Frequently Asked Questions

How this page works

The questions below are grouped by topic — Temporary Cover, Monthly Policies, Pricing & Discounts, Claims, Policy Terms, Eligibility, Documents, Cancellation, Refunds, Learner Drivers, Named Drivers, Vans, and Complaints. The full machine-readable FAQ list is rendered below for search engines (FAQPage schema) and crawled into Google's rich-result eligibility automatically.

If you can't find your question here, the GlassDrive blog has long-form guides on the trickier topics — how temporary cover actually works, whether hourly cover is worth it for your situation, the no-claims bonus rules, learner driver insurance, and how GlassDrive compares to Cuvva, Tempcover, and Dayinsure.

Still stuck? Email us — we read everything.

Temporary Cover

What is temporary car insurance?
Temporary car insurance provides short-term cover for your vehicle, from as little as 1 hour up to 28 days. It's perfect for borrowing a friend's car, test driving, or covering a vehicle between sales. You get instant cover with a valid certificate of motor insurance.
How quickly can I get covered?
Once you complete your quote and payment, you'll receive your certificate of motor insurance instantly via email. The entire process takes less than 60 seconds, and you can start driving immediately after purchase.
What's the minimum and maximum duration for temporary cover?
Our temporary cover starts from just 1 hour and can extend up to 28 days. You can choose the exact start and end times to match your needs, paying only for the time you need.
Can I extend my temporary policy?
Yes! If you need to extend your cover, simply get a new quote through our website before your current policy expires. We'll provide a competitive rate for the additional time you need.

Monthly Policies

How do monthly policies work?
Our monthly policies provide continuous cover that automatically renews each month. You pay a fixed monthly premium, and your policy remains active as long as payments are successful. You can cancel anytime with 30 days' notice.
Can I cancel my monthly policy?
Yes, you can cancel your monthly policy at any time. Simply log into your dashboard and submit a cancellation request. You'll need to provide 30 days' notice, and you'll be covered until the end of your notice period.
What happens if my payment fails?
If a monthly payment fails, we'll notify you immediately via email and give you 7 days to update your payment method. If payment isn't received within 7 days, your policy will be cancelled and you'll no longer be covered.

Pricing & Discounts

How is my premium calculated?
Your premium is based on multiple factors including your age, driving experience, employment status, parking location, vehicle type, and coverage level. We use sophisticated risk assessment to provide you with a competitive quote tailored to your profile.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes — we run a referral programme where you earn cash rewards (paid via PayPal) for friends who buy a policy with your link, and they can save with a discount at checkout when one is configured. The reward you earn scales with the size of their policy. See the [referral dashboard](/referral) for the live tier ladder. We also provide competitive rates for experienced drivers and those with secure parking.
Why is temporary cover more expensive per day than monthly?
Temporary cover is priced for flexibility and convenience - you only pay for the exact time you need without long-term commitment. Monthly policies benefit from spreading risk over a longer period, which allows us to offer lower daily rates.
Are there any hidden fees?
No! The price you see in your quote is the final price you pay. There are no hidden fees, administration charges, or surprise costs. What you see is what you get.

Claims Process

How do I make a claim?
To make a claim, log into your dashboard and navigate to the Claims section. Fill out the claim form with details of the incident, upload any supporting documents (photos, police reports), and submit. Our claims team will review and contact you within 24 hours.
How long does a claim take to process?
Simple claims are typically processed within 5-7 working days. More complex claims involving third parties or investigations may take 2-4 weeks. We'll keep you updated throughout the process and aim to resolve your claim as quickly as possible.
Will making a claim affect my future premiums?
Yes, making a claim may affect your future insurance premiums, both with us and other insurers. This is standard across the insurance industry as claims history is a key factor in risk assessment. However, we assess each case individually.
What information do I need to provide when making a claim?
You'll need: your policy number, date and time of incident, location, description of what happened, details of any other parties involved, photos of damage, police report reference (if applicable), and witness statements if available.

Policy Terms

What does comprehensive cover include?
Comprehensive cover includes damage to your vehicle (even if it's your fault), damage to other vehicles and property, injury to other people, theft of your vehicle, fire damage, windscreen damage, and legal expenses. It's our most complete level of protection.
What is third-party cover?
Third-party cover is the minimum legal requirement in the UK. It covers damage to other people's vehicles and property, and injury to other people, but does NOT cover damage to your own vehicle. It's typically cheaper but offers less protection.
Am I covered to drive other cars?
Standard policies only cover the specific vehicle listed on your certificate. If you need to drive multiple vehicles, you'll need separate policies for each one. Our temporary cover makes this easy and affordable.
Can I add business use to my policy?
Yes! During the quote process, you can select "Business Use" as an add-on. This covers you for using your vehicle for work purposes beyond commuting, such as visiting clients or making deliveries. An additional premium applies.
What is compound release insurance?
Compound release insurance covers the cost of releasing your vehicle if it's impounded by police or authorities. This can cost £150-£300, so this add-on provides valuable protection if you're at risk of impoundment.

