Moving home over winter can feel like a mix of excitement and pressure. You’re trying to keep up with all those plans, while packing boxes, arranging help, and working around shorter days and colder weather. It’s no surprise many people borrow a van to get the big move sorted.
If that’s your plan, short-term van insurance can give you the cover you need for a single day, a weekend or even up to 30 days. It’s flexible, quick to set up, and ideal when you need a safe way to drive a van for your house move.
In this guide, we’ll explain how short-term van cover works, what it usually includes, what it doesn’t, and how to stay safe on winter roads. We’ll also explore how Dayinsure’s short-term options can support you during a busy winter move, so you can focus on getting settled in your new home.
What is short-term van insurance and how does it work?
Dayinsure’s short-term van insurance gives you fully comprehensive cover for a limited period of time, when you need to drive a van temporarily. It’s designed for short, one-off situations like moving home, borrowing a van from a friend or using a van for personal tasks. You choose exactly how long you need cover for. This could be a single day, a few days or up to 30 days in total.
Dayinsure’s short-term van insurance is a standalone policy, meaning it sits separately from any annual insurance the van owner may already have. This can be helpful when you’re borrowing a van, because any claim is handled under your Dayinsure policy rather than being added to the owner’s annual policy. While this means the owner’s no-claims discount is not usually affected, it’s still important to remember that all claims are assessed in line with the policy terms and conditions.
Dayinsure short-term van insurance is for personal use only, such as moving house or transporting your own belongings. It does not cover courier work, delivery driving or hire and reward. To check whether you and the van meet the requirements, it’s important to review Dayinsure’s acceptance criteria before you buy.
What does Dayinsure short-term van insurance cover?
With Dayinsure, short-term van insurance provides fully comprehensive cover for the van you’re driving during the period you choose. This includes:
- Damage to the van following an accident
- Damage to other people’s vehicles or property if you’re involved in an accident
- Fire or theft of the van
- Your legal liability if someone is injured or their property is damaged
Dayinsure’s cover is designed to protect the vehicle and your legal responsibility on the road. It does not cover the contents of the van. Furniture, boxes and personal belongings you’re moving are not insured under the policy.
Cover is subject to eligibility rules for both the driver and the van. These include things like age limits, licence requirements, van size and permitted use. Before taking out cover, you should always check Dayinsure’s acceptance criteria so you know exactly what is and isn’t allowed.
Who is short-term van insurance suitable for?
Temporary cover works for lots of different situations. It’s especially useful if you’re doing something short-term or one-off, like:
- Borrowing a friend’s van
- Using a work van for a one-off task
- Moving home, picking up furniture or helping someone out
- Not looking for an annual policy and only need short-term cover
Using short-term van insurance for a winter house move
Moving in winter can feel stressful. You’re working around shorter days and colder weather while trying to fit your move into an already packed diary. That’s why many people choose short-term van cover for house moves, including at this busy time of year.
A home move during the chilly season comes with its own challenges, and it helps to be ready for a few things that are more common over these months:
- Shorter daylight hours
- Icy roads and colder weather
- Holiday closures and limited services
- Busier traffic and tighter schedules
Depending on how your move’s planned, you might find a specific length of cover most suitable:
One-day cover is ideal when:
- You’re loading, driving and unloading on the same day
- Your move is simple and doesn’t need extra time
Multi-day cover works better when:
- You want to load the van the night before
- You’ll return it the day after
- You want a buffer in case of snow, ice or traffic delays
Dayinsure offers flexible durations, so you can pick the duration you need and stay covered from the moment you collect the van to the moment you hand it back.
What Dayinsure short-term van insurance does and doesn’t cover during a move
When you use Dayinsure short-term van insurance for a house move, the policy is there to protect the van and your legal liability while driving. It covers things like accidents, damage to other vehicles or property, and fire or theft of the van itself.
What it does cover:
- Fully comprehensive insurance for the van during your chosen cover period
- Third-party injury or property damage
- Accidental damage to the van
- Fire or theft
What it does not cover:
- Furniture, boxes or personal belongings inside the van
- High-value items you’re transporting
- Courier or delivery driving
- Hire and reward or business use outside what’s permitted
This is a common point of confusion during house moves. Many people assume their belongings are included, but they aren’t. You may already have some protection through your home insurance, or you may want to look at separate contents or removals cover for peace of mind.
