Owning a vehicle isn’t always practical or affordable, especially for those living in cities. With rising living costs and many choosing jobs with flexible working, lots of people are choosing to borrow a car when they need one rather than paying to own one.
Whether you need a car for a few hours to run some errands, a weekend to visit family, or a week for a road trip away, borrowing a car can be a cost-effective and convenient solution. We’ve put together a list of some of the top situations where borrowing a vehicle makes sense, and what you need to know before you get behind the wheel.
10 times you need to borrow a vehicle
- When public transport isn’t practical
- Going on a road trip
- Visiting home from university
- When your plans are bigger than your car
- Going on holiday
- Driving a new car home
- Emergencies and unexpected situations
- When you need to share the driving duties
- Learning to drive
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Moving house
Moving house can be a stressful time, and often people don’t account for the extra costs that come with renting and hiring a van. Hiring a van can be expensive, with costs being influenced by van size, duration needed, location and any extras, such as insurance.
Borrowing a larger car or a van from a friend or family member is often a simpler and more cost-effective solution, especially for smaller moves.
With short-term van insurance, you can insure yourself on their vehicle for just the time you need it, without affecting their existing policy. You can even extend the policy should you need the vehicle longer than you first thought, with no late fees to consider if you’re borrowing from a friend or family member.
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When public transport isn’t practical
Sometimes, public transport just doesn’t cut it. Often, it isn’t reliable, affordable, or convenient, particularly in more rural areas or during strikes. It can be a struggle to rely on public transport, and many people are looking for other solutions to make their journeys.
Borrowing a car can give you back your freedom and cut out the uncertainty the comes with using public transport. Short-term car insurance allows you to drive a friend or family member’s car legally, with cover ranging from just 1 hour up to 30 days.
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Going on a road trip
Road trips are one of the most popular ways to explore the UK, with many popular routes, such as the NC500, continually gaining popularity. Whether you’re considering a long weekend away or a week-long staycation, borrowing a car for your journey can make your trip easier and more enjoyable.
Instead of relying on coach trips or public transport to get around, borrowing a car for a road trip allows you to plan your own route and explore destinations in your own time. Short-term car insurance can give you and the car’s owner peace of mind, with comprehensive cover that won’t affect the owner’s No Claims Discount.
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Visiting home from university
Students away at university often find themselves without access to a car because of student living arrangements, space or cost. Because of this, it can often feel like you’ve lost your sense of freedom, having to rely on lifts or public transport when visiting home for the holidays.
Borrowing a car is a great way to ensure you can be back on the roads whilst at home, giving you the independence to go where you need without relying on others. Borrowing a friend or family member’s car with short-term insurance is perfect for those brief visits home, with cover available from just 1 hour up to 30 days.
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When your plans are bigger than your car
Sometimes you can find yourself in the situation where your plans are bigger than your car. You could be collecting furniture, packing the family up for a trip away, or maybe your car isn’t big enough for your new hobby.
Borrowing a bigger car from a friend or family member is a quick and easy solution to your problems. With Dayinsure, you can get insured and on the road in minutes, with cover available for as long as you need it, ranging from just 1 hour up to 30 days.
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Going on holiday
UK staycations and European road trips are becoming more and more popular, with many people opting for motorhome or campervan holidays rather than flying abroad. However, owning a motorhome or campervan can be costly and you may not have the space to store one of your own.
If a friend or relative owns a motorhome, borrowing it can save you a considerable amount of money when compared to hiring one, leaving you with more spending money for the holiday itself. Short-term motorhome insurance ensures you’re legally covered to drive on the roads, with additional European cover available should you choose to adventure across the Channel.
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Driving a new car home
Buying a new car is an exciting time; however, it is essential you ensure you are covered to drive it home. Arranging an annual policy for your new vehicle straight away isn’t always practical and you might want time to consider your options.
Driveaway insurance allows you to legally drive your new car home before committing to long-term cover. With Dayinsure, you can get a quote and be covered in minutes, meaning you don’t need to wait around for long for your cover to kick in before you can get on the road.
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Emergencies and unexpected situations
Sometimes life doesn’t always go to plan, and you’re faced with an unexpected situation. Whether someone is unable to drive or you need to get from A to B urgently, borrowing a car can be the fastest solution.
With Dayinsure, you can borrow a car, be fully covered, and on the road in minutes with flexible short-term car insurance. Our handy app is the quickest and easiest way to manage your policy, giving you access to cover whenever you need it.
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When you need to share the driving duties
Long journeys can be tiring for a driver, especially if you’re towing a caravan or driving on challenging roads. Sharing the driving is a simple and effective way to help reduce fatigue and make your journey safer.
Dayinsure’s short-term car insurance allows you to get behind the wheel and share the driving whilst being fully insured with comprehensive cover, giving you peace of mind on the roads.
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Learning to drive
Learning to drive can be expensive, with lessons not always providing enough time behind the wheel to fully build your confidence. The DVSA recommends you have around 22 hours of private practice in addition to your professional lessons.
Whether you need to practise your manoeuvres, build experience on different types of roads or simply just want more time behind the wheel to feel confident before your test, learner driver insurance is the perfect solution. You can get insured on your friend or family member’s car from just 1 day up to 5 months, allowing you to practice legally and safely on the roads without affecting the car owner’s No Claim’s Discount.
Make sure you have the correct cover before borrowing a vehicle
In the UK, you must have the correct insurance to be able to drive a vehicle on the roads. With some annual policies not always including the option to be able to borrow someone else’s car, it’s important you ensure you are correctly covered before borrowing a vehicle.
With Dayinsure, cover is simple, fast, and flexible whether you’re borrowing a car, a van, or even a motorhome. Our short-term insurance is fully comprehensive and easy to arrange. Get a quote today and you can be on the road in minutes.
