This company is an online short term car insurance service that allows customers to obtain immediate and comprehensive temporary cover for driving in the United Kingdom (with optional European coverage).

Insurance plans include cover for both drivers and vehicles that are registered in the UK. In addition to the primary driver and vehicle, customers can also insure additional drivers and vehicles. They provides cover for cars, motorcycles, vans and motorhomes.

Company history

The website was originally designed for franchised motor trade customers, but opened to the general public in June 2005. The company’s registered office is in Cranage, Cheshire in the UK.

Their policies are underwritten by Aviva Insurance UK Limited group, one of the largest underwriters in the country. Aviva Insurance started business in March 1797 as the Norwich Union Society and it has a long and successful history of providing insurance products. In 1976, Norwich Union partnered with the Winterthur Swiss Insurance Company and the Chiyoda Corporation of Japan to form an international insurance holding company known as Norwich Winterthur Holdings Ltd. The new company merged with CGU in 2000 and changed its name to Aviva in 2002 and to Aviva Insurance UK Ltd in 2009.

They are authorised and regulated by Financial Services Authority (registration number: 304010). To check their registration, you can visit the FSA’s online register at www.fsa.gov.uk/register or call the FSA office: 0845 606 1234.

Four types of vehicles covered

One advantage of this company is that it provides cover for a range of vehicle types.

• Short term car insurance – Comprehensive cover is offered for periods between one and 28 days. The plan includes a standard excess starting at £250 and optional breakdown cover. If you file a claim, it has no impact on your annual no claims bonus.
• Short term van insurance – Comprehensive van cover for one to 28 days for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (GVW). Optional European driving cover is available.
• Short term motorcycle insurance – Comprehensive cover for one to 28 days for most types of motorcycles up to £20,000 in value. Cover documents can be downloaded right from the website.
• Short term motorhome insurance – Comprehensive cover from one to 28 days for most UK make motorhomes up to 3000cc. Maximum allowed motorhome value is £50,000.

Short term cover is available immediately on a “pay as you go” setup that charges you for each 24 hour period up to 28 days. In a 12 month period, the company will provide insurance cover for a maximum of 112 days for any customer.

Generally, motorists that are 21 years of age or older can obtain insurance if they meet the company’s acceptance criteria, which vary depending on precisely where you live.

Quick and easy

Customers are able to make instant online purchases of cover for vehicles of up to £75,000 in value. They can also purchase instant one day cover or standalone cover. The site is great if you need insurance for test driving a car, van or motorcycle. A very wide range of vehicles is covered including classic and used cars.

They also provides drive away cover so you can take your vehicle away from dealers, auctions or garages with vehicle and drivers fully insured. The drive away cover can also be used for test drive protection.

Optional breakdown cover

Insurance plans have optional breakdown rescue cover known as dayresQ that provides 24/7 roadside assistance. Vehicle assistance and recovery is handled by Mondial Assistance UK Limited.

The dayresQ option requires a small additional daily fee and covers European Union in addition to UK driving. Breakdown cover can be especially useful during trips and holidays in the EEC when you do not know the local language. Car repair can also be very expensive in some European countries in which replacement parts can be difficult to obtain.

DayresQ cover includes:

• Emergency roadside assistance at any time of the day.
• Towing of your vehicle to the nearest garage if necessary.
• Repatriation of your vehicle if necessary.
• Transporting you and your passengers to your home or other destination.
• Hotel accommodation and temporary replacement vehicle if needed.

The dayresQ plan, however, excludes claims in the following situations:

• Racing, rallies or other types of sports driving
• Transporting of goods
• Hiring your vehicle

Other exclusions include driving your vehicle under the influence of drugs or liquor, and intentionally causing injury or damage with your vehicle.

Specialised temporary insurance cover

They also offer temporary insurance plans for classic cars and for Australian and New Zealand drivers.

The company has experience and expertise at valuing and insuring classic cars on a short term basis. Customers simply need to fill out the online application form and they can see quotes for their classic vehicle immediately.

The rates for temporary classic car insurance will depend on the value of the vehicle and other factors that influence risk.

Visitors from Australia and New Zealand can obtain short term car insurance from them so long as they meet certain acceptance criteria. The cover note is emailed instantly to your computer for printing. The company also usually notifies the Motor Insurers Bureau (MID) within 48 hours.

The policy terms for Australian and New Zealand drivers are the same as those for UK drivers with cover ranging from one to 28 days for cars, vans, classic cars, motor bikes and motorhomes.

Conclusion

They have a convenient website for obtaining short term cover for many types of vehicles very quickly. In fact, you can obtain cover in only minutes and print out your insurance certificate right from your computer.

The only problem is that the acceptance policy is not clear and varies widely depending on where you live. So you will have to fill in at least part of their proposal form to see if you qualify for cover in your area.

The breakdown rescue option is also very useful and it provides a high degree of protection especially if you are planning a European driving trip.

get a quote from their website

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