Can you drive a friends car without insurance

Discover what happens if someone else drives your car and gets into an accident.

Table of Contents Show

Get a car insurance quote
Am I insured for driving someone else's car?
Compare car insurance
Can I drive other cars on my insurance?
What is third party car insurance?
What is driving other cars(DOC) insurance?
Does my job impact my insurance?
How do I find out if I have DOC cover?
Can a named driver drive another car?
Can I drive someone else’s car without DOC cover?
Should I get temporary car insurance instead?
What if I don’t have my own insurance policy?
Get a car insurance quote
Read more …

There are times in life when we need to let someone borrow our car, but we hesitate allowing them to use it because we don't know if we can, or if we should. We wonder:

Can my babysitter use my car to drive my kids to the swimming pool?
Can my friend drive my car?
Can my brother-in-law or other family member borrow my car for the weekend?
Can I drive someone else's car?
Will my friend's insurance cover any damages I cause while driving their vehicle?
Do irregular drivers need to be added to my policy?

At the heart of it, we want to know, "If we give them permission and they get into an accident, is it covered by my insurance? Is it legal for someone to drive my car who is not on my insurance policy?"

"Generally, it's not a problem if they're driving with your consent," says Jeanne Salvatore, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and consumer spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute. "If it's an occasional use, say I borrow your car to go pick up milk, and as long as permission has been verbally granted, you'll typically be covered."

But, borrowing a car under other circumstances may not be as clear-cut. It depends on your insurer and your particular policy. For example, coverage rules and regulations may be different if the driver lives in your household and could, or should, be listed as a named insured on your policy, but is not; or, if the driver is listed on your policy as excluded. Those more complicated situations would need to be discussed with your agent and claim representative.

Typically, even if the person driving your car has his or her own insurance, your insurance will be the primary payer for damages caused by your vehicle; but, the person driving your car has to be found legally at fault before your insurance will pay. The driver's insurance is secondary and may cover some personal injury or medical expenses. It may also provide coverage in excess of your insurance coverage, if the cost of damages caused by your vehicle is higher than your policy limits.

"When you have someone you employ, such as a nanny or a nurse, who will be a regular, additional driver in your household, contact your insurance agent about your policy," Salvatore recommends. "He or she may need to be added to it."

Because the policy terms and state laws can vary widely, always contact your insurance agent before loaning out your car, or other motor vehicle, such as: a motorcycle, boat, personal watercraft, snowmobile, ATV or RV.

"Anytime you have a question about your policy, call your insurance agent first," says Salvatore. "You always want to let the insurance company know the circumstances. Get their advice."

As with anything else, use good judgment and common sense. Make sure you are fully aware of the liability you may be opening yourself, and your auto policy, up to before handing over your keys. "Don't be cavalier about lending your car," adds Salvatore. "If you know someone isn't a good driver, think twice about giving your permission. Any crash they're in could go on your insurance record."

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Am I insured for driving someone else's car?

Even if you have comprehensive car insurance you may not be covered to drive someone else’s car. Read our guide to find out how to ensure you’re legally covered to drive, before you get behind the wheel.

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Many people assume that their own comprehensive car insurance policy allows them to drive another vehicle. Perhaps you occasionally drive your partner’s or family member’s car, assuming you get the same level of cover as they do?

The likelihood is that you may not be covered to drive it at all, unless you’re specifically named on the policy. Or if you're permitted to drive other cars on your insurance, it will only be third-party cover and may only be for social, domestic and pleasure purposes. You will need to check the wording.

Can I drive other cars on my insurance?

If you have a comprehensive insurance policy on your own car, you may have driving other cars (DOC) cover included. In the past, driving other cars cover was a fairly standard addition to comprehensive policies, but fewer insurers now offer it as it was always only intended to be used for emergency situations.

The car you want to drive must be covered by an existing insurance policy, and you must have permission to drive it.

Although driving other cars cover does allow you to drive another already insured vehicle, most policies will only cover you to drive other cars with third party only (TPO) cover, rather than the fully comprehensive cover you get on your own car.

What is third party car insurance?

