An estimated 4.5 million people in the UK have driven vehicles they do not own without checking if they were insured to do so, according to research by Tempcover.
Many wrongly believe their comprehensive insurance automatically covers them to drive other cars.
Nearly four in 10 motorists (37%) still believe this long-outdated myth.
Millions of drivers face fines from common insurance misconception
Jake Lambert, temporary insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “Borrowing a car from a friend or family member is fast becoming a normal part of modern life, but stepping behind the wheel without verifying actual cover is giving rise to the ‘Accidental Outlaw’ – set against a backdrop of the UK’s 300,000-a-day uninsured driving epidemic.
“Blindly relying on ‘Driving Other Cars’ clauses or misunderstanding fronting – which is serious criminal insurance fraud – leaves motorists just one ANPR camera away from a fine, points, or roadside seizure.
“The good news is that staying legal is simple as insurance becomes more flexible.
“Securing standalone temporary car insurance takes minutes when borrowing a vehicle.
“And if your car has been seized, a specialist temporary impound policy can help resolve the compound deadlock fast.”
The ‘Driving Other Cars’ (DOC) extension, once common in fully comprehensive policies and believed by 47% of drivers to still exist, was largely phased out back in the 2000s.
Tempcover’s study found that 44% of drivers had used a vehicle they didn’t own in the past year, with nearly a quarter (23%) of those doing so every week.
Reasons included running errands (13%), emergencies (11%), or sharing holiday driving (10%).
Motorists most often borrowed cars from friends (33%), partners (24%), or parents and guardians (11%).
A similar misunderstanding exists around family insurance policies.
Nearly one in three drivers (29%) – and almost half of Gen Z drivers – believe it is legal to list a parent as the main driver of a car primarily used by their child.
This practice, known as ‘fronting’, is classed as insurance fraud and invalidates the policy.
It can result in an IN10 conviction, policy cancellation, and full personal liability in the event of a collision.
The findings come amid a wider problem with uninsured driving.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau estimates that 300,000 uninsured vehicles are on UK roads each day, costing the economy £1 billion annually.
Last year, nearly 160,000 vehicles were seized by police – the highest figure in 17 years.
The MIB reports that someone is affected by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes.
Among Gen Z drivers, 69% believe that genuine emergencies should exempt motorists from insurance penalties, despite no such legal exemption under the Road Traffic Act.
Once a car is seized, drivers face further confusion and costs.
More than a quarter of motorists (28%) incorrectly believe that a standard insurance policy can be used to retrieve an impounded vehicle.
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In reality, release from a police compound requires specialist impound insurance.
Many are also unaware of the financial implications.
More than a third (36%) do not know about initial release fees of £160–£200, and nearly half (49%) are unaware of daily storage charges of more than £20.
Driving without insurance carries an automatic fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points.
Police also have the power to seize and impound uninsured vehicles on the spot.
Tempcover advises drivers to take out temporary car insurance before borrowing a vehicle.
This can be arranged in minutes and ensures legal cover for the journey, avoiding financial and legal consequences.
Did you know about this common insurance misconception? Let us know in the comments.
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