19 Jan 2026
Driving someone else’s car might seem harmless — maybe you’re helping a friend, borrowing a parent’s car, or taking over on a long journey — but Irish car insurance laws are strict, and getting this wrong can lead to serious legal and financial consequences.
This guide explains everything Irish motorists need to know about Driving Other Cars (DOC), including:
Whether it’s legal
How to check if you’re insured
What types of policies include DOC
What vehicles are excluded
Penalties for driving uninsured
Rules for learner drivers
What happens if there’s an accident
All information below is written for Republic of Ireland road users only, and includes official references from the its4women Car Insurance Policy Document (underwritten by AIG Europe S.A.).
Is It Legal to Drive Someone Else’s Car in Ireland?
Yes — but only if you are properly insured to do so.
Under Irish law, every driver must be insured to drive the specific vehicle they are operating. This means:
You CAN legally drive someone else’s car…but only if:
You are named on their policy OR
Your own policy specifically includes the Driving Other Cars extension (DOC)
You must also have the owner's permission to drive another car, and driving someone else's vehicle without permission can be considered theft.
You CANNOT legally drive their car if neither policy gives you permission or insurance cover — even if the owner says “you’re grand!”
The borrowed car (else's vehicle) must have its own valid insurance policy and cannot belong to you, your spouse/partner, or your employer. The person driving must be properly insured and have the owner's permission.
Driving uninsured is a serious offence in Ireland and carries heavy penalties (more below).
How Can I Tell If I Am Covered to Drive Other Vehicles?
Whether you’re allowed to drive another private car depends entirely on your certificate of motor insurance. Note that Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover is not standard and is subject to specific terms, conditions, and underwriting criteria outlined in your policy. Always check your policy booklet for exclusions or requirements.
The its4women Car Insurance policy states:
“This cover is operative provided that the policy schedule and your certificate of insurance says so.”
To check your cover:
Verify the existence of the DOC extension on your certificate of insurance, as it is not automatically included.
1. Read Your Certificate of Motor Insurance
Look for a clause referring to:
“Driving Other Cars”
“DOC”
“Policyholder may drive other vehicles”
2. Confirm the conditions
Driving Other Cars (DOC) is subject to specific acceptance criteria, and coverage is only valid if you meet the following conditions and adhere to all relevant restrictions:
You have the policyholder’s permission to drive the other car.
The car is not owned by you or hired to you under a hire purchase or lease agreement.
You hold a valid driving licence and meet the minimum age and experience requirements set by your insurer.
The car is insured by its owner.
You are using the car for social, domestic, and pleasure purposes only (not for business use).
If you do not comply with these restrictions or acceptance criteria, your coverage may be voided.
3. Never assume
DOC is not automatically included on every policy.
Many insurers, including some its4women policies, do not include DOC as standard.
If your certificate doesn’t explicitly mention DOC, you are not covered.
What Types of Policies Allow You to Drive Another Person's Car?
Typically, Driving Other Cars (DOC) is an optional extension that may be included on:
Some comprehensive insurance policies
Some third party coverage or third-party fire and theft policies for over-25s
DOC insurance is an optional extension that provides coverage for driving someone else's private car with their permission, usually for occasional use. Most insurers require drivers to be over 25 years old and hold a full, valid EU driving license to qualify for DOC cover. If you drive another person's car regularly, you may need to be added as a named driver on their policy instead of relying on DOC coverage.
It is not guaranteed, and insurers may remove or restrict DOC based on risk or endorsements.
For its4women customers, DOC only applies if your policy schedule and certificate explicitly show that the extension is active. Without this, there is no DOC cover.
Additionally:
Telematics policies NEVER allow Driving Other Cars due to device monitoring
“Only drivers named on the policy may drive your car, regardless of any extensions… (e.g. ‘Driving of Other Cars’).”
Some policies include an endorsement deleting DOC entirely
“Endorsement 16: Deleting subsection ‘Driving Other Cars’ – Section 11 does not apply.”
Always check your schedule.
What Vehicles Are and Are Not Covered?
