Can you insure a car you don’t own?
Thinking of borrowing somebody else’s car? Then knowing whether you can insure a car you don’t own is essential. Read our guide to find out what you need to know about non-owner car insurance.
Thinking of borrowing somebody else’s car? Then knowing whether you can insure a car you don’t own is essential. Read our guide to find out what you need to know about non-owner car insurance.
Can I insure a car that’s not in my name?
Yes, you can insure a car you don’t own. It’s called ‘non-owner’ car insurance.
There are all sorts of reasons you might want to be insured on someone else’s car. You could be house-sitting for friends and plan on using their car while they’re away, or need to run errands in your manager’s vehicle.
It may just be that the owner of the car doesn’t use it much and is happy for you to borrow it.
Whatever the reason, if you need to use a car you don’t own, it’s perfectly possible – and essential – to get the right car insurance to drive it.
Can I insure a car that’s already insured by someone else?
Yes, you can take out a separate insurance policy on a car already insured by someone else. But you may not want to.
If two people insure a car on two different policies, you might end up paying more than necessary. And remember, double insurance doesn’t mean double the pay-out.
So, you should consider adding yourself as a named driver on the car owner’s policy instead. That way, you could both drive the car on one policy and potentially save money.
How does car insurance work if I don’t own the car?
To insure a car you don’t own you’ll need to tell your insurance provider that you’re not the owner or registered keeper.
Some insurance providers require you to have an ‘insurable interest’ in the car if you want to be insured as a main driver. This could mean you’re:
- The spouse/civil partner of the registered keeper
- Driving a parent’s car
- Driving a leased car that’s in your name
- Driving a company car.
How to get insured on someone else’s car
Want to get insurance on someone else’s car? You have a few options depending on whether you’re borrowing a car for a short period, or driving it regularly:
Buy your own insurance policy
If you’re the main driver of the car despite not being the owner, you’ll need to buy your own insurance policy. Not all insurance providers will offer this type of policy, so you may need to shop around.
If you want to set up non-owner car insurance, be sure to tell your insurance provider that you’re not the car’s owner or registered keeper when you apply.
Have yourself added to the owner’s policy as a named driver
Named driver insurance lets the policyholder add an additional driver – in this case, you – to their insurance. People often do this to allow their child, partner or friend to use their car.
A word of warning, though: be careful to avoid fronting. This is when the person listed as the car’s main driver isn’t actually the person doing most of the driving.
The most common instances of fronting tend to be when inexperienced drivers use a friend or family member’s car to get cheaper car insurance. But it is a type of car insurance fraud.
Buy a temporary or borrowed car insurance policy
This is ideal if, for example, you’re house-sitting for the car’s owners. Temporary car insurance usually lasts between one and 28 days, but some insurance providers will cover you for up to three months.
Check you’re not already insured
Cover for driving other cars isn’t usually included in most car insurance policies. If it is included, it will be third party cover and may only cover driving another car in an emergency.
Check your policy details to find out exactly what protection you have.
Does the main driver have to be the registered keeper?
It depends. Some insurance providers will only insure you as the main driver if you’re the car’s owner or registered keeper.
However, you don’t have to be the registered owner of a vehicle to insure it. You could take out a non-owner car insurance policy.
It can be worth shopping around to find non-owner car insurance, since not all providers offer it.
Does the registered keeper have to insure the car?
No, the registered keeper doesn’t have to insure the car. But it’s a legal requirement that the vehicle is insured by someone, unless it’s declared SORN.
How much does it cost to insure a car you don’t own?
You could find that it’s more expensive to insure a car you don’t own as a main driver, as insurance providers may consider you a higher risk. If you’re a young driver, being added as a named driver to someone else’s policy is likely to raise the cost of the premium.
How can I find insurance to drive someone else’s car?
Start a quote with us, and we’ll search a wide range of trusted UK insurance providers to help you find cover.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the registered keeper of a car?
A car’s registered keeper isn’t always its owner. It’s whoever is named on the DVLA registration certificate. You may be the registered keeper of your company car, for example.
Is it illegal to insure a car you don’t own?
No, it’s not illegal to take out insurance on someone else’s car. But you need to make sure you tell the insurance provider that you’re not the car’s main driver or registered keeper.
How can someone else get insured on my car?
To insure someone else to drive your car, you could add them to your policy as a named driver.
But remember, if they’re involved in an accident while driving your car, any claim will need to be covered by your policy. This could wipe out any no-claims discount you’ve built up.
If you’d rather keep your insurance separate, the other person could take out their own policy on your car. But some insurance providers state that they would need to be a spouse, civil partner or child.
If they only need to use your car for a short period, a temporary policy might be the answer.
Will all insurance providers cover me to drive someone else’s car?
Not necessarily. Some insurance providers will only provide a standalone policy for you to drive a car you don’t own if it belongs to your spouse or partner, a parent, your employer or a leasing company.
Do I always need to take out insurance to drive a car I don’t own?
Yes, you’ll need to have insurance to drive a car you don’t own.
Can I get temporary car insurance for a car I don’t own?
Yes, you can get temporary car insurance on someone else's car.
You might need this if you’re taking your car on holiday and want to share the driving with someone else. Our partner, Tempcover, offers short-term insurance from just one hour up to 28 days.
Is it more expensive to insure a car I don’t own?
Yes, you’ll probably have to pay more for standalone insurance on a car that doesn’t belong to you. This is because insurance providers may consider you a higher risk.
Can I buy a car for someone else and put it in their name?
You can if you’re buying the car outright. You’ll need to register the car in the name of the person you’re buying it for and provide the necessary details to the DVLA. You’ll also need to update the V5C logbook. However, it might be easier to simply give the person the money to buy the car themselves.
You can’t take out car finance to buy a car for someone else, although joint finance and guarantor loans are available.
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Julie Daniels - Motor insurance expert
Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News and Capital FM, about car and home insurance, as well as our rewards scheme.