Yes, you can drive someone else's car in the UK, but only if you meet a very specific and crucial condition: you must be insured to do so. Simply having your own car insurance is not enough. The most common way to be covered is if the car's owner has a policy that includes Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover for you. This is not a standard feature on all policies, so checking the policy documents is an essential first step.
DOC cover is typically an add-on found on fully comprehensive policies. It's important to understand that this cover usually provides third-party-only protection. This means if you crash the car, damage to the other vehicle and injuries to other people are covered, but the cost of repairing your friend's car may not be. There are other strict conditions: you must be over 25 in many cases, have the owner's explicit permission, and you cannot drive the car regularly—it's intended for occasional, emergency use only.
If the car owner's policy doesn't cover you, you'll need to be added as a named driver on their policy, which often comes with a cost. Alternatively, you could take out a short-term temporary insurance policy, which is a flexible and increasingly popular solution. Never assume you're covered; driving without valid insurance is a serious offence in the UK, leading to penalties like points on your licence, a fine, and even seizure of the vehicle.
| Insurance Type | Who Holds It | Typical Level of Cover | Common Age Restrictions | Best For |
|---|
| Driving Other Cars (DOC) | You (on your policy) | Third-Party Only | Often 25+ | Occasional, emergency use |
| Named Driver | Car Owner (adds you) | Level of Owner's Policy | Varies by insurer | Regular use of that specific car |
| Temporary Insurance | You (for a specific car) | Comprehensive available | Varies, more flexible | Borrowing a car for a short trip |
