Recognise and understand common motor insurance myths
Read our myth-busters to understand the most common motor insurance mistakes and how to avoid them.
Common misunderstandings about motor insurance
Car insurance can feel confusing, and it’s often a simple misunderstanding that causes the biggest problems. Knowing the truth about these common myths can help you make sure you’re properly insured every time you drive.
Myth: I can drive other cars and lend mine to friends or family members
You’ll need Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover to get behind the wheel of another vehicle that you are not the named driver on.
Most insurance policies will generally only cover the policyholder and named drivers of the specific vehicle listed. DOC is no longer frequently included as standard and, if it is part of your policy, it is intended for emergency or unforeseen situations only.
If your policy does include DOC, it comes with strict conditions. You’ll usually need to meet age requirements, and the cover only applies to cars that don’t belong to you and aren’t kept at your home address. This means it typically won’t cover you to drive a partner’s or family member’s car if you live together. The vehicle you want to drive will also need a valid insurance policy covering it.
If you need regular access to another vehicle, or need to lend your car to a friend or family member, then it’s best to add yourselves as named drivers on the vehicle policy. For occasional use, a short-term policy is also a good option.
Myth: Comprehensive cover means I’m covered for everything
Comprehensive insurance refers to the top level of protection offered by insurance providers. It is not related to how you use your car. No matter which level of insurance cover you choose, you will still need to declare the correct type of usage, such as social, commuting, or business use.
Social, domestic and pleasure (SDP): only covers you for personal trips such as driving to the supermarket or a friend’s house
SDP + commuting: covers you for personal trips and for traveling to and from one permanent place of work or study on a regular basis
Business: is needed for any work-related trip beyond your regular commute. Even if it’s just one client meeting, a journey to pick up equipment, or a visit to a secondary work location
Hire-and-reward: is needed if you are using your vehicle to make deliveries
Myth: Small mistakes don’t matter on my policy
Accurate information is essential. Details such as your address, mileage, where the car is kept, engine size, and any modifications all affect your cover.
Providing incorrect or incomplete information can invalidate your policy, even if it wasn’t intentional. Pay close attention when you are entering personal details for yourself and any named drivers. Ensure you get the vehicle details right and when it comes to modifications, even small changes should be declared.
Insurers expect your circumstances to adjust over time. You shouldn’t wait for your renewal to declare new information or change your details. Set a calendar reminder to check your policy every few months and update your insurer as changes happens.
Equally, don’t just let your insurance auto-renew without checking the policy details. There is a risk that the information could be out of date or invalid without you even realising.
Get your insurance right from the start
Myth: If I’m not driving the car, I don’t need insurance
Unless you make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) with the DVLA, your car must be insured in line with continuous insurance enforcement laws.
If you register a SORN for your car then it must be kept off the road. It can be parked on private land or in a garage. If you leave it on the street or in a car park, it will class as parked illegally and could be subject to a penalty notice.
Myth: When I buy a new car, there’s a grace period before I need insurance
There is no grace period. The moment you own and drive a car on a public road, you must have valid insurance.
Even temporarily parking it on the road without insurance is illegal. Occasionally, a car dealership might offer ‘drive away’ insurance which covers you for a day or so after purchase. Never automatically assume that this is in place and always check the details yourself.
Myth: I can put a parent or friend down as the main driver to lower my premium price
This is an illegal practice called fronting. You must be honest about who will drive your car in the main.
Fronting will invalidate your policy, could result in prosecution and as it’s a type of fraud you may even end up on the Insurance Fraud Register. Be honest about who the main driver is and take a look at our list of recommended legal ways to reduce your policy premium.
Myth: There’s no real risk for driving uninsured. It’s just a small fine
Driving without valid insurance can have more serious consequences than many people realise. A relatively small fixed penalty fine is just the starting point.
If you’re caught driving uninsured, there are many ways for the DVLA and police to bring lawful action against you. The options include a £300 fine plus six points on your licence, an unlimited fine following a court case, vehicle seizure, and even a criminal record. Plus, any future insurance premiums will likely cost more.
Not sure if your cover is correct?
If any of these myths have made you question your own insurance, it’s worth checking now. Use our checklist to help you confirm your cover and make any necessary updates.
Explore our other guidance about motor insurance
The future of driving is changing
Driving rules and insurance policy requirements are changing all the time. As new technologies emerge, so do new misunderstandings. We’ll continue to update this page with the latest guidance, so you can rely on it as a trusted source of accurate, up-to-date information.
Frequently asked questions about common motor insurance myths
As soon as you realise that something within your policy is incorrect, you should contact your insurer to update it. You won’t get a penalty for making changes to your policy mid-term, but you may have to pay an administration fee and there may be costs associated with the changes you’re making.
If you do not hold a current policy or are not a named driver on the car you are driving, you’ll need to contact an insurance company and purchase a policy before getting behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, even if you unknowingly fall victim to one of these myths, you’ll face the consequences as set by the law. It’s your responsibility to make sure you have adequate motor insurance cover for the vehicle you’re using and the type of driving you’re doing.
If you think you may have made an insurance mistake, take action straight away to fix the problem. Don’t drive until you’re confident everything is sorted.
Yes. A quick review every few months helps make sure your details are still accurate and your cover matches how you use your car. Remember to check the details of your named drivers too.
If you know your circumstances are going to change before your next renewal, pop a reminder in your calendar to update your insurer as the change happens.
You’ll need to check that your insurance policy includes Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover and that you meet all of the conditions. Remember that you’ll generally only ever be insured on a third-party basis as driving other cars is intended as an emergency or one-off situation rather than a regular occurrence. If you plan to drive someone’s car regularly, it’s best to get yourself insured on the vehicle as a named driver.