Am I insured to drive other cars?

Wondering if your car insurance lets you hop behind the wheel of someone else’s vehicle? Many drivers assume their own car insurance automatically covers them, yet it's not always that simple. Before you grab the keys, it’s worth knowing the rules.

What’s covered

• Can I drive someone else's car on my insurance in Ireland?
• How do I know if I am insured to drive other cars?
• 3 ways to get insured to drive someone else's car
• What happens if I drive without insurance in Ireland?
• What happens if I have an accident in another person’s car?
• FAQs

Can I drive someone else's car on my insurance in Ireland?

Yes, you can drive someone else’s car in Ireland provided that you have the owner's permission and your insurance policy covers you for it.

Driving Other Cars insurance (also known as DOC cover) is a common feature of comprehensive car insurance policies in Ireland, typically giving the policyholder third-party only cover (covering damage or injury to the other party, but not the vehicle you’re driving) to drive another person’s car with their permission. DOC cover is usually limited to drivers aged 25 or over with a full licence, and is subject to strict conditions.

It's important to note that Driving Other Cars cover is only intended to be used for rare occasions or emergencies when you need to use a vehicle that isn’t yours. If you plan to drive another car more regularly, you'll need to consider a different policy.

How do I know if I am insured to drive other cars?

To confirm whether you're insured to drive other cars, check your certificate of insurance to see if it includes a “Driving Other Cars” insurance (DOC) extension.

Some insurers will include DOC cover as standard, while others offer is as an optional extension that you'll need to purchase. However, you should never assume you’re allowed to drive another car - always check your policy documents if you're unsure.

3 ways to get insured to drive someone else's car

If you want to drive someone else’s car, you’ll need the right cover in place. The type of cover you'll need depends on how you plan to use the car:

1. Become a named driver

If you need to borrow someone else's car from time to time (e.g. a family member's), the simplest option is to be added as a named driver on their policy. This gives you the same level of cover as the main driver.

The main driver must still be the person who uses the car most of the time, and as a named driver, you should only drive it occasionally. Be careful to avoid fronting, where a more experienced driver insures the car in their name but a younger, named driver actually uses the car the most. Fronting is illegal and will invalidate your policy.

2. Take out temporary car insurance

Temporary cover is ideal if you only need to drive someone else's car a short period of time, for example, if you’re borrowing a friend’s car for a weekend trip.

Temporary car insurance policies are usually fully comprehensive and can last from one hour up to 28 days (some insurers may allow you to extend this to several months if you need longer).

3. Add a DOC extension

DOC cover generally intended to cover you if you need to drive someone else’s car in an emergency. It almost always only offers third party cover. It's usually subject to strict acceptance criteria outlined by your insurer, such as:

• You must have the owner’s permission to drive their car.

• Most insurers require you to be over 25 and hold a full driving licence.

• The car must not belong (or be hired or leased) to you, your spouse/partner or your employer.

• The car must have its own valid insurance policy and be roadworthy.

• DOC cover usually applies only to the main policyholder, not named drivers.

• Your own registered car must still be owned and insured by you and not written off or sold.

• Cover is for private cars only — vans, motorbikes, and high-performance vehicles are excluded.

What happens if I drive without insurance in Ireland?

Driving without insurance is a serious offence in Ireland and comes with severe consequences. If you’re caught, you’ll face a court appearance, a fine of up to €5,000, and five penalty points on your licence.

In more serious cases, you could even receive a prison sentence of up to six months. The judge can also decide to disqualify you from driving instead of issuing penalty points, which could leave you off the road for months.

Always check with your insurer that you’ve got the right cover before getting behind the wheel.

What happens if I have an accident in another person’s car?

If you have an accident while driving someone else’s car, the consequences depend entirely on the type of cover you have:

• If you are a named driver: The car owner's policy is the primary coverage in force. You’ll receive the same level of protection as the policyholder and any claims will be handled under their policy, not yours.

• If you have Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover: As most policies now only offer third-party only cover for borrowed vehicles, you'll be covered for damage or injury caused to the other party, but it does not cover damage or theft of the car you’re driving. In other words, if you dent the borrowed car, you or the owner will have to pay for the repairs out of pocket.

• If you have temporary cover: The temporary policy is the primary coverage in force for that vehicle during the specified term. Most short-term policies in 2026 are issued as comprehensive cover by default, which means both third-party damage and repairs to the borrowed car are covered. Claims are filed directly with the temporary insurer rather than your main annual policy.

Always check which policy applies and the level of cover you have before you borrow a car. Assuming you’re covered can lead to expensive mistakes, so confirm the details with your insurer or the car owner.

This is a marketing article from Howden Insurance. The information in this guide is intended for general guidance only and is accurate at time of publication.