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What is temporary electric car insurance?
Temporary electric car insurance is short-term cover for an electric vehicle, available from as little as one hour up to 30 days.
You pick the duration you need and pay for that time only. It works exactly the same way as standard short-term car insurance- there’s no specialist EV policy to track down, and nothing extra to worry about because of what’s under the bonnet. An electric car is treated like any other car.
It’s also a practical alternative to adding yourself to someone else’s annual policy. Their cover stays completely untouched, and you’re only insured for the time you actually need.
If you’re looking to cover a petrol or diesel car instead, our temporary car insurance page will show you how.
How do I get temporary electric car insurance?
Whether you’re buying a brand-new EV or driving home a recently purchased second-hand vehicle, you’ll need temporary insurance if you want to drive your car straight away.
Fill in our simple quote form
All we need is a few details about you, including your driving licence number and information about the motorhome you want to drive.
We’ll give you a price
Tell us how long you need cover for, when you’d like it to start, and whether you require any add-ons such as excess protection.
Pay and start your adventure!
To finalise your temporary drive away insurance, you’ll just need your debit or credit card.
Why take out temporary electric car insurance?
Electric cars have become increasingly popular over recent years, and the reason you might need to drive one for a short period are no different from any other car.
- Temporary insurance gets you behind the wheel for an hour or a day, so you can see if electric suits you.
- You don’t need to be added to their annual policy to drive their electric car. Temporary electric insurance covers you for as long as you need it.
- Whether you’re buying from a dealership or a private seller, you need cover in place before you drive away. Temporary insurance gets the car home while your annual policy is still being set up.
- Business use is included as standard, subject to exclusions. Temporary insurance covers you for the site visit or the trip, without altering your colleague’s annual policy.
- A courtesy car isn’t always part of the deal, and repairs can take longer than expected. Temporary insurance covers you on a borrowed or hired EV until your own car is back.
What does temporary electric car insurance cover?
Temporary electric car insurance gives you comprehensive cover for the time you need it. That could include:
When putting together a quote for you, we’ll look at:
- Loss or damage to the vehicle you’re driving
- Damage to other people’s property
- Compensation for injury to other people
- Accidental damage cover
People sometimes ask whether an incident at a public charge point would be covered, or whether battery condition affects a claim.
On the first point, the vehicle is insured while it’s in your care for specific scenarios involving charging infrastructure (check the policy wording for detail on this). In terms of battery condition: standard motor insurance covers the vehicle as a whole; gradual battery degradation is separate from an insured event. For the full picture, take a look at our policy documents for Aviva and Mulsanne to give you more information.
A few things to be aware of:
- Standard exclusions apply, so refer to the policy wording and IPID for the full list
- The cover is for a private car, not a rental or hire vehicle
- The car needs to be standard factory spec, with no engine, body or interior modifications
- It isn’t for courier, taxi or motor trade use
Benefits of temporary electric car insurance
Pay as you go
Our pay-as-you-go policies mean you only pay for the cover you need, from one hour to 30 days. Cover can start within 15 minutes – essential when there’s an emergency
Business use
Business use is included as standard, subject to exclusions, so a quick site visit or work trip is sorted.
Leading insurer
We offer fully comprehensive car insurance cover. Policies are underwritten by Aviva, our key partner, or other insurers
Competitive pricing
Great-value cover for one-off EV use, which is especially handy when you’re test driving a higher-value electric car.
Cover from ages 18-75
We can cover most drivers aged 18 to 75 years old, along with many UK-registered vehicles (subject to vehicle and underwriting criteria)
Who is eligible for temporary electric car insurance?
With our temporary electric car insurance, we can cover most drivers in most electric vehicles, subject to our acceptance criteria.
Driver eligibility:
- Aged between 18 and 75 (minimum age may vary depending on individual circumstances)
- Hold a current, valid, full GB driving licence
- Have held that licence for at least 6 months (or 3 months if aged over 25)
- Currently live at a permanent UK address
- No more than 1 fault claim in the last 12 months
- No more than 9 penalty points; no disqualifications in the last 18 months
- Have permission from the owner to drive the vehicle being insured
Vehicle eligibility:
- Registered in Great Britain (Northern Ireland and Isle of Man subject to acceptance criteria)
- Current market value under £75,000
- Not over 3.5 tonnes GVW
- Not a rental, hire or leased vehicle
- No modifications to the engine, body or interior beyond factory specification
- Not been recorded as a Category A or Category B insurance total loss
- Must have a valid MOT if required by law
Whether you’re borrowing a friend’s EV or test driving a premium electric car, our cover applies to most UK-registered electric vehicles with a market value under £75,000. For full eligibility details, take a look at our acceptance criteria.
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Can I get temporary electric car insurance for business use?
Business use is included as standard with Dayinsure, even when the vehicle is electric. Here are some examples of when this might be useful:
- Employees driving a company EV out to site visits or client meetings
- Sole traders and tradespeople using a pool EV while their own vehicle is off the road
- Short-term business travel in a borrowed EV
There are a few uses that aren’t covered. Taxi, hire, courier and motor trade use are all explicitly excluded under both underwriters’ acceptance criteria. For the full list of exclusions, take a look at our product information.
Why choose Dayinsure?
Flexibility
Flexible cover from 1 hour to 30 days for cars, vans or motorhomes, with learner drivers able to be insured for up to 5 months.
Freedom
Everyday freedom, fully covered. Drive when you need to. With flexible cover for one-off trips on vehicles worth up to £75,000.
Control
Arrange cover in minutes. Only pay when life says go, with app-based control to extend, cancel or manage your insurance easily.
Peace of mind
Underwritten by leading insurers including Aviva and Mulsanne, with support from Allianz and RAC.
Got a question?
Have more questions about temporary electric car insurance? Then take a look at our FAQs below. Alternatively, head to our help and support page for more details.
Or you can get in touch with a member of our friendly team. They’ll be more than happy to provide answers to your query.
Temporary electric car insurance FAQs
In case you have any more questions about our temporary electric car insurance, we’ve answered some of the ones that are frequently asked.
Yes. Your EV battery is treated as part of the vehicle when it comes to insured loss or damage. However, temporary car insurance isn’t designed to cover battery degradation, wear and tear, or mechanical or electrical failure. Exact cover and exclusions depend on your underwriter, so always check your policy documents..
This depends on the insurer underwriting your policy. Aviva’s current Dayinsure wording includes electric vehicle charging equipment while it is in or on the vehicle or in your private garage. Mulsanne’s policy excludes loss or damage to charging cables and similar accessories. Your quote will tell you which insurer is underwriting your cover, so check the relevant policy wording for details.
Yes, provided you have the owner’s permission and both you and the electric car meet our acceptance criteria. Your temporary policy is separate from the owner’s annual insurance, so they don’t need to add you as a named driver for a one-off journey.
The EV must have a current market value of less than £75,000, so eligibility will depend on the specific model and vehicle. Enter the registration when getting a quote to see if we can cover it.
No. Dayinsure temporary electric car insurance is a separate policy, so a claim made under your temporary cover won’t affect the vehicle owner’s No Claims Discount. Any accident or incident will still need to be declared to the relevant insurers when required.
You may be able to extend your cover on a like-for-like basis if your plans change. Dayinsure policies can currently be extended up to three times, or up to a maximum of 30 days from the original policy start date, subject to acceptance and underwriting criteria.