Coronavirus car insurance and driving FAQs

The outbreak of covid-19 disease probably won’t affect your annual car insurance policy. However, if you need to use someone else’s car, need to use your personal car for business, or someone needs to use your car while you are self-isolating, our temporary car insurance policies can help you.

Your annual policy may insure you to drive other cars. But this will likely only be the most basic of insurance. With our cover, you get a comprehensive policy that can give you peace of mind that if an accident happens, you are in the best position possible.

All our staff are working remotely so the business is still fully operational. If you plan to take out a policy, nothing has changed, it can still be done online in as little as 15 minutes.

If you have any questions, our customer services team are available from 9 am – 5 pm every day by email: support@dayinsure.com or phone: 0333 005 0944 from 9 am – 5 pm Monday to Thursday, 9 am – 4 pm on Friday, 9 am – 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am – 4 pm on Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday only our phone lines are closed for lunch between 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

If you plan to volunteer your time and drive for a voluntary organisation or charity to help relieve some pressure, a normal motoring policy should cover you to do this, but this depends on your annual insurance company.

If they don’t cover you for volunteering then a normal temporary car insurance policy with Dayinsure will cover you for volunteering.

If your annual policy covers you for commuting, you will be covered to drive to work instead of taking public transport. If it doesn’t, we can offer temporary business insurance that can start in as little as 15 minutes.

All cars that are not listed as SORN (officially off the road) must be insured, so you will likely not be able to pause your annual insurance if you are self-isolating. However, you can get in touch with your annual provider if you won’t be driving for a while to see how they might be able to support you.

If you break down while on the road, you will likely not see any difference in service from your breakdown cover provider. Most of the major breakdown companies have ensured all their mechanics only come to work if feeling fit and well, they will all be briefed on the latest hygiene advice and equipped with cleaning products, gloves and hand gels.

If you have temp cover with us and wonder what will happen if you break down during the Coronavirus pandemic, please check the RAC’s website for their latest information.

The best thing we can all do at this time is to practise social distancing as much as possible. If you need to refuel, most supermarket filling stations have self-service pumps that allow you to fuel up and pay without needing to go inside. These are a great option for limiting human contact.

Equally, for those with an electric car using a public pump, you can usually pay by app, which is preferable.

We suggest you keep a pair of gloves in the car for refuelling, or use any gloves available on the forecourt.

Driving tests are currently suspended for up to 3 months (from 20 March 2020) due to coronavirus. All tests that were booked to that date will be fully refunded. When you can rebook, you’ll receive an email from the DVSA. If there are any changes to this, they will be added to the Gov.uk website.

Like with practical tests, you might be able to get an emergency theory test if you contact the DVSA and require it for critical work. Find more details about booking an emergency theory test on the Gov.uk website.

It has been advised that all driving lessons should be suspended until further notice due to the close contact needed for a lesson. This comes with all practical and theory tests being suspended.

If you are a key worker, you can book an emergency practical test. This is for those whose work is critical to the COVID-19 response and need to be able to drive to better fulfil their role. Find more details about booking an emergency practical test on the Gov.uk website.

If you are applying for an emergency driving test, you can contact a driving instructor to book some lessons. This is entirely up to the instructor’s discretion, however. If your lessons have been cancelled but you wish to take an emergency practical test, you can get some extra practice time in with a friend or family member using our temporary learner driver insurance. This can even be used to cover your practical examination if needed.

Please note: All information was up to date at the time of writing (05/05/20) please check the Gov.uk website for all the latest information.

Any drivers who have an MOT expiring on a car, motorbike or light van on or after the 30^th March 2020 will automatically have their current MOT extended by 6 months. You will not need to do anything to get this extension, it will be added automatically, however, you should keep your vehicle safe to drive, you can check all the latest information on the Gov.uk website.

To check your extension has been issued, you can check your MOT history, which will show the expiration of your current MOT. If this is your cars first MOT, it will be extended.

If you recently had an MOT and failed, you will not be eligible for an extension. However, at present, the Government is allowing MOT centres and garages to remain operating, so it may be possible to get an MOT booked in. However, please only do this if it is 100% essential.

If your car is not 100% essential right now and your MOT has failed and expired, then please park it off of a public road and wait until it is a more appropriate time to be retested.

Please note: All information correct at the time of writing (05/05/20). Please refer to the Gov.uk website for all the latest information.