Can You Insure a Car You Don’t Own?

Yes, you can insure a car you don’t own. This is known as non-owner car insurance, which can be done through temporary car insurance. This type of insurance offers comprehensive cover for someone who wants to drive but doesn’t have a car, allowing them to safely drive someone else’s car, with their permission.

A regular annual policy likely won’t allow you to drive any car, so knowing how to insure a car that’s not yours is important. Let’s take a closer look at what non-owner car insurance covers and how you can insure a car you don’t own…

What is Non-Owner Car Insurance?

Non-owner car insurance allows you to drive someone else’s vehicle, provided you have their permission. It’s ideal for those who need to borrow a car occasionally, young drivers learning to drive, or someone who wants to borrow a fancier car for an event. 

This insurance is comprehensive, protecting you and the car if an accident occurs. It’s also more flexible than an annual policy, making it a better option for drivers who borrow cars for short periods or drive infrequently.

Temporary insurance can be used as non-owner car insurance (it’s also possible to use a temporary policy for a car you do own, for business use, driveaway insurance, and other reasons). It allows you to take out a policy on a car you don’t own for a period that suits your needs —whether that’s one day of insurance or one hour of cover. This flexible option lets you borrow a car, with the owner’s permission, for a specific time while ensuring you’re covered. Plus, it protects the car owner’s no-claims bonus, if an accident does occur.

How to Get Insured On Someone Else’s Car

The quickest and easiest way to get insured on someone else’s car is by taking out a temporary car insurance policy, whenever you need to borrow their vehicle. 

A common way to get insured on someone else’s car is through named driver insurance. If you’re added as a named driver that will likely be for a year – unnecessary if you’re only borrowing their car sporadically. Plus, it can be costly especially if you’re a learner looking to borrow a car to practise in. 

Temporary insurance, however, offers a quicker and more flexible alternative. It allows you to choose the exact length of your policy, starting from as little as one hour. Temporary insurance also always provides comprehensive cover, and ensures the car owner’s no-claims bonus remains unaffected—a key difference from named driver insurance. You can even add optional extras like breakdown cover to your policy, for complete peace of mind the next time you want to insure a friend’s car. 

Overall, temporary insurance offers a more flexible, affordable, and comprehensive solution compared to other forms of non-owner car insurance.