Can You Drive Someone Else's Car on the Road?
2 Answers
You can drive someone else's car on the road. Here is the relevant information: Document requirements: A driver's license is equivalent to a "permit," proving that you have the necessary safe driving skills to operate a vehicle on the road. A vehicle registration certificate acts as the "ID card" of the car. Every vehicle must have one, and vehicles without it are considered illegal. If the car does not belong to you, you won't have its registration certificate. As long as you have a valid driver's license, you can drive a motor vehicle of the corresponding type, provided the car you're driving has a valid registration certificate. Health risks: Certain medical conditions, such as organic heart disease, epilepsy, Ménière's disease, vertigo, hysteria, Parkinson's disease, mental illness, dementia, and neurological disorders affecting limb movement, can impair safe driving and pose risks to road safety.
Of course you can drive someone else's car, but you must first obtain the owner's direct permission. With over 20 years of driving experience, I've borrowed many friends' cars and always made sure to get verbal permission in person, preferably followed by a text message as proof. Before driving, I check if the vehicle's insurance covers third-party drivers—some policies only recognize the owner as the driver, which can complicate things in case of an accident. Also, inspect the car itself: Is the tire pressure normal? Do the lights and brakes work? An unfamiliar car can be tricky to handle at first, especially since SUVs and sedans have different steering feels. Once on the road, avoid aggressive driving and follow traffic rules to avoid inconveniencing the owner. In case of a scrape or collision, contact the owner and insurance company immediately—don't try to settle it privately. Trust is the foundation, but safety details can't be overlooked. Being well-prepared can prevent 95% of potential headaches.
