02/09/2026
Does Your Insurance Actually Cover You to Drive Someone Else’s Car?
A lot of drivers assume their comprehensive insurance lets them drive another person’s car but in the UK, that’s rarely true.
Section 5 of your insurance policy explains whether you have a Driving Other Cars (DOC) extension. Most drivers don’t - only around 2–5% of policies include it.
And even when DOC is included, it usually only provides third‑party cover, meaning the other vehicle isn’t protected if something goes wrong.
What drivers often misunderstand:
- Comprehensive cover doesn’t automatically include DOC - it’s not a standard benefit
- Only a small percentage of policies include DOC - usually premium or specialist policies
- DOC is third‑party only - the borrowed car won’t be covered for damage
- Driving without proper cover is treated as uninsured driving - leading to 6 points and a fine
If you borrow a friend’s or partner’s car without the correct cover, you could be committing a serious offence. Even if both of you genuinely believed you were insured.
Before driving any vehicle that isn’t yours, check Section 5 of your policy.
Assumptions can cost you your licence.
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