Your comprehensive car insurance may or may not cover you for driving other people’s cars (defined as cars that you neither own nor hire). Include this type of cover in any car insurance comparison if you think you may have occasion to drive a friend or relative’s car. It can be a great convenience if your own car should be out of commission for a few days and you borrow a car to avoid having to hire one.

If you have cover for driving others’ cars, you’re generally covered for liability in the event of accidental damage, injury or death while you’re driving a car you’ve borrowed. It includes liabilities caused by passengers travelling with you. It will not, however, cover damage caused to the car you’re driving. Cover generally will protect your estate against liability under the policy should you die, and may provide legal representation at a hearing that arises as a result of an accident insured under the policy.

Claims under this type of car insurance cover are valid as long as you don’t own the car, and haven’t leased or hired it. Also, you must not be entitled to claim on any other insurance policy, and you must have permission of the car owner to drive the car. This type of cover is typically only offered to drivers age 25 and older.