At a glance
Parents who lend their car to their child calculate they spend a whopping £525 a year on additional associated costs
A third (33%) of parents surveyed with a child aged 17+ say they currently lend or previously lent their car to their child or young adult
Almost half (48%) of those have had to change or cancel plans to allow their child to use the vehicle
Learning to drive (59%), building confidence after passing (20%), visiting friends or family (19%) and social trips (16%) are among the most common reasons young adults borrow a parent's car
Britain's Bank of Mum and Dad has opened a new branch: the family car, with a third (33%) of parents saying they have lent their vehicle to their children to help them get on the road.
Our research found that parents who have shared their car estimate spending £525 a year on average in additional costs. The most common reasons for lending their car are for young adults to learn to drive (59%), build confidence after passing their test (20%), or visit friends or family (19%).
Seven in ten parents (69%) who lend their car to their children say they do so at least once a week, while more than a third (37%) say it happens several times a week. Almost half (48%) say they have changed or even given up plans because their child needs to use the car.
Why are young adults borrowing their parents’ cars?
Young adults borrow their parents’ cars for everything from learning to drive and getting to work to shopping, visiting friends and dealing with emergencies.
Rank | Reason | Percentage |
1 | Learning to drive | 59% |
2 | Building confidence after passing their driving test | 20% |
3 | Visiting friends or family | 19% |
4 | Social trips (e.g. cinema, restaurants, days out) | 16% |
5 | Shopping and essential errands | 14% |
6 | Travelling to work | 13% |
7 | Travelling to school or college | 8% |
8 | While home from university during holidays | 7% |
9 | Emergencies | 7% |
10 | Job interviews | 6% |
From first lessons to job interviews, the data shows the family car remains a safety net at almost every stage of a young person's driving life.
Whether it's a one-off trip or a regular arrangement, it's worth checking whether the young driver needs to be added to the policy, and what level of cover applies, so borrowing the car doesn't come with any nasty surprises.
Which UK regions face the highest costs for sharing the family car?
For some young people, using the family car is effectively becoming another form of financial support from parents, alongside help with housing, bills and other everyday costs.
While many parents are happy to help, doing so often comes with a financial commitment.
More than nine in ten (94%) parents who have shared their car say they’ve helped pay for at least one cost to keep their child or young adult on the road, including car insurance (55%), fuel (48%) and servicing or repairs (27%).
Spending varies across the UK, with parents surveyed in Northern Ireland reporting the highest average additional annual cost (£706.71), followed by the East Midlands (£613.69) and London (£600.95).
Rank | Region | Average annual cost to support young drivers |
1 | Northern Ireland | £706.71 |
2 | East Midlands | £613.69 |
3 | London | £600.95 |
4 | Yorkshire and the Humber | £597.48 |
5 | West Midlands | £597.28 |
6 | North West | £587.66 |
7 | Scotland | £579.15 |
8 | North East | £444.58 |
9 | South East | £443.81 |
10 | South West | £432.60 |
Do you need insurance to borrow your parent’s car?
Yes. You need appropriate insurance to drive your parent’s car legally. You should not assume that an existing insurance policy automatically gives you adequate cover to drive another person’s car, even if it’s your parent’s.
Be sure to check that there is suitable cover in place before getting behind the wheel. Depending on how regularly the car is borrowed, options could include being added as a named driver, taking out an annual policy or arranging temporary car insurance.
For short, one-off periods, temporary cover can work out much cheaper than being added as a named driver on an existing policy, as you'll only pay for the cover you need.
Is temporary car insurance an option for borrowing a parent’s car?
Yes, it can be. If you only need to borrow your parent’s car for a short while, you can arrange your own temporary cover for the period you need, and your parent’s existing insurance doesn't need to change.
For a one-off or occasional trip, it can be the simplest and most cost-effective route. It's a different story if you'll be driving the same car regularly throughout the year. In that case, being added as a named driver, or taking out your own annual policy, may suit you better and could work out cheaper in the long run. The best fit comes down to how often you'll actually use the car, so it's worth weighing up the cost and cover of each option before you decide.
How can I become a named driver on my parent’s car insurance?
You can be added as a named driver to your parent’s car insurance, as long as you're not the main driver. This involves contacting the insurer. There may be a change in premium and/or an admin fee. Be aware that some insurers won’t allow named drivers aged under 25.
