For non-uk residents · 1 hour to 28 days · UK-wide
Temporary car insurance. For visitors to the UK.
Updated ·Reviewed by the Can't Get Cover editorial team
Visiting the UK and need short-term cover to drive a family car or rental? Temporary UK car insurance accepts most non-UK and EU licences — useful for visits, recent arrivals, and overseas drivers with UK family.
Visiting the UK? Get a quote
GoShorty accepts full UK and EU licence holders aged 19 to 75 — comprehensive cover on a UK-registered car from 1 hour to 28 days.
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GoShorty is our affiliate partner — they pay us a fee when you buy through this page. You pay exactly the same price as going direct.
We work across5 categories of UK insurer
Mainstream insurers
Convicted-driver specialists
Telematics & black box
Modified-car specialists
Non-UK licence specialists
Quick answer
Temporary car insurance for non-UK residents covers visitors and recent arrivals driving a UK-registered car — a friend's, a relative's or a newly bought vehicle — for between one hour and 28 days. Standard UK insurers usually require UK residency and a GB licence history, which is exactly what visitors don't have; specialist temporary insurers fill the gap — our partner GoShorty accepts full UK and EU licence holders, and some other providers accept international licences or a passport as identification. As a visitor you can generally drive in Great Britain on your full foreign licence for up to twelve months, but you must still be insured on the specific car you drive — the owner's policy almost never extends to you. Cover is standalone and usually comprehensive, the owner's no-claims discount stays protected, and documents arrive by email within minutes. Declare your licence type, residency status and UK arrival date exactly as they are.
Payment and documents: the two things that catch visitors out
Two practical blockers stop most non-UK visitors at the checkout stage, and both are avoidable. Payment: several UK short-term insurers only accept UK-issued cards; if yours is declined, the workaround most families use is the UK host paying while the visiting driver is named on the policy — legitimate, as long as the driver details are truthful. Documents: have a photo of the physical licence (both sides), your passport number, and the UK address you're staying at before starting the quote. International licences in non-Latin scripts usually need the International Driving Permit (IDP) number as well — get the IDP before travelling, as they're issued in your home country, not the UK.
What makes temporary cover different for non-uk residents
Who can buy short-term cover with a non-UK licence
EU and EEA licences are accepted by most UK short-term insurers indefinitely. Designated-country licences (Australia, Canada, NZ, USA, RSA, Japan and others) are typically accepted for the first 12 months of UK residency. Other international licences are accepted by specialist insurers only.
What you'll typically need
A valid driving licence in your home country, a UK address (your host's address is fine for visits), the car owner's consent, the vehicle's registration number, and a UK-issued debit or credit card for payment. Some insurers accept international cards; many don't.
Common visit scenarios
Visiting UK family for a holiday and using their car. Recently moved to the UK and need cover before exchanging your overseas licence. Family from overseas visits you and wants to share driving. Each is well-served by short-term cover.
When to consider annual cover instead
If you've moved to the UK long-term and expect to drive regularly, annual cover with a non-UK-licence specialist is better value than repeated short-term policies. See our non-UK licence page for that route.
Duration options at a glance
Duration
Typical use case
Indicative price
1 hour
Quick errand, single trip
£10 – £25
1 day
Single day's use
£18 – £50
Weekend
2-3 day visit
£30 – £90
1 week
Holiday cover
£50 – £170
2 weeks
Extended holiday
£80 – £260
28 days
New-car bridge
£120 – £400
Source: UK short-term insurance market data, 2026. Prices indicative for visitors to the UK and recent arrivals. Actual quotes depend on vehicle, postcode, and driving history.
What temporary cover does not do
It doesn't build no-claims discount. Each policy is standalone — completing a 28-day policy without claiming doesn't earn you a year of NCD.
It doesn't replace annual cover indefinitely. Above roughly 6 weeks of annual use, annual cover becomes cheaper.
It doesn't cover driving abroad. All UK short-term policies are UK-only.
It doesn't bypass insurer underwriting rules. Convictions, claims, and cancellations must all be declared truthfully — non-disclosure voids the policy.
If you're a visitor: yes, on most non-UK licences for up to 12 months. If you're a new UK resident: EU/EEA licences are accepted indefinitely; designated-country licences for 12 months before exchange; other licences for 12 months before retest.
Will UK short-term insurers accept my licence?
EU/EEA: yes, most will. Designated-country: yes within first 12 months UK residency. Other: limited panel — specialist insurers only. Check at point of quote.
Is temporary cover enough if I'm moving to the UK long-term?
Initially yes — it bridges your first weeks while you organise UK exchange or sit a UK test. Once you've settled, annual cover with a non-UK-licence specialist insurer is better value.
Do I need to be the registered owner of the car I'm insuring?
No. Short-term policies are issued in the driver's name on someone else's vehicle. You'll need the owner's permission and the vehicle's UK registration number.
Can I drive a UK rental car on my non-UK licence?
Rental companies have their own insurance (typically included in the rental). Temporary insurance is for cars you're borrowing privately, not rentals.
Need temporary cover for a non-uk resident?
Three minutes to quote. Documents emailed immediately. UK-wide.
