At a glance
- Temporary student car insurance can help if you only need to drive for a short, defined period during university holidays.
- You need valid insurance for the specific car you plan to drive. Don’t assume you’re automatically covered by the owner’s existing policy.
- You may be able to get temporary cover for an eligible car belonging to a parent, friend or family member if you have their permission.
- Dayinsure temporary car insurance can also cover an eligible car you own.
- If your car has been declared SORN, temporary insurance alone doesn’t make it legal to drive normally on the road.
- Dayinsure temporary car insurance is available from 1 hour to 30 days.
You might not need a car while you’re at university or college. But driving during term breaks can make getting to work, seeing friends and family or simply getting around much easier.
If you’re only home for a weekend, reading week or university holiday, you may only need insurance for a short time. You might want to borrow your parents’ car, use a friend’s car or drive your own car that’s been left at home.
For eligible students and cars, temporary car insurance for students can give you cover for the period you need without arranging insurance for the whole academic year.
Why might you need temporary car insurance during a term break?
Temporary student car insurance can help when your driving needs change between term time and the holidays.
You might need a car when you’re home for Christmas, Easter, summer, reading week or a long weekend. You could be travelling to work, visiting friends and family, collecting belongings or going somewhere that’s hard to reach without a car.
With Dayinsure, you can arrange short-term car cover for an eligible car for a defined period. This means your student car insurance for university holidays can match the dates you expect to drive, rather than covering the weeks or months when you don’t need the car.
Can you drive your parents’ car when you’re home from university?
Yes, you can drive your parents’ car during a term break if you have valid insurance that covers you to drive that specific car.
Don’t assume you’re automatically covered by your parents’ existing insurance. Before driving, check that appropriate cover is in place.
Dayinsure may be able to provide temporary insurance on your parents’ car if you meet our criteria. The car will also need to meet our checks and you’ll need permission from its owner.
Your temporary insurance is arranged for the driver, car and period shown on your policy. This can work well if you only need to borrow the car for a weekend, reading week or part of a longer university holiday.
Before arranging cover, you can check whether you and the car are eligible.
Can you temporarily insure a friend or family member’s car?
Yes. You may be able to arrange temporary insurance for a borrowed car belonging to a friend or family member.
You don’t necessarily need to own the car yourself, but you do need the owner’s permission and both you and the car must meet our eligibility criteria. The way you plan to use the car must also be covered by the policy.
This could help if you’re borrowing a sibling’s car while you’re home or using a friend’s car for a specific trip. For eligible students, short-term cover can give you access to a borrowed car for the period you need it.
What if your own car stays at home while you’re at university?
Some students own a car but leave it at home because they don’t need it while studying. If your car is left at home while you’re at university, you’ll need to think about its legal status while you’re away.
Your car may remain road legal and appropriately insured during term time. Alternatively, it may have been declared SORN and kept off public roads.
When you return home, temporary insurance on your own car may be an option if you and the car meet our criteria. The car must also meet all legal requirements before you drive it.
What if your car has been declared SORN?
SORN means Statutory Off Road Notification. It tells the DVLA that your car is being kept off public roads.
Buying temporary insurance doesn’t, by itself, make a SORN car legal for normal road use. Before driving it normally on the road again, the car must be taxed and have valid insurance. It must also have a valid MOT where one is legally required.
You can only drive a SORN vehicle on a public road to go to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. Make sure you understand the rules before you drive.
How long can student temporary car insurance last?
Dayinsure temporary car insurance is available from 1 hour to 30 days, subject to eligibility. This gives you flexibility to choose cover that fits the time you expect to drive.
For example:
- A few hours or one-day student car insurance for a short trip
- Temporary car insurance for a weekend when you’re making a quick visit home
- Temporary car insurance for a week during reading week or a shorter university holiday
- Several weeks of short-term cover for university holidays such as Christmas, Easter or part of the summer break
Choose enough cover for the full period you expect to drive. Think about when you’ll first need the car, when your final journey will end and whether you need extra time for delays or changes to your plans.
For more information about how temporary cover can work around university life, see our guide to insurance options for students who only need a car for short periods.
Is temporary car insurance right for your term break?
Temporary insurance can work well if you only need to drive for a short, defined period while you’re home from university or college.
For example, temporary car insurance for reading week can help if you want access to a car for a few days. Christmas student car insurance or Easter holiday car insurance may also work if you only plan to drive during part of your break.
If you need regular access to a car throughout the year or you drive often during term time as well as during holidays, a longer-term option may be more suitable. Being added to the car owner’s existing policy may also be an option, depending on their arrangements.
