Occasionally you may have to drive someone else’s car whether it’s to take a friend or relative home from the hospital, or pop to the shops for your partner.
While you may think you’re automatically covered under driving other cars on your car insurance policy for this, it might not be that straightforward.
What is driving other cars cover (DOC)?
It’s part of your policy that allows you to drive other people’s cars with third party only cover without the need to buy additional temporary insurance, or be added as a named driver, as long as you have permission.
However, many people don’t understand if they have this included in their insurance policy and what situations they would be covered for.
These are the some of the common misconceptions about driving other cars cover and what the facts are:
Myth 1: Driving other cars is included on all fully comprehensive policies
FACT: While DOC cover used to be included as standard on most fully comprehensive insurance policies, this isn’t the case anymore.
If you’re unsure if you have this cover, check your certificate of motor insurance in My Account, and that will confirm if it is included or not.
If you are covered to drive other cars, then be aware it will not be with the same fully comprehensive cover you have on your own car. Most insurers will only cover you to drive other cars with third party only cover.
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.
If someone wants to borrow your car and they don’t have DOC cover, they will either need to be added to your policy or take out temporary insurance.
Myth 3: I can drive a van with DOC
FACT: It depends.
If you’re borrowing someone else’s van then you may be covered under your comprehensive policy but it’s no longer included as standard. If driving other cars won’t cover you to drive a van, then you will need to be insured to operate that specific vehicle.
Again, you can be added to the van’s existing insurance or take out temporary cover.
Myth 4: I have DOC cover, so I don’t need temporary insurance
FACT: While DOC and temporary insurance are used for similar purposes, they actually exist for very different reasons.
DOC is intended for emergency use only and will only cover you for third party damage to other vehicles.
Temporary cover is for short term use, can be fully comprehensive and added for up to 30 days.
It can be useful if your son or daughter is home from university, and you want them to have use of your car, or if you and a friend are sharing driving responsibilities on a road trip.
Myth 5: Anyone can have DOC cover
FACT: Driving other cars is not available to everyone. To be eligible for Admiral cover, you will need to be over 25, have fully comprehensive insurance and the other car will also need its own insurance in place.
Bear in mind, that some certain occupations will prevent you from having DOC. For example, if you work in the motor trade and often drive other cars, you will not be eligible for cover.
Remember, DOC is meant to be used in emergency situations and is not a substitute for car insurance. If you are unsure whether you have DOC cover then always check with your insurer before driving any other vehicle.
If you’re caught driving someone else’s car without DOC, you can get a conviction of driving without insurance, a fine and even end up in court.
Last updated April 30, 2021
Historically, it was standard policy to be able to drive other cars (DOC) on your comprehensive car insurance, but today most policies don’t provide the option to do so as standard, with some not even offering it as an additional extra. So before you get behind the wheel of your friends or family members car, it is important to understand what you’re covered for on your car insurance policy to avoid breaking the law and putting your licence at risk.
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How do I find out if I can drive other cars with my insurance?
If you have the minimum level of insurance (third-party or third-party fire and theft) it’s unlikely you’ll be able to drive another car as part of your policy. Nevertheless, it may be possible to have it included in your policy as standard or an extra, so you should check your policy documents to know if you can drive somebody else's car.
If you have comprehensive car insurance for your own vehicle, there is a possibility that you are able to drive another car as part of your policy, despite it being less common than in the past. Again, you will need to check your certificate of insurance or contact your insurance provider to find out if you are insured to get behind the wheel of another vehicle.
How can I add DOC to my car insurance policy?
How to add DOC to your policy will depend on the insurer and some don’t offer it as an option at all. However, where it is an optional extra, the criteria may include:
- Be over 25 years of age
- Have fully comprehensive cover
- The car you want to add to your policy will need fully comprehensive cover
- The car must be roadworthy and have a valid MOT
To find out how to add DOC to your policy, you should contact your provider or log in to your account to see if it is an option.
What are the alternative options?
If you want to drive another car, there are other options available. Firstly, you could be added as a named driver on the policy of the car you want to drive. This will allow you to legally drive the car, but you must ensure that this is less than that of the main driver, otherwise you could be breaking the law. Adding yourself as a named driver on someone else’s policy will provide you with the same level of cover as that person, meaning if they’ve got fully comprehensive cover, you will have the same. To add yourself as a named driver, you will need the policy holder to contact their insurance and see if it is possible, which may incur an additional cost.
Secondly, you could get insured on another car through a temporary policy. This type of policy is ideal if you want to use another car for a short amount of time, such as if you were to drive a parent’s car on a long car journey. By choosing comprehensive temporary insurance, you will have a higher level of cover than if you added DOC to your policy, where you would only be covered for third-party damage.
What should I do if I’m unsure if I have DOC on my policy?
If you are thinking about getting behind the wheel of another car, you should always check your insurance policy first to ensure you’re not breaking the law for driving without insurance. If you are still unsure after checking your policy documents, you should call your provider to check.
If you are caught driving without insurance, you will receive an IN10 conviction, which will result in 6-8 points on your driving licence. This means you will lose your licence if you have been driving for fewer than two years and is likely to increase your renewal premium, even if you’re an experienced driver. As well as the points on your licence, there is a minimum fixed penalty fine of £300 for driving without insurance and you could be taken to court.
Can I get insurance so anybody can drive my car?
It is possible to get an any driver insurance policy, which allows anybody with a valid licence to drive your car. However, this insurance policy type is uncommon and many insurers may not even offer is as an option. Due to the risk being increased by anybody being allowed to drive your vehicle, you can expect this type of policy to be more expensive than the more common third-party and comprehensive policies.