Is it Legal to Drive Someone Else’s Car?
Yes, it is legal to drive someone else’s car in Ontario if they have a valid insurance policy and have given you permission to do so. It is illegal to drive without insurance in Ontario.
A first conviction for driving uninsured in Ontario carries a minimum fine of $5,000 plus a 25% victim fine surcharge, bringing the total payable amount to at least $6,250. Second offences can reach a total of $62,500.
In most cases, a policy is issued for a specific vehicle, and that vehicle is identified by its unique vehicle identification number (VIN). However, there are cases where coverage can extend to the driver when they use other vehicles.
Am I Insured If I Drive Someone Else’s Car?
Yes, you are insured under the owner’s policy, provided you have a valid driver’s license and are not specifically excluded from their insurance policy.
Can I Drive Someone Else’s Car on a Regular Basis?
When you regularly drive someone else’s vehicle, even if they have given you permission, the insurance company needs to be informed and may require that the additional driver be added to the policy. Insurance companies view occasional and regular use as distinct scenarios, and in the latter case, the person must be added to the insurance policy.
Your rate can go up when adding another driver, especially if that driver is young with little to no driving history. You can also expect your rate to increase if the driver has a poor driving record. In some cases, the insurance company may elect to decline coverage to that driver, and if that happens, you should cease allowing them to drive your vehicle.
Can I Use My Parents’ Car for a Driving Test?
Yes, you can use your parents’ car for a driving test as long as the vehicle is insured, you are listed on your parents’ policy, and they have given you permission to use the car. The car should also be in good condition, have functional lights and no warning signals.
Can I Drive a Car That is Not Tied To an Auto Insurance Policy?
It is illegal to drive a vehicle that is not tied to an insurance policy, even if you are insured on your own vehicle. An easy way to remember this is that the insurance follows the car, not the driver.
Driving an uninsured vehicle in Ontario triggers an automatic roadside vehicle impoundment for up to three months and a mandatory license suspension ranging from 30 days to one year upon conviction.
Always ensure valid proof of insurance is in the vehicle. In most provinces, including Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec, electronic pink slips displayed on a smartphone are now accepted as legal proof, though borrowers should ensure the owner has sent them the official digital version rather than just a screenshot.
Key Advice From MyChoice
- Before you get behind the wheel, ensure the owner hasn’t signed an OPCF 28A (Excluded Driver) form with your name on it. If they have, you are strictly forbidden from driving that car, and there is zero insurance coverage for any incident, even if you have the owner’s permission.
- Be aware that, starting July 1, 2026, Ontario is changing how accident benefits coverage works. If you are injured while driving someone else’s car, you will only have access to the optional benefits (like income replacement) that the owner chose to pay for on that specific policy.
- Standard personal insurance never covers delivery or rideshare work. If you borrow a friend’s car to do a shift for Uber, you are driving uninsured.