Driving home for Christmas? Easy if you have a car and it’s insured already, not so easy if you need to borrow or share a car over the festive period … and getting home for Christmas is only the start of it – once you’re there, your time is probably going to be packed with all that good stuff – last minute shopping runs, grabbing a Christmas tree, winter walks with friends and family to burn off the excess calories and get away from Netflix. The only thing that can slow you down is transport. For many, public transport isn’t always practical. Borrowing a car could be a great alternative, but are you insured to drive it?
Temporary car insurance, or simply “Day Insurance” is short-term cover that lets you drive someone else’s car for a few hours, days, or weeks without relying on or impacting their annual policy.
Here’s how Day Insurance can make December smoother, safer, and far less stressful.
What exactly is Day Insurance?
Day Insurance has become a catch-all expression for:
- Temporary or short-term car insurance
- Policies lasting from an hour to a few weeks
- Stand-alone cover that sits independently of the car owner’s annual insurance
Instead of being added as a named driver – which can be slow, expensive, and a hassle during December – a temporary policy lets you:
- Get insured instantly for the exact time you need
- Protect the owner’s No Claims Discount
- Avoid the very real risk of accidentally driving uninsured
With that cleared up, here are a few common real-life December moments where Day insurance genuinely saves the day.
1. Getting home
Right, so you’ve finished work and you need to get back across the country to see your friends and family for the festive season. How about the train? Maybe, but it could be very expensive, crowded, and it will certainly limit the amount of baggage/presents you can take home with you.
Instead of shoe-horning yourself onto the standing-room only 20:32 from Paddington, you could borrow a car from your mate, colleague or neighbour, and just drive home! Imagine the freedom of the open road – Chris Rea blaring on the radio as you glance back and see a boot full of bags, pressies and (yes) dirty laundry for your mum to tackle.
That’s exactly the kind of moment Day Insurance is made for – quick, flexible cover that helps you get from A to B without turning December into a logistical nightmare.
2. Sharing the drive on a long festive road trip
Maybe you do have your own car, but the journey home is four hours each way and you’re already picturing the Friday-before-Christmas traffic on the M6.
Your mate, partner, or sibling is coming with you – and they can drive. But if they’re not named on your annual policy, you’re the only one legally covered to be behind the wheel.
Temporary cover can:
- Add them as the driver of your car for just the journey (or the whole festive period).
- Let you swap drivers when the traffic is crawling and your legs are turning to jelly.
- Mean you’re not tempted to “just let them drive for a bit” without proper insurance.
Result? You arrive less stressed, more awake, and with enough energy left to actually enjoy the first glass of mulled wine. Remember it is good practice to take regular breaks on long journeys (at least every 2 hours) and getting someone to share the driving makes it much easier to share the load.
3. Borrowing Mum or Dad’s car while you’re back from uni
You’re home from uni for a couple of weeks. Lovely. Except you’ve quickly remembered there’s not a lot to do in your hometown if you can’t get around easily.
Your parents have a car sitting on the drive. They’re happy for you to use it for:
- Last-minute Christmas shopping runs
- Visiting mates who’ve also come home
- Dashing to the out-of-town retail park because you forgot Auntie Sue’s present… again
…but you’re not on their annual policy.
Instead of them calling their insurer, waiting on hold, and potentially paying to add you as a named driver for the whole year, you can:
- Take out Day Insurance on their car just for the days you’ll actually drive it.
- Avoid risking their hard-earned No Claims Discount.
Prove you’re a responsible adult now (even if you’re still sleeping until midday while your mum starts Christmas dinner).
4. Playing designated driver for festive nights out
December is basically one long social calendar:
- Work Christmas parties
- Catch-ups with school friends
- Family nights at the pub
Someone usually ends up being designated driver. Sometimes that’s you, sometimes it’s a mate. With Day Insurance, you can:
- Get insured on a friend’s car just for the evening.
- Share designated driver duties across a few nights by each taking out short bursts of cover.
- Avoid awkward “I thought I was covered on your policy?” conversations in the car park.
Everyone gets home safely, nobody is tempted to drive uninsured, and you all stay on the right side of the law (and Santa’s naughty list).
5. Airport runs and relative rescues
There’s always that one relative flying in at a slightly inconvenient time:
- Late-night arrivals
- Early-morning departures
- The cousin who somehow always books the cheapest, most awkward flight
If you don’t normally drive, or you’re home from uni without your own car, you can:
- Borrow a car from a family member for the day.
- Use Day Insurance to get insured just long enough for the airport run.
- Play hero by turning up at Arrivals rather than making them battle festive train timetables with two suitcases and a box of chocolates.
You’re officially “the organised one” of the family. You’re welcome.
6. When your own car is off the road
Of course, cars don’t care about your plans. They pick the worst possible time to:
- Break down
- Need work at the garage
- Fail the MOT on 18 different points
If your car decides to throw a tantrum in mid-December, Day insurance can be a lifesaver. You could:
- Borrow a family member’s or friend’s car for a few days while yours is being fixed.
- Get cover just long enough to get all the important stuff done: food shop, present runs, airport pickups.
- Avoid paying to change or cancel your annual policy when this is just a short-term blip.
No need to rearrange Christmas because your car has decided it’s “too cold to function”.
Comparing Day Insurance providers
Search for “Day Insurance” and you’ll find plenty of temporary car insurance providers, each with different prices, durations, age limits, and features.
To make choosing easier, we’ve put together a comparison of the Best UK temporary car insurance providers.
It breaks down:
- Who each provider suits (including provisional licence holders and van drivers)
- Typical cover lengths
- Key features and differences
A handy next step if you want to compare the main players before buying.
Why choose Zixty for Day Insurance?
If your December involves borrowed cars, festive errands, or winter trips, Zixty is designed for exactly that.
Before you head out for that Christmas tree or big shopping trip, take a moment to get your Day Insurance sorted – it’s one of the simplest ways to keep your festive season safe, legal, and stress-free.
Right then, if you’re ready to get behind the wheel, why not visit our quote page and see if our temporary cover fits your plans. Or if you prefer, you can download our App, and opt into the Free Zixty Miles feature – where we plant trees (maybe even a Christmas tree or two!) to carbon offset your car journey.
