Let’s be honest here. Not having your own car, or having a car that’s not quite big enough, can be a right pain.
But what if you don’t own a vehicle? You’ll need to borrow someone else’s and that’s where short-term car insurance can be a real winner. Here at Jaunt, we’ve put together this quick guide to give you the ins and outs of temporary car insurance… don’t worry, you can thank us later.
So how does it work?
The whole idea behind temporary car insurance is that you can get flexible cover right then and there. With Jaunt, you could get insured for up to 28 days on a car. Arrange it in advance or at short notice. It’s up to you.
Here’s a quick example: Your elderly neighbour asks you to go and do their shopping this afternoon and offers you their car as you don’t own one. You could use Jaunt to insure yourself on that vehicle for a couple of hours to get the shopping done. Sorted on the spot. The ultimate convenience.
Choosing the right cover: the benefits of short-term car insurance
Say a vehicle has comprehensive annual insurance, did you know if someone else, other than the policy holder or named driver drove the vehicle, they and the vehicle might not always be covered for accidental damage? The no claims discounts for both the driver and the vehicle owner might also be affected. Jaunt short-term insurance cover is comprehensive, so both the driver and the car owner can have peace of mind, along with both no claims discounts being protected.
How do I sign up?
So, you can see the advantages and want to get involved. How do you go about it? Well, all you have to do is have permission of the owner to borrow their vehicle and meet a few basic criteria required by the short-term insurance provider and you’ll find that you can be on your way in no time.
But aren’t there other alternatives to short-term car insurance?
The short answer is yes. But you need to think carefully about the options and weigh up the pros and cons.
‘But I can get myself added to a car’s annual policy…’
This may not be the most convenient option. The policy owner will have to call up their insurer and go through several steps to get an additional driver added. This could be complicated and expensive. There might be admin fees and their overall annual premium might increase too – especially if the temporary driver is a younger driver or someone who’s made previous claims.
‘But my insurance policy already covers me to drive somebody else’s car…’
Not every insurance policy lets you drive somebody else’s car, so double check the details. If you are able to drive somebody else’s car, it’s also important to check the level of cover. It may be that you’re limited to cars already on your policy or that driving other cars is a special add-on.
‘But I could hire my own car…’
This could be an expensive option and it’s limited by age. If you’re under 25, the chances are that hire companies won’t let you take a vehicle. Even if they do, they usually hit young drivers with a surplus charge and it might not be worth it for a short journey.
If you need the use of a car for your essential travel any time soon and you’re borrowing someone else’s car, then choose short-term insurance Even if it’s a last-minute thing. It only takes a couple of minutes to get a quote and you can be on the road in no time.
