Today count on own vehicle facilitates displacements in an immeasurable way. Especially if we move around the big cities such as Madrid or Barcelona where you can take hours in public transport to reach your destination.
However, Not everyone has the joy of having their own vehicle to move around the city. Thus, much of the population borrows the car to family, friends or neighbors. Very frequent activity on a day -to -day basis and that can have legal inconveniences if we focus on the mandatory vehicle insurance.
Can I drive another person’s car without being in insurance?
The answer is Yes, but complying with a series of conditions to not have any impact on the legal field. These conditions are:
- Have a driving license/driving licensesince otherwise you will not be able to put the vehicle in question in question.
- Authorization of the owner: Of course, you must have the permission of the car owner.
- Mandatory insurance: Even if you have everything you need, if the vehicle does not cover additional drivers, it may not cover the damage
If you have an accident with a vehicle and are not included in the insurance policy, You will be considered risk driver and we will not be completely covered in case of an accident.
That is, in any case, Insurance will cover you in any case of damage to third partiesboth material and personal. The same does not happen with our own damages, since this will depend on whether we are considered risk conductors or not.
The General Directorate of Traffic for its specific part that “If you are the holder, or long -term tenant, of a vehicle that usually conducts another person, you can indicate it so that notifications related to circulation sanctions Go directly to the usual driver. “
In addition, they add that “It will be considered a regular driver who will use the vehicle for continued periods exceeding 30 daysand in the case of rental vehicles, For rents of more than 3 days. You cannot write down regular drivers for less of those deadlines. “
From the moment the communication of the usual driver of a vehicle, the administrations, provided that the usual driver is informed and gives his consent is made, They will go directly and as the first option to the usual user of the vehicle and not to its owneravoiding practicing unnecessary notifications and facilitating the exercise of your rights.
The case of rental vehicles
Insurance in a rental car It is managed by the renting company and is included in the monthly feegenerally covering all risk insurance with or without franchise, everything will depend on the company you go to.
This way, It is vital to review the contract conditions, but the company is responsible for repair, theft or damage to third partiesalthough the driver can be responsible for the franchise if it exists.
Fine for driving a car without insurance
If we are going to more extreme cases, as is the case of driving without insurance directly, the fine in Spain in 2025 oscillates generally Between € 601 and € 3,005 According to gravity, the type of vehicle, if there is recidivism and if the car was circulating or parked.
In addition to the economic sanction, They can immobilize the vehicle until insurance is hired And, in case of an accident, the driver must be responsible for all damages caused, both material and personal.