Can I insure a car I 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 and you live at the same address
The car is leased or financed in your name
It is a company car
Do I need insurance to drive a car I don’t own?
Yes, it’s a legal requirement to have a valid car insurance policy to drive on UK roads, regardless of whether you are the car owner or not. You’ll need at least third-party level cover but, in most cases, you’ll find fully comprehensive cover is more affordable.
Can I insure a car that’s already insured by someone else?
Yes, 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 an illegal practice known as fronting.
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. These policies can last anywhere from one to 28 days and sometimes up to three months.
Cover for driving other cars
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?
No, the main driver doesn’t necessarily need to be the car’s owner - 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 ‘off road’ with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
How much will it cost to insure a car I don’t own?
It can be more expensive to insure a car you don’t own. MoneySuperMarket data shows that comprehensive policies where the vehicle was owned by the policyholder had premiums £328 lower, on average, than policies where ownership was listed as “other”.
That's a saving of 20.52%. Vehicles owned by family members saw a smaller average price drop, of £309.
How can I 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.
Author
Mehdi Punjwani
Insurance specialist
Mehdi is a financial writer and editor with over six years of experience in personal finance. He has written for organisations and publications including Equifax, The AA, and USAToday, covering a...
Reviewer
Sarah Tooze
Car & Van Insurance Expert
Sarah Tooze has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years, specialising in company cars and vans, and has won a number of awards during her career, including the Newspress ‘Automotive...
