Whether your car is in for repairs and you’re borrowing a friend’s temporarily, or you want to cover that awkward period between your annual policy ending and selling your car, you might be looking for a weekly car insurance policy.
In this guide we look at what weekly car insurance is, who might need it and whether it’s actually any good. So when it comes to comparing different weekly policies, the process shouldn’t drive you up the wall.
Weekly car insurance is a form of temporary car insurance, which can provide cover for anything between 1 hour and 28 days.
The weekly option does exactly what it says on the tin – you will have car insurance for a week (or 2 or 3), rather than just for an hour, a day, or for the whole month.
You can buy weekly car insurance in the same way as any other car insurance policy. Simply shop around using a comparison site and look for the best level of cover at the best price.
To get a quote, you’ll usually need to provide the following:
Weekly car insurance could be a suitable option in the following situations:
As with any type of car insurance policy, the price you pay for cover will depend on a range of factors such as:
When compared with other short term cover options, weekly car insurance can be good value for money. However, if you only need cover for a couple of hours or a day or 2, you’re probably better off getting an hourly or daily policy.
Ultimately, short term car insurance is a quick-fix insurance solution. If you think you’ll need temporary insurance for a month or longer, it might be more cost-effective to buy an annual policy and then cancel it at a later date. This is because when you break it down into daily costs, temporary car insurance is more expensive than annual policies.
However, before making your decision, it’s worth factoring in any cancellation fees that could be incurred if you had to cancel your annual cover mid-policy.
Much like other temporary policies, weekly car insurance is generally less flexible than an annual policy. This means you’ll usually only be able to take out fully comprehensive cover and you won’t have the option of choosing between comprehensive, third party, or third party, fire and theft coverage, as you would with annual insurance.
However, the benefit of this is that you should be covered for any damage to your car and any necessary repair work, as well as the loss of your car due to theft or fire.
If you’re borrowing someone else’s car, weekly car insurance has the advantage that the car owner’s no-claim bonus will not be affected if you’re involved in an accident. Similarly, if you have a no claim bonus on a regular policy, this will be left intact if you have to claim for an accident on your weekly car insurance while driving another vehicle.
When comparing weekly car insurance it’s important to check for exclusions. Some insurers won’t provide cover for certain vehicles, such as:
Your insurer may also refuse to pay out if your vehicle is damaged or stolen as a result of you leaving the keys in the ignition, or if the car is driven by someone not named on the policy.
To get weekly car insurance you will usually need to be between the age of 17 and 75, though this will depend on the insurer. Some insurance providers may exclude drivers under the age of 25 or those over the age of 65, so always check carefully.
You may also need to have been a permanent UK resident for the past 12 months or a British expatriate. Some insurers will provide cover if you have a licence from the EU, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or Switzerland.
You may find it harder to get weekly car insurance if you have points on your licence or other criminal convictions.
The best way to cut costs on weekly car insurance is to shop around. By comparing the different companies out there you can find the best quote for you. Here’s a breakdown of the steps you should take.
Weekly car insurance can be a convenient option if you only need to use a car for a week or 2. Cover can start straight away and it can be less hassle and cheaper than taking out an annual policy.
| Response | Male | Female |
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| New exhaust | 19.84% | 10.69% |
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