligible to get temporary van insurance?

Depending on the insurance provider, different eligibility criteria may apply. In all cases, you’ll need a valid driving licence.

You don’t have to be the registered owner of the van. You just need the owner’s permission to drive it.

Tempcover’s eligibility rules are:

To get short-term van insurance, you must:

• Be 17-77 years old

• Hold a UK or EU driving licence

• Have been a UK resident for the last 12 months

• Have no more than seven licence penalty points and no more than two fault claims in the past three years

• Have no disqualifications in the past two years

• Have no criminal convictions

• Have had no previous insurance policy declared void by an insurance provider.

The van to be included in the policy should be:

• No more than 7.5 tonnes in weight

• Valued between £1,500 and £65,000

• Roadworthy with a valid MOT (unless the insurance is to cover you for taking the van to a pre-booked MOT appointment)

• Free from any modifications, unless they’re factory-fitted extras or designed for disabled drivers. Check with Tempcover directly to find out more.

It’s worth noting that each insurance provider on Tempcover’s panel has its own eligibility criteria. So, make sure you read their Proposer’s Declaration before you buy.

Tempcover works with a panel of providers to make sure it can offer temporary van insurance to as many drivers as possible. Because of this, policies may vary.

Always double-check the policy wording before you buy, so you know exactly what’s included.

If you’re driving a van belonging to a family member, friend or colleague – or if you lend them yours – there are alternatives to temporary van insurance:

• Adding them to your insurance policy

• Being added to their policy

• Adding them or being added to a company policy

• Adding the van to another motor insurance policy.

There’s likely to be a charge for any of these options. Although it may not be more than the overall cost of short-term van insurance. Consider what’s best for you in terms of cover, price and ease.

You can get short-term van insurance that lasts from one hour to 28 days. Time limits vary among insurance providers, however. So, make sure you specify how long you need temporary van insurance for when comparing quotes.

If you want to insure by the hour, you can choose 1-12 hours. Once you go over that, it’s best to insure for the whole day. It’s better to overestimate the time you need than risk not being insured.

It's important to be as accurate as you can when estimating how long you’ll need insurance for. Typically, you’ll pay more for temporary van insurance than for a longer policy.

No. Driving any vehicle – including vans – without at least third-party insurance is illegal. And if you’re caught, you could end up with a fine and a conviction.

If you’ve just bought a new van, temp van cover can give you the short-term protection you need while you compare van insurance providers.

It’s a good idea to shop around to find a policy that suits you or your business’s needs.

It’s possible to get temporary van insurance for business use, if you just need to borrow a van from time to time.

You may also want to get short-term van insurance for new employees while you’re sorting out annual cover. Or you might add a temporary member of staff for an hour or two, or even a few days in a row.

Temporary van cover can also be useful for businesses including builders, plumbers and roofers if they want to get cover for subcontractors to drive the work van.

Temporary van insurance doesn’t typically cover hired or rented vans. You’ll usually need van hire insurance for that. You may be able to arrange this through the rental company. Or it might be included as part of the hiring agreement.

Always check the terms of the policy so you know exactly what you’re covered for. And take note of how much excess you’ll be expected to pay if you’re involved in an accident.

You can’t use temporary van insurance if you’re going to use your vehicle for ‘hire or reward’. In other words, to earn money from using it as a delivery vehicle or taxi.

For this, you’ll need commercial van insurance (also known as business van insurance) or taxi insurance.

The short-term van insurance you buy could be comprehensive. But, depending on the policy, you might not be covered for:

• The excess you’ve agreed to pay

• Loss or damage to any trailer or caravan towed by the insured van

• Additional drivers – short-term policies often cover just one named driver

• Goods carried in or on the van

• Releasing an impounded van.

However, you may have the option to include extras like:

• Breakdown cover

• Cover for tools or equipment stored or transported in the van

• Cover for driving abroad

• A courtesy van if yours is being repaired

• Personal accident cover.

Always read the small print before buying any short-term van insurance policy.

If you’re comparing short-term van insurance quotes with Tempcover, you’ll just need:

• Your van’s registration number and approximate value

• The duration of cover you’re looking for and when you want it to start

• Your name, address, contact details and date of birth

• Your driving licence type – for example full UK – and how long you’ve had it.

1. Offers temporary van insurance from one hour to 28 days.

2. Cover is available in under two minutes.

3. 4.8-star customer review rating on Trustpilot, as of September 2024.

4. Almost 4 million policies sold.

Tempcover gives you flexible insurance to suit your needs, whether you’re borrowing a van, test-driving a new vehicle or driving away your new purchase.

With comprehensive cover available as standard and as a separate, standalone policy, your no claims discount won’t be affected.

If you want to read more about short-term van insurance, just go back to the top of the page.

Tempcover is a provider of short-term insurance in the UK. It’s authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is underwritten by a panel of authorised and regulated insurance providers, chosen for their competitiveness, cover and service levels provided.

Compare the Market’s relationship with Tempcover is purely that of a business relationship and no common ownership or control rights exist between us.