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Having comprehensive car insurance does not automatically mean you can drive any other vehicle. Your insurance policy covers the vehicle specified in the policy, but not other cars. If you want to drive different vehicles, you’ll need additional insurance, such as being added as a named driver or taking out a temporary car insurance policy.

Some comprehensive policies include DOC (driving other cars) insurance, but this does not permit you to drive any car at any time. Let’s explore the details of DOC and discover how you can drive other vehicles with specific insurance types…

What Does DOC Mean?

DOC insurance might be part of your policy, but it’s important to check with your provider before assuming you have it. DOC insurance has become less common in recent times. Therefore, it’s best to confirm if it’s included in your policy, before you get behind the wheel of any car.

DOC, or driving other cars insurance, allows you to drive cars other than your own without being a named driver. However, it usually only provides third-party coverage. DOC cover was designed for emergency use only and shouldn’t be used for regular driving of other cars. If you need to borrow a car for a non-emergency reason, other insurance options are available.

What Insurance Can Be Used to Drive Any Car?

If you regularly drive another car, you might consider being added as a named driver on that car’s insurance policy. This requires agreement from the car owner, as adding a named driver can increase the overall insurance costs and you’ll be added to their policy. As a named driver, you’ll receive the same level of cover as the main driver. However, there are some drawbacks. If you need to make a claim while driving the car, the policyholder’s no-claims bonus won’t be protected. Additionally, being added as a named driver usually means paying for a full year of insurance, which could be excessive if you only need to drive the car for a few hours or days.

Temporary insurance offers a much more flexible alternative for driving any car. With temporary insurance, you can be insured on any vehicle (with the owner’s permission) for exactly the period you need, whether it’s hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly. This versatile option avoids the commitment and cost of long-term policies. Our temporary insurance policies always provide comprehensive coverage, including business car insurance —perfect if you’re driving to a meeting. Unlike being added as a named driver, using temporary insurance means taking out your own policy on the car. Yes, a car can have more than one policy, so the car owner’s insurance premiums and no-claims discount won’t be affected, even if you need to make a claim on your policy.

Insurance for Driving Other Cars FAQs

Can you drive any car with comprehensive insurance?

Comprehensive insurance does not automatically cover you to drive other cars. Your policy may include DOC insurance, in which case you can drive other cars in emergencies only.

What insurance allows you to drive any car?

No insurance type allows you to drive any car without restrictions. If your comprehensive policy includes DOC insurance, you will have third-party coverage to drive other cars in emergencies only. Otherwise, you must be insured to drive the vehicle. Being added as a named driver or by taking out a temporary policy, are good solutions.

Can you insure yourself to drive any vehicle?

With the owner’s permission, temporary insurance or named driver insurance will allow you to drive ‘any’ specific vehicle. However, no insurance type in the UK permits you to drive every vehicle on the road; you must be insured specifically for each car you wish to drive.

What is the difference between driving other cars cover and adding a temporary driver?

DOC cover allows you to drive a vehicle in an emergency only, providing only third-party coverage. In contrast, temporary insurance enables you to drive a car you might not own for a specified period with comprehensive coverage.

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