Cover while your own car is off the road

Keep your annual policy exactly as it is

Adding a second vehicle to an annual policy mid-term, or being added as a named driver on a relative's cover, both trigger paperwork and a premium change that outlasts the repair. A standalone weekly policy simply expires when you no longer need it.

Your own no-claims discount continues to accrue on your annual policy while your car sits in the workshop.

Courtesy cars and loan vehicles

Garage courtesy cars are often insured under the garage's motor trade policy — but not always, and not always comprehensively. Ask what the excess is and whether you are covered for social and commuting use. If the answer is vague, your own policy on that registration removes the doubt.

Extending if the repair runs over

Buy a new policy before the current one expires rather than after. There is no penalty for running consecutive policies, and a lapse of even an hour between them leaves you uninsured for that hour.