Referral Program

How does the referral program work?
Share your unique referral link or code with friends and family. When someone uses your link, your code is saved to their browser for a set attribution window (shown on your referral dashboard) — every policy they purchase in that window earns you a reward, not just their first one. Rewards are tiered: bigger policies earn bigger payouts, with the exact ladder shown on your dashboard. There's no limit to how many people you can refer.
When do I receive my referral reward?
Your reward is added to your GlassDrive balance the moment your friend's payment clears with the underwriter — typically within 60 seconds of their purchase. You'll receive an email confirmation showing the reward amount and your updated balance. If their policy is later refunded inside the cooling-off period, the matching reward is automatically reversed.
How do I get paid?
Referral rewards are paid out as real cash to your PayPal account. On your referral dashboard, click Withdraw to PayPal, enter the email linked to your PayPal account, and confirm the amount. Our team processes withdrawals in batches and funds typically arrive in your PayPal within 1–3 business days. A configurable minimum withdrawal threshold applies — the live value is shown on your dashboard.
Do all referred policies count?
Referral rewards are only paid on policies that cover more than 1 day (the exact threshold is configurable and shown on your dashboard). Sub-day temporary cover — 1-hour, 3-hour, 12-hour policies — doesn't trigger a reward. You also can't refer yourself; codes only pay out when used by someone else's browser.

General

Is GlassDrive regulated?
GlassDrive acts as an introducer/consultancy. The policies we arrange are underwritten by FCA-regulated insurers — we don't underwrite cover ourselves.
Do I need to provide proof of no claims bonus?
For temporary cover, no — we don't need proof of no-claims bonus. For monthly or annual policies, providing proof can reduce your premium, but it isn't mandatory.
Can I insure a car that's not registered in my name?
Yes. Our temporary cover is designed for vehicles you don't own — borrowing a friend's car, a test drive, moving a recently-bought car home, or driving a family member's vehicle. You need the owner's permission.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major debit and credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and Apple Pay / Google Pay on supported devices. All payments are processed through PCI-compliant providers — we never see or store your full card number.

Eligibility

Who can buy a policy?
In general, you must be 17–75, hold a valid UK driving licence (provisional accepted for learner cover), be resident in the UK and have permission to drive the vehicle. Some providers on our panel apply tighter age, licence-held, or vehicle-value limits — we'll only show you quotes you actually qualify for.
Do you cover learner drivers?
Yes. Learner drivers can take out short-term cover provided they hold a valid UK provisional licence, are accompanied by a qualified driver who is 21+ and has held a full UK licence for 3+ years, and the car displays L-plates (D-plates in Wales). See the Learner Drivers section for the full requirements.
Are there any vehicles you can't cover?
Most standard UK-registered cars and vans are accepted. The most common exclusions are: vehicles worth over £75,000, modified vehicles beyond manufacturer spec, vehicles used as a taxi or for hire-and-reward, and right-hand drive imports without DVLA registration. Try a quote to see what your specific vehicle qualifies for.
Can I get cover with driving convictions or claims?
It depends on the type and recency of the conviction or claim. Minor speeding offences and old claims are normally fine; serious convictions (DR/DD codes) or very recent claims can reduce your options. Always declare everything honestly — non-disclosure can void your cover.
Can a non-UK licence holder buy cover?
Some providers on our panel accept EU and certain international licences for short-term cover. You'll be asked for your licence country and how long you've held it during the quote — we'll only return quotes from providers who accept your licence.

Documents

What documents do I need to buy a policy?
You need: your full driving licence number, the registration of the vehicle, your current address, and (for monthly/annual cover) details of any claims or convictions in the last 5 years. You don't need to send physical documents — everything is entered in the quote form.
When do I get my certificate of insurance?
Your certificate of motor insurance is emailed to you the moment your payment is confirmed and the underwriter accepts your policy — usually within seconds. You can also re-download it any time from your dashboard.
How do I prove I'm insured if I'm stopped?
You don't legally need to carry a paper certificate in the UK — police can check the askMID database in real time. If you'd still like a copy, your certificate (PDF) is in your inbox and on your dashboard. Most policies appear on askMID within 24 hours of going live.
Is my policy on the Motor Insurance Database (MID)?
Yes. Every policy arranged through us is reported to the MID by the underwriter. There can be a short lag (up to 24 hours for hourly cover, longer for ANPR-linked checks) but your certificate is valid from the start time printed on it.