Winter driving considerations when using a van
Driving a van in winter can feel different, especially if you’re not used to a larger vehicle. A few things are worth keeping in mind before you set off:
Winter road risks:
- Icy roads
- Reduced visibility
- Longer stopping distances
- Heavy rain or snow
If you’re not used to driving a van:
- Take turns wider
- Brake earlier
- Leave more space between vehicles
- Keep your speed steady
Plan ahead:
- Check the weather forecast
- Avoid peak times and busy routes
- Allow extra time for delays
- Think about breakdown cover for peace of mind
Checklist for driving a van safely over winter
Here’s a simple checklist to help your winter move go smoothly:
- Check fuel, tyres, lights and mirrors before you start driving.
- Pack essentials like a phone charger, warm clothing, gloves and water.
- Allow extra time in case of ice, rain or delays.
- Make sure your short-term policy has started when you need to drive.
- Double-check who’s insured to drive and keep your documents handy.
- Keep your speed steady and leave extra space for braking.
- Use dipped headlights in poor visibility and clear snow or ice from the van before you set off.
What do you need to be eligible for a short-term van policy?
To take out short-term van insurance with Dayinsure, both you and the van need to meet our acceptance criteria. This helps make sure the cover is right for your situation and works exactly as expected if you ever need to make a claim.
Driver requirements with Dayinsure
To be eligible for cover, you need to:
- Be between the ages of 18 and 75
- Hold a full, valid UK driving licence for the required period
- Be a UK resident
- Have a driving history that fits Dayinsure’s criteria, including no disqualifications and no serious or relevant motoring convictions within set timeframes
When you apply, it’s important to answer all questions honestly and accurately. That way, you can feel confident your cover is in place when you need it.
Van requirements
The van you want to insure must:
- Fall within Dayinsure’s permitted size, weight and value limits
- Be roadworthy, taxed and legally allowed on the road
- Be used for personal use, such as moving house or transporting your own belongings
- Not be used for courier work, delivery driving or any form of hire and reward
Dayinsure doesn’t offer short-term van insurance for courier or delivery use, even if it’s only for a short period.
What you’ll need to get a quote
When you’re ready to get a quote, you’ll be asked for:
- The van’s registration number
- Your UK driving licence details
- The start date and time you want cover to begin
- The end date and time you want cover to finish
Because Dayinsure cover is time-specific, it’s worth choosing times that fully match when you’ll be driving the van. That way, you stay covered from pick-up to drop-off.
Alternatives to short-term van insurance for your winter move
Temporary van insurance is great for short, straight-forward house moves, but it’s not the only option. If you’d like extra help or you’re moving a lot of belongings, a professional removals service might suit you better. They bring the van, provide the labour and their own insurance for the items they transport.
A “man with a van” service is a mid-cost alternative. You still get a driver and support loading the van, but it’s usually more affordable than a full removals team.
If you know you’ll need a van regularly, an annual van policy might make more sense. It gives you year-round cover rather than paying for several short-term policies.
For your belongings, your home insurance or a goods-in-transit policy may already offer some protection during a move. It’s worth checking what’s included so you know where you stand.
Dayinsure’s short-term van insurance is designed for situations where you need to drive a van for a short period, like a simple house move, without taking out an annual policy.
Thinking about cost and how long you’ll need cover?
The cost of short-term van insurance with Dayinsure depends on things like how long you need cover for, the type of van you’re driving, where it’s being used and your driving history. Between December and March, winter weather and busier roads can also affect how long your move takes.
Dayinsure offers flexible short-term cover, so you can choose a length that suits your plans. This might be a few hours, a day or several days, depending on when you’re loading, driving and returning the van. Allowing extra time can help if you’re dealing with ice, rain or traffic delays.
Feeling ready for your home move?
Hopefully, you now have a clearer picture of how short-term van insurance can support you during a winter house move. You know what it covers, what it doesn’t and how to plan for winter roads and shorter days. Most importantly, you’ve seen how choosing the right length of cover can take some of the stress out of the process.
If you’re getting ready to move and want simple, flexible protection, you can get short-term cover in minutes. It’s a quick way to stay safe and legal on the roads while you focus on settling into your new home.
Get a short-term van insurance quote with Dayinsure in minutes.
Temporary van insurance FAQs
Can I get short-term van insurance for a moving day?
Yes, you can. Many people take out short-term cover just for their moving day. It’s a simple way to drive a borrowed van without needing an annual policy.
Can I get van insurance for a single day?
Yes. One day van insurance is a common option, and you can often choose even shorter or longer durations if that suits your move better.
What does short-term van insurance cover when moving house?
Short-term van insurance covers the van you’re driving and your legal liability if there’s an accident. It won’t cover the belongings you’re moving. For that, you may need contents insurance or removals cover.
Can I insure a van temporarily for personal use?
Yes. Temporary cover is often used for personal, one-off jobs like moving home or picking up furniture. Just remember, Dayinsure will not offer short-term cover for courier or delivery work, as that counts as hire and reward.
