Most of us are used to the idea of an annual policy for driving our car or other vehicle, but many insurers also offer the option of temporary short term policies, which can be very useful and cost effective for a range of situations. Most of these short term arrangements are for between one day and one month, but can be for longer. There are even pay as you go policies which can just be topped up as you go along. These are useful if you are not sure how long you will need cover for, or if you cannot afford up front fees for a full year at a time.

One advantage of this type of policy is that it can be much easier and faster to set up than an ordinary longer term arrangement. With streamlined online services being offered by many companies, it is possible to apply via a website and have a policy in place within minutes of applying. This simplicity and speed can make car insurance for a day an ideal way of getting a policy in place extremely quickly when you need it. For instance, if you are buying a new car, whether from a sales room or from a private individual, this type of cover will allow you to set it up and drive your car away immediately.

Another time when daily cover can be useful is for test driving a potential new car or other vehicle. If you want to really see what a car is like and drive it unaccompanied, perhaps for more than one day, this type of car insurance for a day is perfect.

The main situations when you may wish to go for this short term option are usually either when you need to drive a car that is not your usual one, or when you need someone else to drive your vehicle for some reason. There are all sorts of possible situations that could arise where you need someone else to be able to drive your car. Perhaps you want to lend it to someone to help them out in an emergency, or maybe you are temporarily unable to drive and you need someone to drive for you and get you where you need to go.

If your own car is out of action for any reason, perhaps just having some repair work carried out, you may need to arrange car insurance for a day or two in order to drive a different car. Particularly if your main policy does not provide you with a courtesy car for you to use in such situations.

Whatever the reason for requiring a short term car insurance scheme, the best advice is to shop around before committing to anything, as prices vary considerably. Some companies will not offer this sort of cover, but there are others who specialise in it, so there is no shortage of choice. The internet is a useful tool for helping you find potential providers. Apply to a few different brokers or insurers and then compare the quotes you get back to find the best value.

Author's Bio: 

Find out where to get the best value car insurance for a day on the author's website. K D Garrow has several websites providing free advice on a range of finance related issues, including how to find cheap young drivers insurance and getting the best Public Liability Quotes.