Millions of drivers could face penalty points and a hefty fine for an insurance mistake that can be avoided with a simple two-minute check. Drivers may unknowingly expose themselves to vehicle repair bills of thousands of pounds, a £300 fine if caught with invalid insurance, six penalty points on their licence, and, in the worst cases, vehicle seizure and a criminal charge.
Research Reveals Widespread Confusion
Covertime.com's new research found that over three-quarters of UK drivers are wrong or uncertain about whether their annual insurance covers them to drive another person's car. In reality, 'Driving Other Cars' (DOC) cover is not included in many policies, particularly for younger or less experienced drivers.
Tom Warsop, motor insurance expert at Covertime.com, said: "This really isn't about catching people out, it is about making sure drivers understand their cover before they borrow a car, because a lot of people simply assume they are protected when they may not be."
Limited Scope of DOC Cover
Most motorists were also not aware that DOC cover, where it exists on a comprehensive motor insurance policy, is typically third-party only and does not protect the borrowed vehicle if it is damaged in an accident. According to Warsop, "Driving Other Cars cover is not standard on most comprehensive policies, and even where it does exist, it's almost always third party only, so it will only pay out for damage to third parties, not for the car you were driving."
A record 160,000 uninsured vehicles were seized from UK roads last year, the highest figure in 17 years, according to the Motor Insurers' Bureau.
Simple Solutions to Avoid Penalties
Warsop advised: "The single most important thing any driver can do before borrowing a car is to check their policy rather than assume. It takes two minutes to check." He added that temporary insurance offers a comprehensive alternative: "If you check and find you are not covered, temporary insurance lets you borrow the car with comprehensive cover rather than third party only."
What Drivers Should Do Before Borrowing or Lending a Car
- Check your policy documents before getting in the car, not after. DOC cover is not standard and varies significantly between insurers.
- Do not assume comprehensive insurance means you are covered to drive any car. The word comprehensive refers to the level of protection, not the vehicles covered.
- If your policy does include DOC cover, check whether it provides third-party protection only. If that is the case, then it will not cover damage to the car you are driving.
- If you are lending your car to someone, check whether their insurance covers them to drive it or arrange temporary cover on their behalf.
- Consider temporary car insurance as the safest and simplest solution when borrowing or lending a vehicle. A policy can be arranged in minutes, is comprehensive, and means both you and the car owner are properly protected.
