If you have to take your driving test in your own car, then you will need driving test insurance. Instead of committing to an expensive annual policy, temporary driving test insurance allows learners to cover themselves just for the time they need to take their test. Our temporary learner insurance allows you to easily get the right driving test insurance in place for the big day, taking away some of the stress.
If you’ve finally got a test date, but your instructor’s vehicle isn’t available there’s no need to panic. You can use driving test insurance to sort cover for another car in no time at all. Meaning you won’t have to put off your test.
Our learner insurance offering also includes driving practice insurance – allowing you to have valuable practice sessions ahead of your test – meaning you’ll be ready to pass when the time comes. If you have a friend or family member’s car you can use, temporary learner insurance allows you to practise for as long as you need before taking the final test. This puts you at a great advantage compared to learners who rely on instructor-led driving lessons only, as you can get as many hours of practice as you see fit before committing to a test.
You can find out more about the concept of ‘driving practice insurance’ here.
Also, temporary driving test insurance will allow you to take the test in the vehicle you have practised in, again giving you a slight advantage when it comes to taking the test. Driving in a familiar vehicle is a good idea when taking the test, as you’ll be comfortable and confident. Small differences like this could improve your chances of passing.
A driving test insurance policy from GoShory includes:
Get a quote in under two minutes by filling in our easy-to-use forms, you’ll be learning to drive in no time.
Driving test insurance is temporary learner insurance that will provide you with the correct cover you need for your test. You can purchase a policy for exactly how long you need, making it perfect for driving tests.
If you aren’t taking your test in your driving instructor’s car, you will need to take out insurance for your driving test. You could get insured via an annual learner policy, the learner being added to a policy, or by taking out temporary driving test insurance. One of the best ways to insure a learner is with temporary insurance, and this is the same case when insuring specifically for a driving test.
GoShorty’s learner insurance will cover you for both the process of learning to drive and taking the test, making it a great option for learners. Our temporary insurance is flexible around your needs, allowing you to practise as much as you want before taking the test, it will also cover the car owner’s No Claims Discount.
For a driving test, learner drivers can use annual car insurance, temporary car insurance, named driver insurance, or be covered by their instructor’s insurance if they are using their vehicle for the test.
Named driver insurance is convenient, but is often the most expensive option to go with, as learner drivers are considered higher risk by insurers, meaning prices will likely be high when adding them to an annual policy. This type of insurance will not protect the main policy holder’s No Claims Discount either, leaving them open to the risk of paying more if an accident happens when the learner is behind the wheel.
Temporary driving test insurance presents the most flexible and cost-efficient option for learners wanting to take a test in their own car. You can choose the policy to last only for the time you need, and it will allow you to take your driving test in the vehicle you choose to get insured for, rather than an instructor’s vehicle. This insurance will protect the main policy holder’s No Claims Bonus too.
Annual insurance or black box insurance work well too, however, once you have passed your test, you will then need to update your policy and may be liable to pay a cancellation fee, which all adds up in the end. Your temporary insurance policy will end when you want it to, leaving you free to move on to an annual policy once you have your driver’s licence, if you wish to.
The price of this will vary depending upon the insurance type the learner opts for. An annual policy would be expensive, for example, when compared to a short-term policy.
Annual policies are for much longer periods, so naturally cost more. If you just need insurance for a test you’d probably only need to take out insurance for 3-4 hours. This would give you enough time to practise beforehand, drive to the test and carry out your driving test. Driving test insurance prices for 3 hours start from £16.83.
To get an exact idea of how much test insurance would cost you, get a quote in under two minutes. Or, use the table below to see where prices can start from.
| Temporary Learner Insurance From: | |
|---|---|
| Policy Duration | Starting Price |
| 1 hour | From £15.01 |
| 2 hours | From £15.38 |
| 3 hours | From £16.83 |
| 4 hours | From £16.66 |
| 1 day | From £20.09 |
GoShorty provides learner insurance ranging from one hour up to twenty four weeks, making it an extremely flexible service, allowing you to choose a specific policy without having to commit to an expensive annual policy. Learner drivers can choose from hourly, daily, weekly or monthly insurance policies.
Everyone learns differently and an approach that works for one person may not be the best route for you. Nevertheless, it’s hard to argue that taking your test in the same car that you’ve been practising in isn’t beneficial.
Familiarity: Using your own car for your test will allow you to be confident in the vehicle. Consistency is key and while most cars operate in a similar way, there will be key differences in the controls across different models. It’s not a good start if the instructor asks you to point out where the screen wash goes and you are left confused!
Availability: This will allow you to be more flexible when approaching the test, as there is no need to rely on the availability of your instructor’s vehicle on the big day.
Costs: You can end up paying more to use your instructor’s vehicle, so by using your own you can save some money on the already expensive cost of a test.
Comfort: It’s your car, so seats, mirrors and all the bells and whistles will be just as you like them. This should help remove any unnecessary distractions when testing.
To get driving test insurance, you must first know if you are eligible for the policy. You should have permission from the vehicle owner and a valid provisional licence at the very least. To be sure you are eligible, check out our checklist before going any further with the process.
MID: Please note that all our Short Term Insurance policies are submitted to the Motor Insurance Database (MID) twice a day, every day. We recommend always having a copy of your Insurance Certificate with you during the period of cover, and remember that you can always access all of your insurance documents by logging into Your GoShorty.
Criteria the Car Being Insured Must Meet:
Criteria the Learner Being Insured Must Meet:
Anyone looking to take their driving test in a car that isn’t their driving instructor’s will need driving test insurance. You will need the right cover in place to be able to drive to your test and to be able to take your test. If you were taking the test in your instructor’s car, you would already be insured by them. But, if opting to use your own car, or borrow someone else’s for your test you will need to ensure you have your own insurance in place. It is illegal to drive without insurance, even as a learner or on your driving test.
If you need driving test insurance, you can get a quote in under two minutes, taking some stress out of the day.
If you are looking to borrow someone else’s vehicle to take a test in, you need their permission before taking out a policy on their vehicle. Once you have permission, fill out our quote form to get the process started, you will need:
The government’s guidelines do not allow cars that limit the examiner’s all-round vision. The list of cars not allowed at the time of writing are:
To use your own car, you must meet certain criteria:
In the UK, the earliest age you can take your driving test is 17. You can apply for your provisional licence up to two months before your 17th birthday but will have to wait until you are at least 17 to take your test.
Driving tests, including an eyesight check, safety questions and the driving section, should take around 40 minutes, but this can vary.
Practise! Take lessons, study the rules of the road and drive as much as possible. Taking out a temporary insurance policy on a family member’s vehicle is a great way to maximise your time in a vehicle when learning, allowing you to practise for as long as you need before feeling confident enough to take the test.
At the time of writing, for UK learners, a theory test costs £23 and a driving test costs £62. If you wish to take your driving test on the weekend, it will cost a little more at £75.
To book your driving test, head to the DVSA Government site to enter your details and find an available date. Before applying for a driving test, you’ll need access to:
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Want to learn more about short term learner cover? Discover if you’re eligible and take a look at our blogs to see if temporary learner driver insurance is right for you.
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