What does occasional use mean for car insurance purposes?
It means that the main driver on the car insurance policy - in this case your parent - should be the one using the car for the majority of the time. If you're the one driving most of the time, listing a parent as the main driver is known as fronting, which is a form of insurance fraud.
What is fronting?
Fronting is a type of insurance fraud. It usually happens when a more experienced driver (one of your parents, for example) insures a car in their name, but a younger driver (you) uses the car most often.
Fronting is illegal and the consequences can be serious. Your insurance provider could cancel the policy, which can push up premiums for both of you in future. If the car is damaged in an accident, they can refuse to pay out, and they could also try to recover any third-party damage costs from the driver and the policyholder.
The driver could be considered to be driving without insurance, which can mean 6-8 points on their licence. For a new driver within two years of passing their test, 6 or more points means losing their licence. In the worst case, the driver could be prosecuted for driving without insurance, the policyholder could be prosecuted for fraud, and both could end up with a criminal record.
How long can temporary car insurance last?
Temporary car insurance available through Compare the Market can provide cover from one hour up to 28 days. That means drivers can choose cover that more closely matches the period they need the vehicle, rather than automatically paying for a full year. Possible periods include:
Hourly cover – for very short-term needs
One-day cover – for a single day or journey
Weekend cover – for borrowing a car over several days
Weekly cover – for longer short-term use
Up to 28 days – for things like being back home from uni for a while
Does temporary car insurance affect the car owner’s no-claims bonus?
A claim on a separate temporary car insurance policy would not usually affect the vehicle owner’s no-claims bonus. Temporary car insurance is typically arranged as a standalone policy for the person borrowing the vehicle. Policy terms vary, so drivers and vehicle owners should always check the specific cover before purchasing.
Methodology
Based on two surveys commissioned by Compare the Market: a nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults, including 725 parents of a child aged 17 or over, and a second survey of 500 parents who have shared their car with their child or young adult.
The figures reflect self-reported experiences of lending a car, including how often it is shared and the additional annual costs parents cover. Regional averages are indicative only, as sample sizes vary by region, and all figures are subject to normal sampling tolerances.
FAQs
What’s the cheapest way to get insured on a parent’s car?
There are a few choices:
If you’re home for a short period, a temporary insurance policy on your parent’s car could be a good option.
If you’ll be using the car occasionally throughout the year, asking your parents to add you as a named driver on their policy could be your best bet.
Some car insurance providers offer pay-as-you-go cover, so you only pay for the miles you do.
A great way to find the cheapest option is to shop around and compare. But remember that the best car insurance isn’t always the cheapest.
Can I get my own insurance for my parent’s car?
Yes - if you want to start building up your no-claims bonus, you could look at taking out a non-owner car insurance policy on your parent’s car. But not all insurance providers offer this and you’ll need to be upfront about the fact that you don’t own the car.
Can I get insured on my parent’s car when I’m learning to drive?
You can get learner car insurance to drive your parent’s car while under their supervision. Learner cover is separate from your parent’s insurance, so they don’t have to worry about any accidents affecting their no-claims bonus.
Looking for something else?
With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Sam Wilson is Head of Commercial Finance at Compare the Market and one of our core insurance experts on motor, home, van, motorbike and pet insurance products.
With over seven years at Compare the Market, Sam has a detailed understanding of how customers shop for insurance, what drives differences in premiums, and how small changes — such as shopping around at renewal or reviewing cover — can make a meaningful difference to what people pay.
Sam regularly comments in national and trade media on insurance costs, value for money and consumer savings, helping people understand how to get a good deal without focusing on price alone.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
What our expert says...
“Family life rarely runs to a fixed schedule, and neither does car use. Some weeks a young driver might need the car every day, for lessons, work or seeing friends, and others not at all. That's why it pays to think about how the car is really being used before deciding how to insure it.
For short, one-off spells, such as a few days back home from uni, temporary cover can be a flexible option, with cover available from one hour up to 28 days so you only pay for the time you need. If a young driver is going to be behind the wheel regularly, being added as a named driver or taking out their own annual policy may work out better in the long run.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer, so it's worth comparing the options to find the cover that suits your family.”