The Lotus Story

What is short-term car insurance?

Temporary insurance for cars is a specialist insurance policy that covers motorists who wish to use a car legally and safely for just a short length of time, from a few hours to a few weeks. There are now a number of different providers of short period insurance. it is usually available for between one single day and 28days. This is very popular with overseas visitors and you can buy one day car insurance from www.carinsurancefor1day.co.uk.

What type of cover is available?

Insurers normally offer comprehensive cover only, except for companies that provide insurance for motorists whose cars have been impounded because they have been driven whilst the driver was uninsured. This is normally third party only cover which is the cheapest available and it lasts for 30 days, which is the minimum period allowed by law. You can buy short term car insurance for impounded cars at impoundedcar.co.uk

What types of cars can be insured?

Normally a car would be expected to be fairly modern and manufactured to EU specifications. It should be registered, and normally driven, in the United Kingdom.

All insurers have a fixed list of cars that they will cover (this goes for all normal yearly paid insurers too) and the only way to find out whether or not a car would be acceptable would be to get a quotation. This normally takes 1 to 2 minutes only.

Would I have to own the car?

Most short-term insurers will cover both cars that are owned by the driver, and ones which are owned by someone else, provided that the driver has the owner's express permission to drive it.

Where could I drive the car?

The journey would have to both begin and end within the United Kingdom. However the car could normally be taken out of the country into any of the countries of the European Union provided that it was reurned to the UK before the policy expired. The proviso would be that most companies offer comprehensive cover for the time the car is in the United Kingdom, but minimal cover (equivalent to 3rd party only in the UK) whilst outside the country. This can usually be upgraded to comprehensive cover for a small extra premium.

How does a driver qualify?

They are normally expected to be between the ages of 19 and 75, with a minimum of one year's driving experience, although this can vary from one insurer to another.

How long can I insure a car for?

Most short-term policies are taken out for anywhere between one day and 28 days. If you need to have more than 28 days most insurers will allow you to purchase additional policies as the existing one expires.

How long does it take to get a policy?

It takes one or two minutes to get a quotation. Once you have accepted the quotation, it would take just a few minutes more to order and pay for your policy. You would need to have your credit card details and your driving licence details available to do this.

Can I get a policy without providing my driving licence information?

No, this is a security issue that nearly all short-term insurers insist on.

How do I get my documentation?

You'll be sent an email link to your policy documents. You can download these if you wish but it is not absolutely essential to do so. However bear in mind that you may have to prove to a police officer that you are insured if you are stopped for any reason; usually just having your mobile phone with you and being able to show this officer the link to your policy will suffice.

How soon before I drive do I need to book my policy?

When you buy your policy you can specify that it starts immediately, or at any time within the next 28 days.