What is Driving Other Cars Cover UK 2026

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026

What DOC cover is: the historical definition

Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover was, historically, an extension included as standard on most UK Comprehensive motor insurance policies. The extension provided Third Party Only cover for the policyholder to drive a third party's vehicle, a vehicle they did not own, did not have a financial interest in, and were not named on the owner's own policy for.

The cover triggered automatically in two conditions: the policyholder had a Comprehensive policy on their own vehicle (in force and valid at the time of driving the borrowed vehicle); and the borrowed vehicle was owned by a third party with no financial connection to the policyholder (not jointly owned, not subject to finance held in the policyholder's name, not a hire car).

Under DOC, the cover provided was Third Party Only for the borrowed vehicle, covering the policyholder's liability for injury to others and damage to their property if an accident occurred while driving the third party's vehicle. DOC did not cover: damage to the borrowed vehicle itself (the owner's own Comprehensive policy would cover this, subject to their own excess and NCD); the policyholder's own injuries; or any of the additional Comprehensive inclusions (windscreen, personal effects, breakdown) that applied to the policyholder's own policy.

The progressive withdrawal of DOC: 2018 to 2026

From approximately 2018, UK motor insurers began withdrawing DOC as a standard Comprehensive inclusion. By 2024, the majority of mainstream UK direct motor insurance brands had removed DOC from their standard Comprehensive policies.

The reasons for withdrawal cited by the industry: DOC was being used in circumstances that insurers had not intended to cover, most significantly, drivers using DOC on vehicles that they could not insure themselves (due to cost, convictions, or declination) by borrowing vehicles from insured friends or family members on a near-permanent basis. This created a claims fraud vector that insurers identified in claims data as producing disproportionate DOC-sourced losses.

The ABI acknowledged the withdrawal trend in its published insurance market guidance, noting that DOC is no longer a standard inclusion across the market and that policyholders should not assume they have DOC unless their specific policy wording explicitly confirms it.

Which policies still include DOC in 2026

Some insurers and products retain DOC as a standard or optional Comprehensive inclusion in 2026. NFU Mutual (FRN 117664), which distributes through its local agency network rather than through direct or aggregator channels, is among the mainstream insurers that has continued to include DOC provisions in some of its standard Comprehensive products. Confirm current NFU Mutual DOC terms at the time of quotation.

Some specialist brokers with Lloyd's market access can place Comprehensive policies with DOC as a specific policy endorsement for policyholders who have a genuine occupational or personal need for DOC cover (health workers driving hospital pool vehicles in emergencies, for example).

Where a specific need for DOC cover exists, a BIBA-registered specialist broker (biba.org.uk/find-insurance/) can identify underwriters that retain DOC appetite.

What DOC does not cover: critical limitations

Regardless of whether a policy includes DOC, the following exclusions are standard across all DOC provisions:

DOC does not cover own-damage to the borrowed vehicle. If you drive a friend's car under your DOC extension and cause an accident that damages their vehicle, your DOC cover pays the third-party liability only, the friend's own Comprehensive policy must cover their vehicle's damage.

DOC does not apply where the policyholder has a financial interest in the borrowed vehicle, a vehicle they co-own, a vehicle subject to finance they are a party to, or a vehicle they have use of under a hire or lease arrangement.

DOC does not typically apply to hire cars, rental vehicles are a specific exclusion in most DOC provisions because the hire company provides their own insurance product (CDW/damage waiver) for the hire period.

DOC is Third Party Only cover on the borrowed vehicle, the policyholder's Comprehensive-level inclusions (windscreen, breakdown, personal accident) do not extend to the borrowed vehicle.

How to confirm whether your policy includes DOC

The most reliable way to confirm DOC status is to read the policy wording, the full terms and conditions document issued at inception. Look for the "Driving other cars" or "Other motor vehicles" section. If the section exists and states cover applies (with specified conditions), DOC is included. If the section is absent or states cover does not apply, DOC is not included.

The Insurance Product Information Document (IPID), the FCA-required two-page summary, typically lists DOC status in the inclusions or exclusions section. Check the IPID at quotation before purchasing.

Key Figures

Alternatives to DOC for drivers who need borrowed-vehicle cover

Where DOC is not available on a policy and a driver needs to drive a third party's vehicle, the alternatives are:

The vehicle owner adds the driver as a named driver on their own annual policy for the period of use. This is the cleanest legal solution and provides full cover under the owner's policy terms. It requires the owner's cooperation and may produce a mid-term premium adjustment.

Short-term temporary insurance, provided by specialist short-term motor insurance providers, covers the driver on a third party's vehicle for a specific period (one day to 28 days). These products are specifically designed for borrowed-vehicle situations and provide full cover for the driver on the borrowed vehicle without affecting the vehicle owner's own policy. BIBA-registered specialist brokers (biba.org.uk/find-insurance/) and specialist short-term insurance providers provide this option.

For drivers who regularly need to drive multiple different vehicles in connection with work, health professionals driving pool vehicles, for example, a motor trade policy or fleet policy covering occasional use may be appropriate. BIBA specialist brokers can advise on appropriate product structures for occupational multi-vehicle driving needs.

Insurance Premium Tax at 12 percent (HMRC, gov.uk) applies to all motor insurance products including short-term temporary insurance and named driver additions. The Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143 strict liability obligation applies regardless of the cover route used, ensure cover is in force before driving any vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover?

DOC is a Third Party Only extension that, where included on a Comprehensive policy, allows the policyholder to drive a third party's vehicle they do not own and have no financial interest in. It does not cover damage to the borrowed vehicle.

Does my Comprehensive insurance still include DOC?

Check your policy wording explicitly. Most mainstream UK direct motor insurance brands withdrew DOC from standard Comprehensive policies between 2018 and 2024. Do not assume DOC is included, the policy document or IPID will confirm whether it applies.

Does DOC cover damage to a borrowed car?

No. DOC provides Third Party Only cover, covering your liability for injury to others and damage to third-party property. It does not cover damage to the borrowed vehicle itself. The vehicle owner's own Comprehensive policy covers damage to their vehicle.

Can I get DOC cover on a hire car?

No. DOC provisions typically exclude hire cars. The hire company provides its own damage waiver product for the hire period. DOC is intended for borrowing a privately-owned third party's vehicle, not for hired vehicles.

Which insurers still offer DOC in 2026?

Some specialist brokers and a small number of mainstream insurers (including NFU Mutual, FRN 117664) retain DOC provisions in some products. BIBA-registered specialist brokers (biba.org.uk/find-insurance/) can identify underwriters with current DOC appetite.

Sources & Verification

• ABI Motor Insurance data: https://www.abi.org.uk
• FCA Register, NFU Mutual (FRN 117664): https://register.fca.org.uk
• Road Traffic Act 1988, section 143: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52
• FCA, Insurance Product Information Document: https://www.fca.org.uk
• HMRC Insurance Premium Tax: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/insurance-premium-tax
• BIBA, Find a specialist broker: https://www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/
• gov.uk, Driving without insurance: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/penalty-for-driving-without-insurance

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify rates with official sources before making any financial decision.