How to insure yourself to drive someone else's car

Different ways to insure a car you don’t own

Become a named driver

If you’re planning to regularly drive a car owned by a friend or relative, it may be worth getting them to add you as a named driver on their insurance.

When you’re added as a named driver, you’ll typically have the same level of cover as the policyholder.

The policyholder may be charged an admin fee for adding you as a named driver. In some cases, adding a named driver to an insurance policy can bring premiums up or down, depending on the age and driving experience of the named driver.

Being a named driver on someone else’s car, in theory, shouldn’t impact your own insurance in any way. If you’re involved in an accident that’s your fault in their car, they’d need to make a claim on their insurance. This would likely mean the policyholder's premium would increase.

Get short-term car insurance

If you’re planning to drive a car owned by someone else for a short period, like if you’re planning a road trip and want to share the driving or you’re borrowing their car for a certain period of time, short-term car insurance might be the right option for you.

Temporary or short-term car insurance typically lasts between 1-28 days, though some policies can last as long as three months. You can choose how long you want the temporary cover to last when you purchase it.

Most short-term car insurance policies are typically fully comprehensive, though you may be able to get third-party or third-party fire and theft policies.

If you already own a car with insurance and are taking out short-term insurance, your existing annual insurance shouldn’t be affected by making a claim on your temporary insurance.

DOC insurance

DOC insurance stands for ‘Driving other car’ and is a feature of some comprehensive car insurance policies. It’s important to check if your policy includes DOC insurance because it’s less common than it used to be.

Additionally, most comprehensive car insurance that includes insurance for driving other cars won’t have the same level of coverage as for your own vehicle.

DOC insurance is designed for use in emergencies or once in a while. If you’re regularly driving someone else's car, like a partner’s car, you should arrange to become a named driver or take out your own insurance for their car.

You’re likely to only have third-party insurance when driving a car owned by someone else, which means you’re only covered for the damage you do to other people or vehicles and won’t be covered if you damage the car you’re driving.

DOC insurance is often only available to drivers over 25 and not available to those with high-risk jobs. Your driving other car insurance may also not be valid if your car is written off.

Essentially, before jumping behind the wheel of another car, it’s crucial that you ensure your insurance covers you, and the vehicle you’re driving. Don’t forget to double-check the policy for any exclusions before driving someone else’s car.

Non-owner insurance

You can get your own insurance on a car you don’t own. However, you will need the owner’s permission to do so. For the most part, non-owner car insurance works much in the same way as regular car insurance.

Many insurers will only allow non-owner car insurance with a defined relationship between the policyholder and the vehicle owner, such as partner, parent or employer.

Is getting insured on someone else’s car more expensive?

In the majority of cases, getting insured on someone else’s car is more expensive than getting insurance on a car you own. Short-term car insurance and non-owner insurance are often the most expensive options when looking to get insured on a car you don’t own.

Becoming a named driver on someone else’s car insurance could hike the cost of their policy, but it could also bring the cost down, depending on your age and how experienced a driver you are.

Can I insure more than one car in my name?

You’re able to insure any car you own, so if you own two cars, you can insure both cars in your name. You can also insure cars owned by others if you’re planning to drive them; you could have a non-owners policy as well as insure any cars that you own.

Make sure that if you’re named as the main driver on your insurance of any car, you are actually the main driver.

Car insurance fronting

Car insurance fronting is a type of insurance fraud, but many people do it without realising it.

Let’s say you buy a car for your child who’s just turned 17 and passed their driving test; you put the car and insurance in your name because it’s cheaper and just add them as a named driver. This is called fronting, and it is technically illegal.

Fronting is when the person listed on the insurance as the main driver of a car isn’t actually the person who does the majority of the driving.