My car is being repaired: what are my transport options?
When your car is off the road for repairs, your options run from a courtesy car to borrowing a friend's car or hiring one short term. A courtesy car is not automatic, it depends on your policy, so it is worth knowing the alternatives, including how to get insured to drive someone else's car for the days you need it.
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Are you entitled to a courtesy car?
A courtesy car is not an automatic right; it depends on your insurance policy and the garage doing the work. Some comprehensive policies include a courtesy car as standard, some offer it as an optional extra, and some do not include one at all.
Even where one is included, it is often a small car provided only while your car is actually being repaired, not while the claim is being assessed. The only way to know what you are entitled to is to check your own policy or call your insurer. Our guide on how long you can keep a courtesy car covers the time limits that usually apply.
What if there is no courtesy car available?
If your policy does not include a courtesy car, or the garage has none free, you are left to arrange your own transport. This is more common than people expect, especially with smaller independent garages or at busy times.
At that point your realistic options are to borrow a car from someone you know, to hire one short term, or to manage with public transport and lifts. Which makes sense depends on how long the repair will take and how much you rely on a car day to day.
Can you borrow a friend or family member's car?
Borrowing a car from a friend or relative is often the simplest and cheapest option while yours is in the garage. You need to be properly covered to drive their car, and you usually cannot assume their policy or yours already covers it.
The cleanest way is to take out short-term cover in your own name on their car for the days you need it. Temporary cover for borrowing a car does exactly this, with comprehensive cover as standard, and it keeps any claim off the owner's policy and no claims bonus. That last point matters, because it means a favour does not put their bonus at risk.
Does your insurance let you drive someone else's car?
Some comprehensive policies include driving other cars cover, which can let you drive another person's car in limited circumstances. Before relying on it, check two things on your certificate: whether you have it at all, and what conditions apply.
Driving other cars cover is usually third party only, so it would not pay for damage to the borrowed car, and it is often restricted to emergencies rather than routine use while yours is repaired. For anything beyond a genuine one-off, short-term cover in your name is more appropriate, as our guide on driving someone else's car explains.
Short-term car hire: what you need to know
Hiring a car is the other main option, particularly if you have nobody to borrow from. Hire companies include insurance in the rental, usually with an excess you can reduce for an extra charge, and they set their own age, licence and payment requirements.
Check those requirements before you book, as some hire firms have minimum ages or require a credit card. For a short repair, hire can be straightforward; for a longer one, compare the running cost against borrowing a car with your own short-term cover, which can work out cheaper.
Getting around if you have no car at all
If none of the options work straight away, you may have a few days with no car. For many people, a combination gets them through: public transport for the commute, lift-shares with colleagues or family, and a taxi or local hire for the trips that genuinely need a car, such as the school run or a big shop.
It is worth telling your employer early if your role depends on driving, and checking whether your repair is covered by an insurance claim, as that sometimes brings a courtesy car you did not realise you were entitled to. If the gap is more than a day or two, borrowing a car from someone you know and insuring yourself on it for the period is usually the most practical and economical way to stay mobile, rather than stringing together taxis day after day.
If repairs run over: extending your cover
Repairs frequently take longer than the first estimate, especially when parts are on back order or a claim is involved. If you are driving a borrowed car on short-term cover, the simple fix is to extend or take out further cover for the extra days.
This is where borrowing plus short-term insurance is flexible: you cover exactly the period you need, and if the garage calls to say it will be another week, you adjust rather than being caught out. If your need is sudden, our emergency cover can get you on the road quickly while you sort out the longer-term plan. Either way, you stay mobile while the garage does its work, without overpaying for transport you do not really need.
Frequently asked questions
Am I entitled to a courtesy car while mine is being repaired?
Not automatically. It depends on your policy and the garage. Some comprehensive policies include one, some offer it as an extra, and some do not. Even when included, it is often only while the car is actively being repaired. Check your policy to be sure.
Can I borrow a friend's car while mine is in the garage?
Yes, if you are properly insured to drive it. Do not assume their policy or yours already covers you. Taking out short-term cover in your name on their car is the cleanest route, and it keeps any claim off the owner's policy and no claims bonus.
Does my insurance let me drive someone else's car?
Only if your policy includes driving other cars cover, and you should check the conditions. It is usually third party only, so it would not repair the borrowed car, and is often limited to emergencies. For routine use, short-term cover in your name is better.
Can I hire a car short term while mine is repaired?
Yes. Hire companies include insurance with an excess you can usually reduce for a fee, and they set age, licence and payment requirements, so check these before booking. For longer repairs, compare the cost against borrowing a car on your own short-term cover.
What if the repairs take longer than expected?
If you are on short-term cover for a borrowed car, you simply extend or arrange further cover for the extra days. That flexibility is a key advantage of borrowing plus temporary insurance over options that are harder to adjust at short notice.
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