Can you insure a car you don’t own?

Key Takeaways

• It’s possible to insure a car even if you aren’t the owner or registered keeper - for example if you’re renting or borrowing a car

• You can take out non-owner car insurance, temporary car insurance or named driver car insurance, while some standard policies also cover you for driving other cars

• Having other drivers on your car insurance policy can affect your premiums, so it’s good to consider all your available options

Can I insure a car I don’t own?

Yes, you can take out a car insurance policy on a vehicle even if you aren’t the car’s registered owner or keeper. However, some insurers might only offer cover if you have an ‘insurable interest’ in the car - which generally means the following:

• The car belongs to your spouse or civil partner, or your parents

• The car is leased in your name

• It is a company car

Do you need insurance to drive a car you don’t own?

Yes, regardless of whether you are the owner or not, you must have a valid insurance policy to drive a car on UK roads. You’ll need at least third-party level cover, however in most cases you’ll find fully comprehensive cover is more affordable.

Can I insure a car that’s already insured by someone else?

You can insure a car even if it’s already been insured - you’ll be able to take out a separate policy entirely just for yourself. However the more affordable option is generally to add yourself as a named driver to the existing policy.

Can someone else get insured on my car?

Yes, you can get someone else insured on your car through a named driver policy, and in most cases this is cheaper than getting two separate policies. However keep in mind that the named driver’s risk profile will be considered by your insurer, so your premiums are likely to be affected, whether positively or negatively.

Remember, taking out a named driver insurance policy and naming a more experienced driver as the main driver when in reality a younger driver uses the car most is illegal.

How do I insure a car that isn’t in my name?

To insure a car if you aren’t the owner or registered keeper, you’ll usually have the following options:

Non-owner car insurance

If you want to take out your own car insurance policy for a car you don’t own, this is sometimes known as non-owner car insurance. Not all insurers offer cover for cars you don’t own in this way, so it’s worth comparing your options to find the best deal available - and remember to inform them you aren’t the registered keeper.

Named driver car insurance

Another more cost-effective option is to have yourself added to the owner’s existing car insurance policy as a named driver. This will likely increase their premiums but the overall difference will often be lower than taking out your own policy.

Temporary car insurance

You could also consider taking out a short-term or temporary car insurance policy to cover you for a set period, for example if you’re borrowing a car or house-sitting. These policies can last anywhere from one to 28 days and sometimes up to three months.

Cover for driving other cars

Finally, it’s worth checking if you have a car insurance policy that covers you for also driving other cars - this will usually be in case of emergencies, and will generally offer just third-party cover. It’s not a common policy, so don’t assume you have it covered - check to be sure.

Does the main driver need to be the car’s owner?

Not always - it will vary between insurers, but some will let you take out a policy as the main driver of someone else’s car. They may require you to have an ‘insurable interest’ as we mentioned above, but it’s worth looking around and comparing your options.

Does the car owner have to insure the car?

No, the car’s actual owner doesn’t have to insure the car, especially if someone else is insuring it. However, if it’s being used or even parked on public roads it will need to be insured by someone - otherwise you’ll need to declare the car as SORN.

How much does it cost to insure a car you don’t own?

You might find that car insurance might cost a little more when you’re covering a car you don’t own, as your risk profile could appear higher to insurers as you won’t be as invested in the vehicle. If you’re a young driver, being named as a driver on someone else’s policy will likely increase the cost of cover - but it will generally be cheaper than taking out your own policy.

Compare car insurance quotes

If you need to find car insurance for a car you don’t own, start by comparing quotes with MoneySuperMarket - it’s a quick and easy way to find the best available deals.