If DOC is included, its4women outlines strict limitations: this cars cover applies only to a private passenger vehicle and is subject to certain service limitations. The vehicle you are borrowing must not be owned by you or hired to you under a hire purchase agreement, and it must comply with all road traffic legislation, including having a valid NCT and tax.
Exclusions include:
Vehicles owned by you or your employer.
Vehicles hired to you or your employer.
Vehicles under a hire purchase agreement.
Vehicles not classified as a private passenger vehicle.
Vehicles not complying with road traffic legislation, such as lacking a valid NCT or tax.
DOC Covers:
Private passenger cars only
Vehicles within the Republic of Ireland/UK
Cars not owned, hired or leased by you
Cars of similar or smaller size/engine capacity to your own (max 2000cc)
“The vehicle driven is… no higher than a 2000cc vehicle.”
DOC Does NOT Cover:
From the its4women Car Insurance Policy, Section 7:
Vans
Car-vans
Jeep-type vehicles with no back seats
Passenger-adapted vans
Commercially registered vehicles
Cars owned or leased by you
Cars owned/leased by your employer
Cars not insured under their own active policy
Any vehicle not in a roadworthy condition
Driving without the owner’s permission
Driving outside permitted use (e.g., commercial use)
What Are the Legal Consequences of Driving Without Proper Insurance in Ireland?
Driving uninsured carries severe penalties, including:
Checking your insurance before driving can save you from legal and financial trouble in the event of an accident or other incident. If you are involved in an event such as an accident, fire, theft, or damage while driving another car, not having the right insurance could lead to serious consequences.
If you’re caught uninsured:
Automatic court appearance
Fine of up to €5,000
5 penalty points
Possible driving ban
Vehicle may be seized
If you cause an accident while uninsured:
You are personally liable for:
Repairs to all vehicles
Injury claims
Property damage
Costs can reach hundreds of thousands of euro
This is why checking DOC and correct insurance is essential before driving any vehicle.
Can a Learner Driver Drive Someone Else's Car in Ireland?
Yes — but with strict conditions:
For learner drivers, age is a key factor in insurance eligibility and restrictions. Insurance providers often set minimum age requirements and may impose additional conditions based on your age and driving experience.
Learner drivers can only be covered when driving the other person's car that is specifically listed on their insurance policy. This means you are limited to driving another person's car only if you are named on the policy for that particular vehicle.
Most car insurance policies allow you to drive another person's if you hold a full driver licence, car for a short period, provided you have your own insurance. Always check the terms of your policy to confirm what is permitted.
Learner drivers are only covered if they are named on the policy for the vehicle they wish to drive.
A learner may drive someone else’s car only if:
They are named on the policy, and
They comply with learner permit rules, including
“Any learner permit licence holder… must comply with the requirement to be accompanied at all times by another driver holding a full licence.”
The vehicle’s insurance certificate permits learner drivers
A learner driver CANNOT:
Rely on DOC — insurers do not extend DOC to learners
Drive a car unsupervised
Drive a car for work or business unless explicitly allowed
Drive a car outside permitted use on the certificate
What Happens If You Get Into an Accident While Driving Another Person’s Car?
The consequences depend on whether you had proper insurance. Coverage for an accident involving another vehicle depends on the terms of your policy and whether the other vehicle is insured. If you make a claim while using Driving Other Cars (DOC) insurance, it will affect your No Claims Bonus. Additionally, the car you are driving must be insured under another policy of insurance for the DOC extension to apply.
If You ARE Covered (DOC or Named Driver):
Third-party cover only
DOC provides liability to others only:
“We will cover you for your liability to others only driving a motor car not belonging to you.”
This means DOC does not cover:
Damage to the borrowed car
Damage to your own car
Your own injuries (unless a separate benefit applies)
If You Are NOT Covered:
You will be treated as an uninsured driver, meaning:
Full personal liability for all damages
Criminal prosecution
Possible driving ban
The car owner's insurer may refuse the claim or pursue you for costs
Key Takeaways
Driving someone else’s car is only legal if you have valid insurance, with the correct DOC extension.
DOC is not automatic and is strictly conditional
Always check your certificate of motor insurance
Learner drivers must be named and supervised
DOC provides third-party cover only
Driving uninsured carries major legal and financial risks
