Driving Another Vehicle Without Permission

Many of us will - at one time or another - borrow a friend's or family member's car for a journey to the shops or an emergency. For the most part this will be uneventful and all parties considered will be aware of the fact that you are driving someone else's car: but what are the implications if they don't know and you don't tell them?

Borrowing Someone Else's Vehicle

The first and most important aspect of driving another person's vehicle is whether they know you have done so or not. It is imperative that - wherever possible - you inform the owner of the vehicle that you intend to use it. Likewise you should actively try to seek their permission to do so.

It is worth noting at this point that failure to grant permission can constitute theft if the matter were to come to the attention of the police.

Are You Insured?

All drivers should be insured when in charge of any vehicle they are driving and this is no more important than when driving another person's vehicle. You should ideally have fully comprehensive insurance - or the owner of the vehicle should have - so that you and anyone else in the vehicle with you are covered in the event of an accident. Not having the correct insurance whilst in charge of someone else vehicle is a criminal offence and you are also liable for any damage caused to the vehicle you are driving and any other vehicles you come into contact with.

Taking and Driving Away

In the eyes of the law taking another person's vehicle without their consent constitutes theft. To many this may sound a little over zealous but the law is very clear on the subject. Taking a vehicle and removing it from its designated owner's property is a criminal offence and whether it be a friend or family member's vehicle the police will look upon the matter as theft and will prosecute accordingly.

As we have already mentioned if you need to borrow another person's vehicle you should seek their permission or - in an extreme circumstance if they are not contactable - leave a note explaining why you have taken it, where you have taken it and when you plan to return with it.

In England alone during the course of a year there are hundreds of reported car thefts which turn out to be nothing more than someone borrowing a vehicle without making sufficient enough attempts to notify the owner.

Motoring Offences Committed in another Person's Vehicle

In certain circumstances the law relating to motoring offences may seem perhaps a little too easily manipulated. And no scenario illustrates this point more clearly than speeding whilst driving someone else's vehicle.

If you are driving another person's vehicle and are caught on speed camera breaking the speed limit then the registered owner of the vehicle will be the one that - in the eyes of the law - is responsible of the paying of any Fixed Penalty Notices and also they will be awarded the corresponding number of points.

As speed cameras concern themselves with photographing the licence plates on speeding cars the law says that the registered keeper is responsible unless they can prove beyond any doubt that another individual was behind the wheel.

If you do - for any reason - allow another person to use your vehicle make sure you keep a record of when they did so and for what purpose.

Likewise it is recommended you keep all spare sets of keys in a place where perhaps only you and your partner would know to find them and never tell anyone the details of immobiliser codes or security alarms on your vehicle.