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Who uses temporary car insurance?

We provide temporary car and van insurance for a variety of scenarios, including:

  • Borrowing someone else’s car
  • Driving your parents’ car
  • Sharing the driving on a long journey
  • Using another car while yours is being repaired
  • Picking up a new vehicle and bringing it home before arranging annual insurance
  • Driving a different vehicle, such as a van, for tasks like moving house
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Who do we cover?

Steering wheel
Driver
  • Age : 19 to 75 (Commercial vehicle 21+)
  • Licence : Full UK DVLA issued or EU Licence (subject to criteria)
  • Licence length : Held 3 months or longer (EU licences 3+ years). Commercial vehicles require 12 months, UK licence only.
  • Disqualification : Not been banned in last 5 years
  • Points : No more than 6 valid points
  • Occupations : Certain occupations excluded
  • Residency : UK resident for 12 months or more / 3+ years for EU licence holders
  • Drivers : One driver only
car
Vehicle
  • Value : Up to £50,000
  • Age : Up to 20 years old
  • Private car / Commercial Vehicle: Private cars or commercial vehicles up to 3.5t
  • MOT : MOT check performed if no valid MOT cover only applicable to drive to pre-booked MOT 
  • Permission : Must have owners consent
  • Modifications : No after market modifications
  • ABI Group : Up to Group 45
  • Registration : UK registered right-hand drive

Temporary car insurance guide

What level of cover does temporary car insurance provide?

Zixty temporary car insurance provides comprehensive cover for Social Domestic and Pleasure purposes as well as for commuting to your normal place of work. We also cover business use (Class 1) which covers driving to and from other business locations in your normal course of work for your main occupation (please note no delivery or taxi use is covered). Like most short term car insurance policies it doesn’t cover Glass (including windscreens).

Who takes out temporary car insurance if I’m borrowing a car?

The person who will be borrowing and driving the car needs to download the Zixty app and take out the policy. If you’re lending a car we’ll advise you via email when the policy has been set up. The borrower will need to know the lender’s email address so that they can receive the policy notification.

Who takes out temporary car insurance if I’m lending a car?

If you’ve decided to lend your car to someone, then it’s up to them to take out a temporary car insurance policy. They’ll need your permission first, and that’s it. In the unfortunate event of a claim involving your car, your insurance and your No Claim Discount are not affected.

Does temporary car insurance cover business use?

Zixty temporary car insurance provides you with Comprehensive cover for Social Domestic and Pleasure purposes as well as for commuting to your normal place of work. We also cover business use (Class 1) which covers driving to and from other business locations in your normal course of work for your main occupation (please note no delivery or taxi use is covered). However, like most short term policies it doesn’t cover Glass (including windscreens). You need to ensure that the cover meets your needs before buying a policy.

Can I get 1 hour temporary car insurance?

Zixty temporary car insurance can cover you from 1 hour up to 28 days. If you need longer than 28 days then you’ll need a new policy, which is quick and simple to arrange. Short term insurance isn’t really designed for longer than 28 days and it may be more cost effective to look at other insurance products that are more suitable.

Does temporary car insurance allow me to tax my car?

Taking out a Zixty temp cover policy will enable you to demonstrate that you have a valid insurance policy in place when taxing your vehicle. The DVLA uses the Motor Insurance Database (MID) to get confirmation that the vehicle is insured, and it can take up to 48 hours for this to include details.

Can I use temporary car insurance to learn to drive?

We currently only insure people who have held a full UK DVLA issued driving licence for 6 months or more.

Do I need to own a car to take out temporary car insurance?

No. A lot of customers take out Zixty insurance because they’re borrowing someone else’s car. The owner/ lender of the car will be notified by email that cover is being arranged.

Temporary car insurance FAQs

Do the vehicle and policy get registered on MID?

We will ensure the vehicle is uploaded to the Motor Insurance Database (MID), and removed when cover ends.

Please be aware that it can take up to 48 hours for MID to be updated – something that’s common to all car insurance companies. If you get stopped by the police, your app holds proof of your insurance.

Does temporary car insurance affect the lender's NCD?

Your Zixty short term car insurance policy supersedes the lender’s policy while in force. If you need to claim against your Zixty policy, the lender’s No Claim Discount will not be affected.

Does temporary car insurance cover a test drive?

Provided that you have the owner’s permission and the car has a valid MOT, a Zixty short term insurance policy is designed to cover a test drive.

Does the car need to be insured elsewhere?

As long as the car has a current MOT, and provided you have the permission of the owner (where applicable), no other car insurance is required.

Can temporary car insurance cover start immediately?

Once you’ve bought your policy it takes just a few minutes to get you on the road (if you want immediate cover). Please check your documents for the exact start time of your policy.

Can I drive a SORN vehicle?

A Zixty short term policy does not cover SORN cars

Can I take out cover to take my car to get an MOT?

A Zixty policy cannot provide cover to take a car for an MOT if the MOT has already expired.

Can I drive abroad with temporary car insurance?

Zixty policies provide the minimum level of cover required by the laws of compulsory insurance for you to use the vehicle on road in any country that is a member of the European Union, and any country that has agreed to follow the European Union directives relating to compulsory motor insurance and is approved by the commission of the European Union. Please refer to your policy wording for full details.

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