Thinking about asking to borrow someone’s car? Perhaps you need it to transport something, carry out an errand, take a family trip, or attend an event. Whatever you need it for, borrowing someone's personal vehicle comes with a lot of trust. Here are some useful dos and don’ts to think about before you ask.
Ask yourself: Do you really need to borrow a car in the first place?
Borrowing someone's car is a big ask. If it gets damaged, there’ll be damage costs to cover. How might this impact your relationship/friendship?
Equally, if the person refuses your request, this might also cause strain between you both (embarrassment, resentment, etc)?
Even if the person is a close friend or relative, they might take great pride in their car and may have spent a lot of money on it, both of which might lead them to refusing your request.
However, if you feel they won’t mind lending you their car, and trust you to keep it safe, then there's no harm in asking.
Ask to borrow the vehicle clearly and politely
Tell them where you’ll be taking the borrowed car and for how long. Whether or not the answer is ‘Yes’ could depend on a variety of factors. For example, taking the car abroad would come with a whole host of extra challenges and risks. Or heading off to a music festival, carrying passengers whom the car owner doesn’t know, could increase the chances of a ‘No’.
Check insurance coverage
It’s critical that if you do borrow the car, that you/the car are insured. A lack of insurance is where a lot of people get caught out.
In the UK, insurance follows the driver and the car, not just the vehicle. This means the owner’s insurance does NOT automatically cover you.
You must be either named on their policy, or covered by your own policy’s “Driving Other Cars” (DOC) extension.
You can also take out ‘temporary car insurance’ which is sometimes called ‘borrowed car insurance’. It’s possible to get insurance for a day, multiple days, or a week. It’s also possible to take out insurance for a few hours.
Thankfully, the modern car insurance market has created products for pretty much any eventuality.
Without ‘car insurance for a day’ or similar insurance in place, driving the borrowed car would be illegal, even with the owner’s permission.
When you ask to borrow the vehicle, it's likely that this topic will arise, so make sure you have some good answers/suggestions.
Adding a named driver
The process of adding a named driver is not exactly a hassle, but there is some legwork involved (which can add another dimension to the favour).
Typically, the insurer will ask for the following information about the new driver:
- Full name and date of birth
- Occupation and relationship to your policyholder
- Driving licence details and how long they’ve held it
- Any past claims, convictions or endorsements
- Any relevant medical information reported to the DVLA
Also note that there could be an administration charge, especially if done over the phone. Be ready to cover this.
Understand the vehicle and how it works
If the person agrees to lend you their car, and there are no insurance issues, then it’s important to find out as much as possible about the car and how it drives.
Is it a petrol, diesel, or electric car? If it is an EV, and you’ve only driven a fuel-based car, this will of course add complexity and risk to the situation.
Can I drive an EV if I learned in a petrol car?
Yes, what matters is the licence type, not whether the car uses petrol, diesel, or electricity. So if you passed your test in a petrol or diesel car, you can legally drive an EV.
You should also find out about any quirks or minor issues the vehicle has, so you’re fully prepared.
Understand any ground rules
The person you’re borrowing the car from may insist on certain “conditions of usage", such as:
- Don’t drive too far away
- Make sure the car is returned at the agreed time/date
- You don’t carry any other passengers
- Nobody smokes in the car
- Nobody eats in the car
Take good care of the car
Drive more carefully than you would your own car.
Don’t lend it on. Never let someone else drive it without explicit permission.
Keep it clean: No smoking, no rubbish, no strong smells unless agreed.
Respect their settings. Avoid changing mirrors, profiles, or infotainment accounts if possible.
Keep an eye on fuel use, charging and costs
Return the vehicle with at least as much fuel/charge as you borrowed it with. It’s also a nice gesture (and polite) to add a little extra.
If you use fuel, tolls, parking fees, or charging keep track of these and organise payment.
Of course, if you scratch it, kerb a wheel, or trigger a warning light, don’t be tempted to hide it and tell the owner straight away.
Return the car on time
Returning the car late will only cause stress and inconvenience.
Make sure it’s as clean as when you took it. If it wasn’t too clean in the first place, giving it a clean anyway is a nice gesture (assuming it’s not taken the wrong way!).
Say thank you. A sincere thanks, or even a small gift, goes a long way (and might even increase your chances of borrowing the car again).
What not to do
- Ignore warning lights should they appear
- Eat messy food in the car
- Keep driving if the low fuel light comes on (and be sure to top it up before returning the car)
What do you do if someone asks to borrow your car?
When someone asks to borrow your car, it’s worth pausing for thought before saying ‘Yes’.
Check the insurance situation
Never lend someone your car unless they’re sufficiently insured to drive it.
You have three main options:
- They’re already a named driver on your policy
- Your policy has “driving other cars” (DOC) cover however, this is quite rare now and usually third-party only
- They buy temporary insurance (also known as borrowed car insurance) which can be for 1 hour to multiple days in their own name
If they’re not insured, you could both get points, fines, and you could have your car seized by the police.
Ask yourself: Do I trust them?
It’s reasonable and sensible to think about:
- How long they’ve been driving (new drivers are higher risk)
- Their driving history (accidents, points, etc)
- Whether they respect other people’s property
You’re allowed to say ‘No’ it’s not rude. If you say ‘Yes’ when you mean ‘No’, you’ll likely end up feeling stressed and angry with yourself that you agreed. Saying ‘yes’ when you wanted to say ‘no’ might also set a precedent for the future (i.e. they may ask to borrow your car again).
Clarify when, where, and why
Before agreeing, be clear about:
- How long they’ll have the car
- Where they’re going
- Whether anyone else will drive it
This should avoid awkward situations later. This approach may seem rather business-like when dealing with a friend or relative, but it’s necessary: you’re lending them an object that is probably worth thousands of pounds.
Set clear boundaries
It’s perfectly acceptable to say things like:
- “Please don’t let anyone else drive it”
- “Bring it back with the same fuel/charge level”
- “No motorway / no long trips” (if that matters to you)
Understand the risk to you
If something goes wrong:
- Claims usually affect your insurance not theirs
- You could lose your no-claims bonus
- You may have to pay the excess
Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your policy.
If you want to say no (politely)
Some easy, honest responses:
- “Sorry, my insurance doesn’t allow it.”
- “I’m not comfortable lending my car.”
- “I’d rather not risk my no-claims bonus.”
You don’t owe them a long explanation. They have potentially put you in an uncomfortable position, so there’s no need to feel guilty.
What about lending out a finance car?
If your car is on finance, know that loan agreements don’t transfer responsibility. Just as with a car you might own outright, the responsibility lies with you. For example if there is any damage or any tickets issued, you might have your premium raised, lose your no claims bonus, or be liable for fines. So you should make sure there is adequate insurance in place before lending your vehicle if you have car finance in place.
