Short Term Cover Requirements

Cover is not guaranteed. Insurers offer cover only to those they consider acceptable; they assess each application based on a risk calculation unique to each insurer. Most offer general guidelines as to what they accept, which can be found on their websites. Insurers will consider both the driver and the car itself in determining whether or not to offer cover and at what cost.

Driver Qualifications

Driving history and age are the two most important determining factors in purchasing short term cover. Many insurers have an offence threshold above which a motorist is automatically disqualified. For example, they might limit a motorist to 8 penalty points over the past 3 years or a maximum of 2 fault claims in any 3-year period. Vehicle-related police enquiries or pending prosecutions may also disqualify a motorist. These types of restrictions can usually be found on insurers' websites. But they don't solely consider driving history; age is also a very important factor. As stated earlier, temporary cover is unavailable to those between the ages of 17 and 21. Commonly, insurers set a minimum age of 25 for temporary cover. It varies by insurer, so it's worth investigating.

Most insurers require a full UK licence held for at least one year. Some insurers do offer short term cover to those with EU licences, again, held for at least one year. A very few might also offer cover for other licences, such as those from Australia or New Zealand, but this tends to be more unusual.

Vehicle Requirements

Insurers have guidelines for the vehicles they will or will not cover. For instance, many set a maximum car value, above which a car is not eligible for cover. This may be in the range of £40,000 - £50,000. Insurers may also set a minimum, perhaps around £1,500. They can restrict the age of the car, requiring an age of less than 15 years, regardless of value. Many insurers limit the allowed number of seats, usually to 6 or 8. Most insurers require UK registration and some require that the car generally be housed in the UK. Cover for importing and exporting cars is generally barred. Car modifications are usually not covered, unless they're factory modifications or they modify the car for the disabled.

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