What is Hourly Car Insurance?

Hourly car insurance is an affordable way to get short term cover when you only need to drive a car for short periods. Car insurance by the hour allows you to secure comprehensive insurance for a car as and when you need it. It’s a great easy way to borrow someone’s car, share a car journey, or let someone else use your car without adding them to your annual policy.

Our hourly insurance options also include business class 1 cover. This means you will be insured to drive for work outside of your regular commute. So, next time you’re driving to a meeting, taking out a one or two-hour insurance policy on your car is a great way to guarantee you have the right protection in place.

It allows you to get the cover you need for exactly how long you need it – a great way to reduce outgoing costs.

What’s Covered by your Hourly Car Insurance Policy?

What’s covered may vary slightly between providers, but when purchasing an hourly car insurance policy from us, you can generally expect the following:

All our policies, except for impound insurance, offer comprehensive cover. Be sure to check your policy documents for specific details on what your chosen temporary insurance covers.

• Flexible Duration – You’re covered for the exact duration you choose. For example, if you select a 24-hour car insurance policy, you’ll be insured for that period. If you need more time, you can easily buy a new policy for however long you need using Your GoShorty account in as quick as 30 seconds. Very convenient!
• Third-Party Damage – You’ll be covered if you cause damage to another vehicle or property while driving.
• Damage – Your insured vehicle will be protected against accidental or malicious damage.
• Theft – Your car is protected in the event of theft or damage during an attempted theft. Learn more about what to do if your car is stolen for additional guidance.
• Fire Damage – Your vehicle will be covered in the event of fire-related damage.
• Driving in the EU – Some of our temporary policies cover trips to the EU, provided the journey starts and ends in the UK. Typically, this cover is third-party only when outside the UK. Get full details on temporary insurance for EU travel and learn more about driving to Europe with our guides.
• Business Class 1 Insurance – You’re covered for driving to meetings or for work purposes beyond your daily commute. Most annual policies only cover commuting, unless you have specifically opted for business cover. Find out more about temporary business car insurance and when you might need business cover for your car in our guides.

Hourly Car Insurance Optional Extras

While comprehensive cover offers excellent protection for the insured vehicle, there are additional options you might want to include for extra peace of mind on the road:

• Breakdown Protection Cover – For as little as £2.50, add breakdown protection to your policy. This includes roadside assistance, local recovery, nationwide recovery, and up to £250 towards alternative transport to complete your journey if needed.
• Excess Protect Cover – All temporary policies have a compulsory excess. This optional add-on will cover up to £500 of your excess in the event of a claim.
• Legal Protection Cover – If you’re involved in a non-fault accident and need to take legal action to attempt to recover your uninsured losses, this extra can help cover the associated costs in some cases.

Learn more about these optional extras to customise the right policy for your needs.

What are the Benefits of Hourly Car Insurance?

Hourly car insurance provides drivers with several benefits, this useful cover is great for:

• Drivers who don’t wish to commit to annual policies, and instead want the flexibility and freedom that hourly car insurance provides.
• Arranging insurance quickly. With our easy-to-use quote system, you can get an insurance policy and be on the road in minutes.
• Saving money that would be spent on expensive annual policies. Cheap hourly car insurance allows drivers to get covered just for the time they need to drive, meaning there’s no money being spent on times when you aren’t behind the wheel.
• The car owner’s No Claims Discount will be protected if you are borrowing someone else’s car.
• It’s much easier to arrange than adding a named driver to an existing policy, making getting insurance quick and hassle-free.
• Car sharing is made easy. This can reduce the amount of cars on the road, benefiting the environment, and the safety of other drivers on the road.

How does Hourly Car Insurance Work?

Hourly car insurance covers you to drive a vehicle for anywhere between 1 hour to 23 hours, depending on the length of cover you opt for. If you need it for longer we also offer daily insurance durations and more Whether you are borrowing a car or insuring your own just when you need to use it, we can provide you with a quote and policy in as little as 90 seconds and your hourly insurance policy can be in place in under two minutes. Your policy documents are emailed directly to you, so you can get on the road instantly from when you’ve selected your policy to start.

What do our Experts Say?

Phil Evans – Managing Director

Not everyone needs insurance for a full day; sometimes, just a few hours will do. That’s why we offer hourly car insurance, giving you short-term cover exactly when you need it. Whether you’re borrowing a car for a quick errand, taking a test drive, or splitting the driving on a long journey, our flexible policies let you get on the road without unnecessary hassle. You can get a quote in under two minutes and be on the road with no hassle at all, perfect for those one-off trips where an annual policy just wouldn’t make sense.