How can I legally drive someone else’s car?

Can I legally drive someone else’s car with my insurance?

Many drivers assume that having comprehensive car insurance means they can drive any car – but that's not usually the case.

Driving someone else's car without the right insurance could leave you uninsured and potentially breaking the law.

There are three main ways you may be able to legally drive someone else's car:

1. Taking out temporary car insurance

2. Being added as a named driver on the vehicle owner's policy

3. Driving other cars (DOC) cover through your own car insurance policy - this gives you third-party only cover to drive someone else’s car (with their permission).

The right option for you will depend on how often you need to drive the vehicle and what type of cover you need.

Option 1: Temporary car insurance

If you only need to borrow someone else's car for a short period, temporary car insurance could be worth thinking about.

Temporary car insurance...

• offers separate short-term cover, letting you drive a vehicle without being added permanently to the owner's policy

• can provide cover for as little as one hour up to 28 (or occasionally 30) days, depending on the provider

• is usually comprehensive

• normally won't affect the car owner's annual policy or their no-claims discount

• can work out cheaper than being added as a named driver.

When might temporary car insurance be useful?

• If you need to borrow a car for a few hours or days

• If you want to share driving on a long journey

• If you're home from university and need to use the family car

• If you need short-term access to a vehicle while your own car is unavailable.

Because it's a separate policy, any claim would usually be handled by the temporary insurer rather than the vehicle owner's insurer.

Option 2: Become a named driver

If you regularly drive the same car that belongs to someone else, being added as a named driver may be a suitable option.

A named driver is someone who’s insured to drive a vehicle under another person's policy. This can be useful for:

• Partners

• Family members

• Anyone who occasionally shares driving responsibilities.

As a named driver, you'll typically get the same level of cover as the main policyholder when driving that vehicle.

When can being a named driver be a good option?

• If you regularly drive a partner's car

• If you share driving duties within your household

• If you use a family member's vehicle fairly regularly

• If you need ongoing access to the same car.

The policyholder must still be the person who uses the car most of the time. If a named driver is actually the main user of the vehicle, this could be seen as fronting, which is a form of insurance fraud.

And be aware that if you’re added as a named driver, you probably won’t be able to build up a no-claims bonus on that policy.

• Find out more: named driver insurance

Option 3: Driving other cars (DOC) cover

Some annual car insurance policies include driving other cars (DOC) cover, but this is uncommon. If your policy includes this feature, it may allow you to drive someone else's vehicle with their permission.

DOC cover was once commonly included with comprehensive car insurance policies, but it's now much harder to find. If it's included in your policy, you'll usually find it listed on your certificate of insurance.

What’s usually covered by DOC?

In most cases, DOC cover is third-party-only insurance. This means, if you're at fault in an accident, you're covered for damage or injury caused to other people and their property but the car you're driving isn't covered.

DOC cover restrictions

Policies with DOC cover may also come with the following conditions:

• Minimum age requirements, often 25 or over

• The vehicle must belong to someone else and you must have the owner's permission to drive it

• The vehicle must already be insured in its own right

• The cover may only be used for occasional or emergency use

• You likely won’t be offered cover if you have you have criminal convictions or you’ve made a claim on your car insurance policy.

Always check your policy wording carefully before relying on DOC cover.

Which insurance option is right for me?

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you suss out which cover type could suit your needs:

Common temporary driving scenarios

I want to drive my partner's car

You can usually drive your partner's car if one of the following applies:

• You're a named driver on their policy

• You have DOC cover through your own policy and meet the insurer's conditions

• You have temporary car insurance covering that vehicle.

I want to drive a family member's car

The same rules generally apply when driving a family member's vehicle.

You'll need to make sure you're insured before driving, either through DOC cover, named driver status or temporary car insurance.

I want to drive a friend's car

If you need to borrow a friend's car for a short period, temporary car insurance is often one of the simplest ways to get cover.

Alternatively, you may be covered through DOC if it is included in your policy and all conditions are met.

I want to let multiple other people drive my car

An any-driver insurance policy lets anyone drive your car at any time as long as they have your permission.

However, these policies are uncommon because:

• Insurers don't know exactly who'll be driving the vehicle  

• Drivers may have different levels of experience and claims histories  

• Assessing the risk of a claim can be more difficult 

As a result, any-driver policies are often eye-wateringly expensive.

What happens if I drive without insurance?

The penalties for driving without insurance are severe, so never assume you have DOC cover. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could:

• Get a £300 fine and six penalty points

• Get an unlimited fine and be disqualified from driving if the case goes to court.

How can I compare insurance for my car?

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ll compare a variety of car insurance providers to help you search for a deal that suits you, at a price you can afford.