Let’s be honest. Not everything we do in life lasts forever. Sometimes, we want to take a short break or we’re off on a very specific mission. Organising a house or flat move. Spending time with our family during a university holiday. Or travelling around to meet friends for a special occasion.
If your plans involve a car, insurance is going to be essential. But what if you’re hoping to borrow someone else’s vehicle? 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 cover for something you want to do right now. With Jaunt, you can get temporary insurance for up to 28 days. And arrange it in advance or at short notice. It’s up to you.
Here’s a quick example: a friend asks if you want to share the drive to a festival, but you’re not on the insurance policy. You could easily get short-term cover which is literally just designed for that one journey. Sorted on the spot. The ultimate in convenience.
Choosing the right cover: the benefits of short-term car insurance
Not only is temporary car insurance a flexible option to get you on the move right away. After all, buying a car isn’t always an option financially. And this is a great way of being able to take to the roads once in a while, just when you need to.
Even if you have comprehensive car insurance, you may not be covered for accidental damage in someone else’s car. This means that if you have a bump, driving with third party cover will not cover the damages to the car, only the other parties. When you take out short-term insurance, the cover becomes comprehensive, so both you and the car owner can be safe in the knowledge that you’re fully covered.
How do I sign up?
So you can see the advantages and want some short-term insurance. How do you go about it? Well, all you have to do is meet a few basic criteria and you’ll find that you can cover that last-minute trip or borrow someone else’s motor.
Here are six moments that temporary insurance could cover:
Going on a weekend trip
Imagine you’re heading off to a friend’s wedding in the country and just need a car for a couple of days. There’s no point in everyone driving separately. You can share the journey with a couple of friends and all of you can take a turn behind the wheel. It’s more practical and eco-friendly – win win.
Visiting home from university
Let’s say you’re a young driver –between 18 and 25 and you’re visiting home from university. You might not have your own car, but want to make use of your mum or dad’s while they’re preparing you that Sunday roast you dreamt of during the term. Temporary insurance means that you can jump in their car hassle-free without them having to worry.
Your car is being repaired
Imagine if you’d taken your car to be repaired and you needed to make use of a friend’s for just a week or two. Short-term car insurance could be ideal – covering you when you need to nip to the supermarket or the gym.
Picking up your new car
Some people use temporary insurance to pick up their new car or as a stopgap after making a purchase. If you’ve just bought a new set of wheels and are shopping around for the best annual policy, you still need to be covered. That’s where a short-term option could be really handy.
But aren’t there 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 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 detail. If you are able to drive somebody eles’s car, it’s also important to check the level of cover. It may be that you’re limited to cars already on the policy or that driving other cars is a special add-on.
‘But I can get myself added to the car’s annual policy…’
This may not be the most convenient option. The person whose policy it is will have to call up their insurer and go through the steps to get you added. This could be or may be complicated and expensive. There could be admin fees and their premium might increase too – especially if you’re a younger driver, or someone who’s made previous claims. ‘But I could hire my own car…’
This may or 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.
If you’re planning a jaunt of your own any time son and you think you’re going to be making use of someone else’s car, then choose short-term insurance.