Third party car insurance is the minimum cover you legally need to drive. There are two types of third party: third party only or third party fire and theft.
In the event of an accident, your insurer will pay for any damage or injuries to third parties, their vehicles or property. It will not pay for repairs or replacement of the car you were driving.
So if you're driving a friend's car and have an accident, you could be liable for any repair bills to their vehicle as this won't be covered by your insurance. This level of cover will likely cover injuries caused to any third parties, including your passengers, but not to yourself.
Some insurers also state that even if you have commuting and business use on your insurance, only social driving will be covered if you drive someone else’s car. The devil is in the detail so always check the policy wording.

Read our guide on the different types of insurance to learn more about third party only (TPO), third party, fire and theft (TPFT), and comprehensive insurance policies.

What is driving other cars(DOC) insurance?

Driving other cars cover allows you to drive other insured cars without being a named driver or buying temporary cover. The car you want to drive must be covered by an existing insurance policy and you must have permission to drive it.

Driving other cars cover is usually only available on a comprehensive car insurance policy, so if you have third party (or third party, fire & theft) cover, you won’t be covered to drive any other cars. It's not automatically included on every comprehensive policy – so check first.

Unfortunately, driving other cars cover is not available to everyone.

Insurers will typically exclude DOC cover from your insurance policy if you are under 25, as you’re seen as a higher risk to insurers. Those with criminal convictions or who have made an insurance claim on their own policy may not be able to get DOC cover either.

Does my job impact my insurance?

Some occupations may be excluded. Those in the motor trade, for example, are likely to drive their customers’ cars regularly, so insurers may take the view that you’re more likely to be involved in an accident. If you drive your customers’ cars, your company should have its own insurance in place for those circumstances.

Remember:

It’s important to realise that driving other cars cover should not be seen as a substitute for a full car insurance policy
If you get into an accident while driving someone else’s car, you could end up paying a hefty repair bill
Driving other cars insurance is only ever third party only insurance, so it will not pay for any damage your do to the car you have borrowed. You would need to pay for that out of your own pocket

How do I find out if I have DOC cover?

It’s best to check with your insurer to find out whether you have DOC cover, as it’s not always included automatically. Make sure you check before borrowing someone else’s car.

Can a named driver drive another car?

If you own a second car, note that you cannot use your ‘driving other cars’ cover from your first car to avoid taking out insurance on the second car. Driving other cars cover is an add-on intended to allow you to drive other cars in an emergency, and will not extend to other cars you own.

Can I drive someone else’s car without DOC cover?

If you don’t have DOC cover, here are some other options that allow you to legally drive someone else’s car:

Add your name to the policy: If you plan to use another person’s car regularly, or even occasionally, ask for them to add you as a named driver on their insurance policy.
Depending on your driving experience, it could even help to cut the cost of their cover.
Temporary car insurance: Alternatively, you could consider temporary cover if you plan to borrow their vehicle as a one-off. You can even get one-day cover to drive someone else's car.

Should I get temporary car insurance instead?

Temporary car insurance is a short-term car insurance policy that typically lasts between one and 28 days, sometimes longer. It can be ideal if you need to borrow a family member’s car for a short period of time.

What if I don’t have my own insurance policy?

It’s important to understand that you can only drive a car if you have insurance. If you don’t have your own insurance policy (either on your own car including DOC cover, as a named driver on the car owner’s policy, or standalone temporary cover), you will not be legally covered to drive.

Remember that it’s not the car that’s insured – it’s the driver. So while the owner of the car may have an insurance policy for the vehicle, each driver needs to have their own insurance (either via driving other cars cover or a temporary policy), or be specifically named on the policyholder’s insurance policy.

It's illegal to drive without insurance...
The bottom line is you must have insurance to drive a car, whether it’s yours or somebody else’s. The only exception is when you're hiring a car or taking driving lessons in a professional instructor's car, as the insurance will be included in the cost of the hire car or lesson.

All things considered, it’s best not to jump into a friend’s car and assume you can legally drive it, even with their permission.

Perhaps, but the same rules apply if someone else wants to borrow your car. To be covered, they will either need to have DOC cover, be added to your own insurance policy as a named driver or take out a temporary policy.

A temporary insurance policy may be a good option if, for example, your son or daughter wants to drive your car while they are home from university, and they're not covered on your insurance.

Alternatively, you could consider ‘any driver’ car insurance, which means anyone can drive your car – there’s often no limit to how many people can drive it. However, this type of policy isn’t very common, and you may find it’s expensive.