Can Someone Else Drive My Car?

12 March 2025 | Graeme Stoker

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You can let someone drive your car, as long as they’re properly insured to do so. Allowing someone else to drive your car without proper insurance can cause a lot of issues. In the UK, it’s illegal for anyone to drive your car unless they’re insured.

Many assume that having comprehensive insurance means they’re automatically covered to drive any car. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Many comprehensive policies no longer allow for driving other cars, and those that do come with significant restrictions. So before you let someone behind the wheel of your car, always check they’re properly insured.

So, how can someone else drive your car legally? We cover everything you need to know below.

Can Someone Drive My Car If They Aren’t On My Insurance?

If someone isn’t a named driver on your insurance policy, they can still drive your car legally, but only if they have their own valid insurance that covers them to do so.

This could include:

Temporary car insurance – a short-term policy that provides comprehensive cover.
Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover – a feature sometimes included in comprehensive policies (though increasingly rare), which typically only provides third-party cover and is meant for emergency use only.
A separate annual policy – if they take out their own policy on your car.

If someone doesn’t have one of these in place, they cannot legally drive your car. Allowing them to do so could lead to serious penalties for both you and the driver, including fines, penalty points, and vehicle impounding.

How Can Someone Else Drive My Car?

There are a few ways to legally let someone else drive your car. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or partner, here’s how to ensure they’re fully covered.

Add Them as a Named Driver

Adding a named driver to your car insurance policy allows them to legally drive your vehicle whenever needed. This can be useful for sharing driving responsibilities, whether for commuting, family errands, or emergencies.

Things to Keep in Mind:

Named drivers get the same cover level as you – If your policy is comprehensive, theirs will be too.
They don’t need a separate policy – Being added as a named driver is enough to legally cover them.
They can’t drive your car more than you – You must remain the car’s primary driver. If they use it more than you, it could invalidate your policy.
Accidents affect YOUR policy – If they make a claim, your no-claims bonus will be lost, and your premium may increase.
It will affect your insurance costs – Depending on their driving history and risk level, it could either lower your premium or make it more expensive

How to Add a Named Driver:

Contact your insurer – Provide the driver’s details.
The insurer will assess their risk – Factors like age, driving experience, and previous claims may affect your premium.
Confirm any additional costs – Adding a high-risk driver (such as a young driver, or someone with a history of claims) will increase your premium.

For occasional or one-off use, adding a named driver may not be the best option. Temporary insurance could be a more cost-effective solution.

Use Temporary Car Insurance

Temporary car insurance is a flexible way to let someone drive your car for a certain time period. They can get insurance for an hour, get covered for a day, or get a month of insurance on your car, making it easy for them to get insured for exactly how long they need the next time they need to drive your car. It’s also one of the best ways to insure a learner driver for when they need to use your car for practice. If a learner wants to drive your car, you can get them to take out temporary learner insurance.

Why is temporary cover a great option?

Comprehensive cover – The driver gets full protection, just like an annual policy.
No impact on your no-claims bonus – If they have an accident, your insurance won’t be affected.
Quick and easy to arrange – It takes minutes to set up, and can provide instant cover.

If someone only needs short-term access, temporary insurance is often cheaper and easier than adding them to your policy.

Get Them to Take Out Their Own Annual Policy

Two people can insure the same car, so if you share a car with someone and both regularly use it, it could be a good idea for them to have their own policy on the car.

Why consider this?

Both drivers build a no-claims bonus – Unlike named drivers, they earn their own discount.
Your premium is protected – If they crash, your insurance isn’t affected.

What Happens If Someone Drives Your Car Without Insurance?

Permitting someone to drive your car without insurance is a serious legal offence—whether you were aware of it or not. As the vehicle’s registered keeper, the responsibility falls on you.

Even if the driver has comprehensive insurance on their own car, this does not automatically cover them to drive yours. Unless they have a separate policy that includes your car, they will be regarded as uninsured, and both of you could face severe penalties. If someone is caught driving your car without valid insurance, both of you could face:

A minimum fine of £300 and six penalty points.
The seizure of your vehicle by the police.
A court case with an unlimited fine and potential driving disqualification.
A revoked licence if the driver is a new or probationary driver.
Higher future insurance premiums—insurers will see both of you as higher-risk drivers.

It’s your responsibility to ensure anyone driving your car has proper insurance. If you knowingly allow someone to drive without cover, both you and the driver will be penalised.

What Happens If Someone Else Drives Your Car and They Have an Accident?

If someone else drives your car without insurance in place and has an accident, you could be held responsible for:

Damage to other vehicles – even if it wasn’t your fault.
Injury to others – medical costs, compensation, and legal claims.
Repair costs for your own car – as your insurer may refuse to cover the damage.

If they’re insured, what will happen if they have an accident will vary depending on how they’ve been insured:

If they’re a named driver – Your no-claims bonus will be lost, and your premium will rise.
If they have temporary cover – Your policy remains unaffected, your no claims discount is protected, and their temporary policy will handle the claim.
If they have their own policy on your car – Your policy will remain unaffected, the claims will go through their insurance, not yours.

This is why temporary car insurance is often the safest option when letting someone else drive your car – it guarantees they’re covered in the event of an accident, and protects your insurance record and your wallet.

Checklist: Letting Someone Else Drive Your Car

Before handing over your keys, always check:

They have a valid driving licence (matching the vehicle type).
They have proper insurance – ask for proof.
You trust their driving.
Your car is roadworthy (tyres, fuel, lights, etc.).
They know what to do in case of an accident or breakdown.

The Best Way to Let Someone Else Drive Your Car

If someone needs short-term access to your car, temporary car insurance is the easiest and safest option. It offers:

Comprehensive cover – from as little as one hour.
No impact on your annual policy or no-claims bonus – their policy is separate from yours.
Instant cover – they can get insured in under two minutes.

Letting someone else drive your car doesn’t have to be complicated—but they must be insured. Make sure they have valid cover before they drive to avoid fines, penalties, or worse.

If someone needs to borrow your car, get them to take out temporary cover today for complete peace of mind. Get a quote today.

Temp Car Insurance

Temp Van Insurance

Temp Learner Insurance