The car insurance assumption that could leave millions of UK drivers out of pocket

An estimated 300,000 vehicles are driven without valid insurance every single day in the UK, costing the economy around 1 billion pounds annually. But Covertime's research suggests the problem runs deeper than deliberate law-breaking.

Millions of UK drivers could be unknowingly exposing themselves to repair bills of thousands of pounds - and in the worst cases a criminal charge of driving without insurance - every time they get behind the wheel of a vehicle they do not own. Drivers who assume they are covered may have no valid insurance at all. Those who do have some cover may not realise it would not protect the car they are driving.

When Covertime surveyed 1,120 UK licenced drivers about Driving Other Cars cover, the results were stark: fewer than one in four could correctly state both whether their own policy includes DOC cover and what it actually provides if it does.

Fake insurance websites exploit the knowledge gaps many drivers have about how genuine policies work - spotting fraudulent car insurance websites explains the most common fake-site tactics, how to verify an insurer on the FCA register, and why cheap premiums from unknown sites should raise suspicion.

Almost a third (32%) of UK drivers assume their annual motor insurance automatically allows them to drive other people's cars. In reality, DOC cover is not included in many policies - particularly for younger or less experienced drivers - and 45% of drivers said they did not know or were uncertain either way. Only 23% correctly assumed they were probably not covered.

Driving Other Cars cover is a provision included on some comprehensive motor insurance policies that allows the policyholder to drive a vehicle they do not own, with the owner's permission. It is not automatic, and whether or not it is included varies significantly from insurer to insurer.

Even when a policy does include DOC cover, it provides third-party protection only. That means it pays out for damage to other vehicles and third parties in an accident, but it will not cover damage to the car you are borrowing. If you damage a friend's car while borrowing it, the repair bill falls to you personally - or to their insurer, which can affect their no-claims bonus. Our research found that only 40% of drivers could correctly identify this critical limitation.

Many drivers do not know that installing approved security devices can reduce insurance premiums - a useful link between security and cover - how to stop your car getting stolen covers the most effective security measures and how to choose between trackers, steering locks, and immobilisers.

• Check your policy documents before getting in the car, not after. DOC cover is not standard and varies significantly between insurers - do not assume it is there.
• Do not assume comprehensive insurance means you are covered to drive any car. The word comprehensive refers to the level of protection on your own vehicle, not the vehicles you are allowed to drive.
• If your policy does include DOC cover, check whether it provides third-party protection only. It will not cover damage to the car you are driving.
• If you are lending your car to someone, check whether their insurance covers them to drive it, or arrange temporary cover on their behalf before handing over the keys.
• Consider temporary car insurance as the safest and simplest solution. A short-term policy is comprehensive, covers the car you are borrowing, and means both you and the car owner are properly protected.