Is Temporary Car Insurance Fully Comprehensive?

Insure Car Cover Editorial Team · October 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Temporary car insurance can be fully comprehensive, but not every short-term policy is – it depends on the provider. Insure Car Cover’s temporary car insurance is fully comprehensive, which means it covers damage to other people and their property, damage to the car you’re driving, and fire and theft, subject to the excess and terms in the policy wording.

Fully comprehensive doesn’t mean everything is covered, though. This guide explains what the term actually means, what a comprehensive temporary policy typically includes, the common gaps such as breakdown, and how the excess affects what you’d pay if something went wrong.

What are the levels of car insurance cover?

UK car insurance usually comes in three levels. Understanding the difference makes it easier to compare short-term policies properly:

• Third party only: the legal minimum. It covers injury to other people and damage to their property, but not damage to the car you’re driving.
• Third party, fire and theft: adds cover if the car is stolen or damaged by fire, but still not for accidental damage to it.
• Fully comprehensive: covers third-party liabilities, fire and theft, and damage to the car you’re driving – even if the accident was your fault.

When you borrow someone else’s car, the level of cover really matters. With a third party only policy, if you reverse into a wall you would be personally responsible for the repair bill on a car that isn’t yours. That’s one reason comprehensive cover is often the sensible choice for short-term use.

What does temporary car insurance cover?

A fully comprehensive temporary policy is designed to protect you, other road users and the vehicle for the period you’re insured. In general terms, it typically covers:

• Injury to other people, including passengers and other road users
• Damage to other people’s vehicles and property
• Accidental damage to the car you’re driving
• Loss of or damage to the car caused by fire
• Theft of the car, or damage caused by attempted theft

Every policy has its own limits, conditions and exclusions, and the policy wording sets out exactly what is covered. It’s always worth reading it before you drive – especially the sections on exclusions and excess.

Does temporary car insurance cover theft?

A fully comprehensive temporary policy normally includes cover for theft of the vehicle and damage caused during an attempted theft, subject to the policy terms. As with annual insurance, insurers expect you to take reasonable care. Common conditions include not leaving the keys in or on the car, locking it when it’s unattended and not leaving it running while you pop into a shop.

Personal belongings left in the car are a separate matter. Some policies offer limited cover for personal possessions and some don’t, so check the policy wording rather than assuming your laptop or luggage is protected.

Does temporary car insurance include breakdown cover?

Usually not. Breakdown cover is a separate product from car insurance, and it isn’t normally part of a temporary car insurance policy. Insurance deals with the financial consequences of accidents, theft and fire; breakdown cover gets you roadside help or a tow if the car stops working.

If you’re borrowing a car, check whether the owner has breakdown cover and whether it follows the vehicle or the person. Some breakdown policies cover a named member wherever they are, while others cover a specific vehicle whoever is driving it. If neither applies, you may want to arrange breakdown cover separately for the trip – particularly for a long drive.

How does the excess work on temporary car insurance?

The excess is the amount you pay towards any claim. If your excess is £500 and the repair costs £2,000, you’d pay the first £500 and the insurer would pay the rest, subject to the policy terms. If the damage costs less than the excess, you’d usually cover it yourself.

Excesses on temporary policies can vary depending on the driver and the vehicle – younger or less experienced drivers often face a higher excess. Your quote and policy documents will show the excess that applies, so check it before you buy. A low premium with a high excess isn’t always the better deal if you’re worried about knocks and scrapes.

Who pays the excess when you borrow a car?

With a standalone temporary policy, the excess is part of your policy, so it’s yours to pay if you claim. It’s worth agreeing this with the car’s owner before you set off, so nobody is surprised if there’s a minor incident.

What isn’t covered by temporary car insurance?

Even a fully comprehensive policy has exclusions. These vary between insurers, but common examples include:

• Mechanical or electrical breakdown, and wear and tear
• Driving a different car from the one on your certificate
• Other people driving the car
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Uses not permitted by the policy, such as business use, delivery work, racing or track days
• Damage that happened before your policy started
• Driving outside the territorial limits in the policy wording

How do I make a claim on temporary car insurance?

If something does go wrong, the process is broadly the same as with annual insurance. The exact steps and contact details are in your policy documents, but in general you should:

• Stop and make sure everyone is safe, and call the emergency services if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked
• Exchange names, addresses and insurance details with anyone else involved, as the law requires
• Take photos of the scene, the vehicles and any damage, and note the time, place and weather
• Get contact details for any witnesses
• Report the incident to the insurer named in your policy documents as soon as possible, even if you’re not sure you’ll claim
• Let the car’s owner know what has happened

Report theft to the police first and keep the crime reference number, as the insurer will ask for it. Reporting promptly and giving accurate information helps the claim progress smoothly.

Does it protect the owner’s no claims discount?

Yes. Because our temporary car insurance is a standalone policy, any claim you make goes on your temporary policy, not the owner’s annual one. Their policy and no claims discount aren’t affected. This is one of the biggest practical advantages over being added as a named driver, where a claim would be recorded against the owner’s policy.

Is comprehensive temporary cover worth it?

For most people borrowing a car, yes. Without comprehensive cover, any accidental damage to the car you’re driving would be your problem – and modern cars can be expensive to repair, even after a low-speed bump. Comprehensive cover means the cost of repairing the car you’re driving is covered, minus the excess, so you’re not left owing a friend or family member a large repair bill.

If you need fully comprehensive cover for a short period, you can get a quote online in minutes. Your documents are emailed instantly, and you can choose cover from 1 hour up to 30 days.