The right choice depends on when and how often you drive. Temporary cover isn’t automatically cheaper or more suitable than other types of insurance, so choose the option that fits your plans.
What if you’re still learning to drive?
Not every student returning home for a term break will have a full driving licence.
If you have a provisional licence, standard Dayinsure temporary car insurance isn’t the right product for you. We offer separate temporary learner driver insurance for eligible learner drivers.
Learner driver insurance is available from 1 day to 5 months. It may help if you want extra driving practice in an eligible car while you’re home from university.
Learner cover has its own eligibility, duration and supervision requirements, so check these before arranging your policy.
What details do students need for temporary car insurance?
When you get a Dayinsure quote, we’ll ask for information about you, the car and the cover you want.
You’ll need to provide:
- Your name
- Your date of birth
- Your permanent UK address
- Your occupation
- Your email address
- Your driving licence details
- The car registration
- The date you want cover to start
- The duration of cover
Make sure the information you provide during the quote journey is accurate. This includes answering any questions about your circumstances, occupation and how you’ll use the car correctly.
What address should I use for temporary insurance if I live at university?
Use your permanent home address when arranging Dayinsure temporary car insurance.
If you live between your university accommodation and your family home, your permanent home address is usually the address you return to outside term time. Make sure the address you enter is accurate and matches your circumstances before you buy cover.
If your address has recently changed, use the address that is now correct for you. Don’t use an old address if it no longer applies.
What should you check before driving during a term break?
Before driving during term breaks, check that your insurance, the car and your plans all match the cover you’re arranging.
- Check that you meet our criteria.
- Check that the car meets our criteria.
- Get the owner’s permission if you’re borrowing the car.
- Make sure your temporary policy starts before you drive.
- Choose enough cover for the full period you expect to use the car.
- Check that the car is taxed and has a valid MOT where required.
- If your own car has been declared SORN, make sure it’s legally ready for normal road use before driving.
- If you have a provisional licence, use learner driver insurance rather than standard temporary car insurance.
Get covered for your next term break
You might not need a car throughout university or college, but your driving needs can change when you come home.
Whether you’re borrowing a parent’s car, using another eligible borrowed car or driving your own eligible car, temporary cover can give you flexibility for a defined period.
Before you set off, check that you and the car meet our criteria, make sure the car is legally ready to drive and choose a cover period that lasts for your full trip.
If you’re home for a term break and only need a car for a short time, you can get a temporary car insurance quote through the Dayinsure website or the Dayinsure app.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance do I need to drive when I’m home from university?
You need valid insurance that covers you to drive the specific car you plan to use. For eligible drivers, car insurance when home from university could take the form of temporary cover if you only need to drive for a short period.
Can I get car insurance just for the Christmas holidays?
Yes, subject to eligibility. Dayinsure temporary car insurance is available from 1 hour to 30 days, so you can choose cover that matches the period you expect to drive during your Christmas break.
Can I get temporary cover for reading week?
Yes. If you and the car meet our criteria, you can arrange cover from 1 hour to 30 days. This can work if you only need to drive for a few days during reading week.
Can I get student car insurance for just a weekend at home?
Yes. Eligible drivers can arrange temporary cover for a weekend, as long as you and the car meet our criteria.
Can I get temporary insurance on my parents’ car?
Yes, if you and the car meet our criteria and you have the owner’s permission. Don’t assume you’re automatically covered by your parents’ existing insurance. Make sure appropriate cover is in place before driving.
Can I borrow a friend’s car during the university holidays?
Yes, you may be able to insure an eligible friend’s car temporarily. You’ll need their permission and both you and the car must meet our criteria.
Can I insure a car I don’t own?
Yes. You don’t necessarily need to own the car to get Dayinsure temporary cover. You’ll need the owner’s permission and both you and the car must meet our requirements.
Can I temporarily insure my own car when I come home?
Yes, this may be possible if you and your car meet our criteria. The car must also be legally ready to drive on the road.
What if my car is SORN while I’m at university?
Temporary insurance alone doesn’t make a SORN car legal for normal road use. Before driving it normally again, it must be taxed and have valid insurance. It must also have a valid MOT where legally required.
Can I use temporary insurance to drive to a part-time job while I’m home?
It depends on the type of journey and the cover you choose. Check the permitted use shown during the quote journey and in your policy documents before driving to work or using the car for work-related travel.
Can I get temporary car insurance if I’m still learning to drive?
If you have a provisional licence, standard Dayinsure temporary car insurance isn’t the right product. You’ll need learner driver insurance and must meet its separate eligibility and supervision requirements.
