Can you insure a car you don't own?
Find out more about temporary car insurance options and what you need to insure a vehicle you don’t own.
What is meant by "registered keeper" of a car?
The registered keeper of a car is the person who is using or keeping the car, so this isn’t necessarily the owner or the person paying for the car.
A registered keeper is responsible in the eyes of the police or DVLA, but the person who paid for it or gave the vehicle as a gift is the owner.
Can I insure a car if I'm not the registered owner?
Yes, you can! But you’ll need to let your car insurance provider know that you’re not the owner or the registered owner. This is usually referred to as non-owner car insurance.
There are plenty of reasons you might want to insure yourself on someone else’s vehicle. Your car might be owned by your spouse or partner, but you’re the main driver. Or you might be using your parent’s car while you’re learning to drive.
Can I be the registered keeper of a vehicle and not own it?
Yes! Using the car doesn't mean you own it. For example, you may be part of a company car scheme where you as the employee will be the registered keeper of the car, but you don't own it.
How does car insurance work for a car that is owned by someone else?
If you want to insure a car that is owned by someone else, there are a few different options:
- You can get temporary car insurance.
- You can be added as a named driver.
- You can consider non-owner car insurance.
Temporary car insurance
If you want to get insured on a car you don’t own, temporary car insurance might be the way to go. Temporary car insurance can give you cover for as little as 1 hour all the way up to 30 full days.