LONDON, UK. October 21st, 2026 – An estimated 7.5 million UK drivers have used temporary car insurance at least once according to new research, highlighting how widely short-term cover is being used by motorists across the country.
Research commissioned by temporary insurance specialist Covertime.com surveyed 1,532 UK adults, including 1,224 people with a UK driving licence, about their awareness, experiences and attitudes towards temporary car insurance.
The survey found that 18% of UK licence holders surveyed had previously taken out temporary car insurance, equivalent to around 7.5 million people when applied to approximately 42 million valid UK driving licences recorded by the DVLA.
Borrowing a car from a friend or family member was the most common reason for taking out temporary cover, cited by 49% of people who had used it.
Driving a newly purchased car home was the second most common reason, at 35%, while other uses included sharing a long journey, learning to drive and covering a house move.
Existing car owners were almost twice as likely to have used temporary cover as non-car owners, with many using it when they need access to a different vehicle.
Younger drivers were also more likely to have experience of temporary insurance. A quarter of those aged 21 to 30 said they had used temporary cover, compared with 14% of drivers aged 61 and over.
For those who have used temporary insurance, the research found that cost was generally in line with expectations. 89% said the price they paid was either a great deal or about what they expected, with most policies costing between £21 and £40, regardless of whether the cover lasted a day or several weeks.
By comparison, the Association of British Insurers has reported that the average premium for comprehensive motor insurance in the UK is £566 a year.
However, cost does not appear to be the main reason people have not used temporary cover. Among those who had never taken out a temporary policy, 82% said they had simply never needed it, while only 3% said they considered it too expensive.
Tom Warsop, motor insurance expert at Covertime.com, said: “This data shows that temporary car insurance has already become a normal part of how millions of people drive, even if most people don’t realise quite how widely it’s used.
“The reason more people haven’t tried it is not because it’s confusing or expensive, it’s that most people simply don’t realise how many everyday situations it can help with.
“Picking up a new car before you’ve sorted your annual cover, test driving one you’re buying privately, letting your son or daughter use the car while they’re back from university, or lending yours to a family member while theirs is off the road are all moments where proper short-term cover can be relevant.
“The more people know it exists for these situations, the easier it is for drivers to consider the appropriate cover when they need to use a vehicle temporarily.”
The full research findings are available from Covertime.com.
ENDS