Can I drive my friend's car with my insurance?

Asked by: Sigmund Cummerata  |  Last update: July 18, 2023
Score: 5/5 (12 votes)

Think of it this way: the car insurance typically follows the car, not the driver. So if you lend your car to your best friend, your sister or even your second cousin, your insurance is most often the insurance that will pay in the event of an accident.

Can someone drive someone else's car?

As long as she's given you permission to drive her car, it should be no problem at all. In most cases, you're allowed to drive someone else's car, as long as it's covered with insurance.

How does insurance work when someone else drives your car?

Permissive use

Most car insurance policies will cover drivers you've listed on the policy, or anyone whom you give permission to drive your car, says Nolo.com. This means your insurance will likely cover another driver in the event of an accident, as long as they had your permission to drive your vehicle.

What happens if someone wrecks your car and they aren't on your insurance?

That means any damages to the car you've borrowed won't be covered by your insurance and you may need to pay out of your own pocket. The car owner's insurance is not likely to cover the damages unless you're a named driver.

Should I let my friend drive my car?

Whether uninsured, underinsured or an insured driver, if someone is an accident while driving your vehicle, you could be put in a bad situation, so be guarded about letting other people drive your vehicle. Don't let just anyone drive your car. Make sure they are a trustworthy driver and have a good driving record.

Can I Drive My Friend’s Car?

25 related questions found

How do I know if I am insured to drive someone else's car?

How do I check to see if I'm allowed to drive another car? If you're not already added as a 'named driver' on their policy, then another way to find out whether you're covered to drive another person's car is to check your car insurance policy wording. This was sent to you when you took out your cover.

What is the penalty for driving someone else's car?

If the case goes to court you could get an unlimited fine or be disqualified from driving. The police also have the power to seize, and in some cases, destroy the vehicle that's being driven uninsured.

Can I drive a car if I am not the owner?

The only options for legally being able to drive a car you don't own are to take out your own car insurance policy on the vehicle (either full cover or temporary – unless you have DOC cover) or be added as a named driver to the owner's policy.

What do you need to drive someone else's car?

Check your certificate before you drive
  1. Check Section 5 of your car insurance certificate. ...
  2. Before driving someone else's car, you must have the owner's permission and their car must have valid insurance already. ...
  3. The extension to drive other cars only applies to the policyholder and NOT named drivers.

Can I insure a car if I'm not the registered keeper?

You can insure a vehicle you don't own, but you must tell the insurer that you're neither the registered keeper nor the owner. The registered keeper is the person named on the registration certificate; the owner is the person who bought it.

Can I drive other cars if I have comprehensive insurance?

Having fully comp insurance on your own vehicle doesn't mean that you're fully comp on someone else's. If your insurance provider does allow you to drive a different vehicle, it's likely that they will only provide third party cover as a maximum.

Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance UK?

Myth 2: Other people can drive my car if I've said I don't mind. FACT: Many people may think it's just a case of giving permission, but it's not as simple as that. If someone else wants to drive your car, they will need their own car insurance with driving other cars cover. They will not be covered under your policy.

Can police check insurance?

Police can easily tell if a vehicle is insured using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that instantaneously read number plates and check them against the database of insured vehicles at the Motor Insurance Database (MID).

Can I drive another car on my insurance if the other car is not insured?

It's important to understand that if such a clause isn't included, you aren't covered to drive other cars – even if your insurance policy is fully comprehensive. If you do drive another car without being insured, you're breaking the law – and you risk a hefty fine, penalty points and possible disqualification.

Does the main driver have to be the registered keeper?

But the main driver doesn't necessarily have to be the owner or the registered keeper. This is pretty common for married couples. If you're married, one of you can own the car and be the registered keeper. But if your spouse drives the car more often than you do, they'll need to be listed as the "main driver".

Can I insure myself to drive any car?

In short, the answer to the question 'can you insure yourself to drive any car? ' is yes, and the simplest way to make sure everything you need from your policy is covered is to call your insurer and talk them through your requirements.

Is driving without insurance illegal?

In short, it's a form of fraud. If you attempt this strategy to avoid paying higher car insurance premiums, you could find your claims go unpaid and your policies cancelled entirely, especially if you get in an accident.

Do cameras detect no insurance?

In general, number plate recognition cameras can detect or be used to calculate the following: Average speed of vehicles. Untaxed vehicles. Uninsured vehicles.

Can I let my girlfriend drive my car?

If someone borrows your car, they're also — in a sense — borrowing your car insurance. That's the case only if you allow them to drive your vehicle. Your policy's liability coverage would pay for injury and damage they caused to any other driver and their property.

Can I lend my car to a friend UK?

Based on what we've discussed so far, the answer is yes, you can. However, there are also several ways to protect yourself. Before lending a car to a family member or a friend, ensure that you have checked or done the following: Check if the borrower has a valid driver's licence.

What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident UK?

If someone else is driving your car and another person causes the accident, the at-fault driver's insurance is usually responsible for covering costs. On the other hand, if the driver of your car is at fault, your car insurance will usually cover damages.

What insurance do I need to drive any car?

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.

What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident without insurance UK?

Penalties for uninsured drivers:

The police could give you a fixed penalty of £300 and 6 penalty points if you're caught driving a vehicle you're not insured to drive. If the case goes to court you could get: an unlimited fine. disqualified from driving.

Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?

Can my wife drive my car without insurance? If you have a car and insurance but your wife does not have a separate car, she should be listed on your car insurance policy as a driver. Most insurance companies require all licensed household members to be listed on the policy as drivers.

Can I drive my girlfriends car if I'm not on her insurance?

Permissive Use Provision

If a friend or a family member has an accident and isn't insured, then you will have to use your insurance. Unless you have expressly denied that driver permission to use your vehicle.