Cancellation

Can I cancel an hourly or daily policy?
Temporary policies (hourly/daily/weekly) are designed for short, defined cover windows and are generally non-cancellable once the start time has passed. If you cancel before your cover starts, we refund in full minus any provider fee — see the Refunds section.
How do I cancel a monthly or annual policy?
Sign in, go to your dashboard, choose the policy and click Cancel. Monthly policies usually require 30 days' notice; annual policies can be cancelled at any time with a pro-rata refund (minus the provider's admin charge, where applicable). You stay covered until the cancellation date.
Is there a cancellation fee?
We don't charge a cancellation fee ourselves. The underwriter on your policy may apply an administration fee — typically £15–£50 for monthly/annual cover. Any fee that applies is shown clearly in the cancellation flow before you confirm.

Refunds

When am I entitled to a refund?
You're entitled to a full refund (minus any provider admin fee) if you cancel before the policy start time, if we can't confirm cover with the underwriter, or if you cancel within the 14-day cooling-off period on a monthly/annual policy and haven't made a claim.
How long do refunds take?
Refunds are issued to your original payment method and typically appear within 5–10 working days. We process the request immediately; the delay is on your card issuer's side.
What if I made a mistake on my quote?
Contact support before your cover starts and we'll either correct it or refund and re-quote. If the policy is already active, we can usually amend non-pricing details (e.g. address) for free — pricing-relevant changes may require a re-quote with the underwriter.

Learner Drivers

Can a learner drive their parents' car on temporary cover?
Yes — this is one of the most common reasons people use short-term learner cover. You need a UK provisional licence, the car must display L-plates (D-plates in Wales), and the supervising driver must be 21+ and have held a full UK licence for 3+ years.
Does a claim on learner cover affect the car owner's no-claims bonus?
No — that's the main reason this product exists. The policies we arrange for learners are entirely separate from any annual policy on the same car, so a learner-driver claim doesn't touch the owner's NCB.
How long can I have learner cover for?
Anything from a single one-hour lesson up to 28 continuous days at a time. If you're still learning when your cover ends, just buy another policy — there's no limit on how many you can buy.
Am I covered to drive on motorways as a learner?
Only if you're with a fully-qualified driving instructor in a car fitted with dual controls — that's the law in the UK, not a policy restriction. With a non-instructor supervising driver, motorways are off-limits.

Named Drivers

Can I add a named driver to my temporary policy?
Temporary policies typically cover one driver — you. If two people need to share a car, the cleanest option is for each driver to buy their own short-term policy. For monthly/annual cover, named drivers can be added during the quote.
Is "fronting" allowed?
No. Fronting (putting an older, lower-risk driver as the main policyholder when a younger driver is actually the main user) is insurance fraud and will void your cover. Always list whoever uses the car most as the main driver.
Can I add my partner as a named driver?
Yes, on monthly and annual policies. Add them in the quote form — many couples save money by being on the same policy. Their driving history will be factored into the price.

Vans

Do you cover vans?
Yes — we arrange temporary van cover for moving house, collecting bulky purchases, or short business jobs. Cover ranges from 1 hour to 28 days for most small and medium panel vans, and you can drive on a standard category B licence for vans up to 3.5 tonnes.
Can I get cover for moving house?
Yes. Pick the start and end times that match the rental window, enter the van's registration during the quote, and you'll have a certificate of motor insurance ready before you collect the van.
Does van cover include the contents?
Standard motor cover insures the van itself for accident, theft, and third-party liability — it does not insure goods in transit. If you're moving valuable items, consider a separate goods-in-transit policy alongside your motor cover.

Complaints

How do I make a complaint?
If something's gone wrong, please contact GlassDrive first at support@glass-drive.com. We aim to resolve most issues within 3 working days. If you're not happy with the outcome, you can escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service free of charge. Full details on the /complaints page.
Can I escalate to the Financial Ombudsman?
Yes. If we can't resolve your complaint within 8 weeks, or if you're unhappy with our final response, you can refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service within 6 months of our final response. The service is free for consumers.