Do I Have Driving Other Cars Cover on My Policy?
The only way to know is to check your policy documents or contact your insurer directly. Driving other cars cover is far less common than most drivers assume, and only around two per cent of comprehensive policies still include it.
Many drivers believe they are automatically covered to drive other people’s cars because they hold a comprehensive policy. This misconception leads to unpleasant surprises when they have an accident in a borrowed vehicle and discover they have no cover at all.
If your policy does include driving other cars cover, it provides third-party only protection, not comprehensive. That means damage to the borrowed vehicle is not covered, even if your own policy is fully comprehensive.
Assume you do not until your certificate of motor insurance says otherwise — DOC is far less common than its reputation suggests, and it is never implied by a comprehensive policy. Where it does exist it is third-party only, so damage to the car you are borrowing is not covered, and it usually requires you to be over 25 with the owner’s permission. Temporary cover is the cleaner alternative.
Compare temporary car insurance and be properly covered in someone else’s car.
How common is driving other cars cover?
Very rare, with only a small fraction of comprehensive policies still including it. Most insurers removed DOC from standard policies over the past decade because it was frequently misunderstood and led to disputes.
Why did insurers remove it?
The risk of covering policyholders in unfamiliar vehicles was harder to price accurately. Drivers were using DOC to avoid buying proper cover for vehicles they drove regularly, which was never the intention of the benefit.
Insurers also found that DOC claims were disproportionately costly because drivers were less familiar with the borrowed vehicle. The combination of pricing difficulty and high claim frequency made it uneconomical to include as standard.
Even when DOC is included in a policy, it only applies to the main policyholder. Named drivers on the policy do not get DOC cover, which is another common source of confusion among drivers who assume it covers everyone listed on the policy.
How do you check if you have DOC cover?
Check your policy schedule, your certificate of motor insurance, or your online account. If DOC is included, it will be listed explicitly under additional benefits or optional cover.
Where exactly should you look?
Your policy schedule will show a section titled ‘Driving Other Cars’ or ‘Driving Other Vehicles’ if the cover is included. Your certificate of motor insurance lists exactly what vehicles and drivers are covered under the policy.
Most insurers also show your cover details in the policy summary section of your online account. If neither your documents nor your online account mentions DOC, you do not have it.
A quick phone call to your insurer with your policy number will confirm your cover in seconds if you are still unsure after checking your documents.
What does DOC cover actually provide?
DOC provides third-party only cover when you drive someone else’s private car with their permission. It does not give you comprehensive cover, so any damage to the borrowed vehicle is not covered under your policy.
What restrictions apply?
| Restriction | What it means | Common mistake |
| Policyholder only | DOC applies to the main policyholder, not named drivers | Assuming named drivers also have DOC |
| Private cars only | Vans, commercial vehicles, motorcycles, and hire cars are excluded | Trying to use DOC for a hire car |
| Owner’s permission | You must have the vehicle owner’s explicit consent | Borrowing without asking first |
| Occasional use only | DOC is not intended for vehicles you drive regularly | Using it as a permanent alternative to proper cover |
| Not your own vehicles | You cannot use DOC to cover a second car you own | Avoiding insuring a second vehicle |
The third-party only limitation is the most commonly misunderstood restriction. Drivers assume DOC gives them the same level of cover as their own policy, when it only covers their legal liability to other people and their property.
What are the alternatives to DOC cover?
If your policy does not include DOC and you need to drive someone else’s car, you have several options that provide better protection than DOC would anyway.
Which option suits your situation?
Being added as a named driver on the vehicle owner’s policy is the best option for regular use. The owner contacts their insurer and adds you, usually within 24 hours, and you get the same level of cover as the main policyholder.
For one-off situations, temporary car insurance covers you for one day to several weeks on a specific vehicle. Temporary policies typically provide comprehensive cover, which is better than the third-party only protection DOC offers.
You can also ask your insurer about adding DOC as an optional extra, though availability is limited and the cover it provides is weaker than either of the alternatives above.
Our guide on whether someone else can drive your car explains how both options work from the vehicle owner’s perspective.
What happens if you drive without valid cover?
Driving without valid insurance is a criminal offence under section 143 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The fixed penalty is £300 and six penalty points, and at court the fine is unlimited with up to eight points or a discretionary driving ban.
Can the police seize your vehicle?
Yes, under section 165A of the Road Traffic Act 1988, the police can seize any vehicle being driven without insurance. The vehicle is impounded and the owner must pay recovery and storage fees to retrieve it.
If the vehicle is not collected within 14 days, or if it has been seized before, it may be crushed or sold. The owner of the vehicle is affected even if they were not the person driving it at the time.
You can check whether any vehicle has valid insurance using the Motor Insurance Database at askMID. This confirms whether the vehicle is insured, though it does not tell you whether you personally are covered to drive it.
Can you add DOC to your existing policy?
Some insurers offer DOC as an optional add-on, but availability varies and not all providers offer it. Those that do may restrict eligibility based on age, driving history, or policy type.
Is DOC worth adding?
The cost is typically modest, but remember that DOC only provides third-party cover. If you need to drive other cars frequently or want comprehensive protection on a borrowed vehicle, being added as a named driver or buying temporary insurance gives you better cover.
When shopping for car insurance, you can ask whether DOC is included or available as an add-on. If DOC is important to you, this can be a factor in choosing your insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, DOC was once a standard feature of comprehensive policies but most insurers have removed it. Only around two per cent of comprehensive policies still include it, so you must check your specific policy.
No, DOC only applies to the main policyholder. If you are a named driver on someone else’s policy, you do not have DOC cover through that policy regardless of what level of cover it provides.
Almost certainly not, because hire cars are specifically excluded from DOC cover in the vast majority of policies. You will need the hire company’s insurance or separate cover arranged before you collect the vehicle.
Third-party only, which means damage you cause to other people, vehicles, and property is covered, but damage to the vehicle you are driving is not. This applies even if your own policy is fully comprehensive.
You can check whether any vehicle has valid insurance using the Motor Insurance Database at askMID. This confirms whether the vehicle is insured, though it does not confirm whether you are covered to drive it.