Dumb car insurance question...

[SavageHoutkop]

If I drive someone else's car, with their permission, does their insurance extend to me?
And if so is it all the insurance, or just the third party, or just the damage to that car itself?

I'm not thinking anything like a long term agreement (so none of this 'named driver' business), just the 'I'll drive home, you're too tired/had too many' type of arrangement.

I don't have any insurance of my own, not owning a car and all that.

 

[2Loose]

Some SPECIFIC insurance policies used to allow this, I am sure some still do.
Each policy is different though, so don't take it for granted.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Only if the other person's insurance covers any driver, or if you are a named driver on the policy.

It usually offers the same level of cover as applies to the policy holder.

 

[Piemaster]

Probably not, unless its an 'any driver' type policy and I can't think of anyone I know who has one.
My wife and I are the only ones on our policy. My father thinks he has 3rd party insurance on our car as he is insured to drive his car AND there is insurance on mine.

Driving it with their permission and being insured (or road legal at all) are two different issues.

 

[Norm]

If I drive someone else's car, with their permission, does their insurance extend to me?
And if so is it all the insurance, or just the third party, or just the damage to that car itself?

IMO, it is very, very, unlikely unless it was something that the owner / insurer requested when they took out their policy.

Personal (as opposed to trade or company) insurance generally covers named drivers only. It may extend third party cover to allow those named on the policy to drive other vehicles but I haven't seen a policy or a proposal in years which allows that.

Some company policies will cover the fleet for any driver but it is also not a given any more and it is unlikely to be publicised, even if it is available, because of the Duty of Care which employers need to extend nowadays.

 

[byegad]

Either you drive on their insurance. In which case they need 'Any Driver' or you named specifically on their policy. OR You drive on your insurance which needs to say, 'and may drive a car not owned by you'. You need to check in either case as to the level of cover they give you as it may be that while the main cover is Comprehensive and the subsidiary cover is third party, or comprehensive.

 

[Firestorm]

As byegad says, generally those who drive other peoples cars do so on their insurance as opposed to the insurance of the cars owners.
Named Drivers are the usual route if the arrangement is more than the "odd drive" , particularly if the car is insured fully comp and most certainly if the other driver does not have a policy of their own.



Short term additions to a policy are available , for example if the owner was unable to drive for a month and needed someone to drive them around , but for an "ad hoc" arrangement being added to the policy is the only option.
Generally its not too expensive, as long as there are no "issues" ie claims or convictions.
If the named driver is recently qualified or young it may well hike the price though

 

[Norm]

Generally its not too expensive, as long as there are no "issues" ie claims or convictions.
If the named driver is recently qualified or young it may well hike the price though

I'd agree with this too. I've added people to my policy when planning kids parties as it was easier and cheaper (around a fiver, IIRC) to get them a day's access to my 7-seater than to look at renting anything.

 

[Black Sheep]

my insurance covers me to drive another car that is not registered to myself / my address but I am only 3rd party cover on that other car (fully comp) - some companies only allow this in an emergency

As someone has already said, to be insured on a friends' car you'd need to be a named driver (normally a couple of quid for a weekend) or them to hold an any driver policy (have to normally ask for it)

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Thanks all... nothing like fineprint, eh?

My cycle insurance covers other people riding my bike with my permission IIRC....

 

[vernon]

Thanks all... nothing like fineprint, eh?

My cycle insurance covers other people riding my bike with my permission IIRC....

That's not quite the same level of risk.

Of all of the policies that I have held over the past 34 years, only named drivers/riders could use my car/motor cycle without having insurance of their own and the cover extended to me should I drive someone else's car/notor cycle with their permission was limited to third party only.

You really need to get hold of the policy to see what level of cover is afforded to you.

 

[Bromptonaut]

SH, I recall from your other posts that you're not a UK national. It might therefore be worth pointing out that, unlike some other jurisdictions, the UK insures the driver - there's no insurance attached specifically to the vehicle as may be the case in those countries that have 'insurance discs' etc.

Everything therefore swings on the terms of the policy issued to the car's owner.

As others say, most policies are based on named drivers. It used to be possible to get 'any driver' policies which may include other restrictions (eg any driver over 25). i don't know if these are still issued let alone viable for the average driver; I restricted mine to myself and Mrs B well over 20 yrs ago 'cos having possible cover for my parents or sister was too expensive.

Some allow exceptional cover extensions, for example if the policy holder is incapacitated another driver might be covered to drive him home. These are unlikely to cover the 'too tired' or 'needed to share over long distances' type scenarios.

Unfortunately, cover may also be contain conditions relating to UK residents/nationals and UK tests etc.

In short you need to make sure, before getting behind the wheel of a mate's car that you're fully insured. The law also only requires third party cover; without the added protection of comprehensive a moment's inattention might cost you dear in both cash and friendship !!

 

[buggi]

Probably not, unless its an 'any driver' type policy and I can't think of anyone I know who has one.
My wife and I are the only ones on our policy. My father thinks he has 3rd party insurance on our car as he is insured to drive his car AND there is insurance on mine.

Driving it with their permission and being insured (or road legal at all) are two different issues.

He might have, if his insurance is Fully Comprehensive.

Usually with fully comprehensive insurance you are insured to drive other cars, but under "3rd party" terms. so if he drove your car and crashed it, he would have to pay for the repairs to your car but the 3rd party would be able to claim from him (if he was the negligent one).

 

[SavageHoutkop]

SH, I recall from your other posts that you're not a UK national. It might therefore be worth pointing out that, unlike some other jurisdictions, the UK insures the driver - there's no insurance attached specifically to the vehicle as may be the case in those countries that have 'insurance discs' etc.

I am a UK national - but my experience with personal car insurance has indeed been from elsewhere. So, in my (non UK) experience, insurance is related to drivers and cars, but generally cover is extended to people driving with your permission, provided they are not regularly driving the vehicle, in which case you need to list them on the policy.

Since premiums vary by car, the insurance in the UK must still be both car & driver related? I appreciate that the higher risk comes from whether or not you're a numpty driver rather than which car you're driving - seeing as most claims will come from 3rd party injury rather than own-car damage.

 

[Black Sheep]

The insurance is insuring the driver on the specific car

for example, if my dad insures himself on a fiat panda it will cost you less than insuring yourself on a porsche 911 turbo

I'm much younger than my dad, so it will cost me more than my father, to insure myself on a fiat panda as my dad is considered more sensible and more experienced.

you can then specify drivers on the policy.

my insurance has my wife as a named driver so that she can use the car

it costs more to have my wife as the policy holder and me as the named driver as I'm a few years older and had my license for longer.