Generally, insurance follows the car. That means the car’s policy is most likely to respond first to a covered accident rather than your own policy. However, several factors can influence whether you’re insured:
- The owner permitted you to drive the car
- You have a valid driver’s licence
- What the owner’s insurance policy stipulates
- Whether you are listed or excluded under the owner’s insurance
- What you’re using the vehicle for
We based our car borrowing insurance guide on the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s car-lending guide, Ontario’s OPCF 28A excluded-driver form, FSRA’s optional auto-benefits guide and FSRA’s ridesharing and carsharing guide.
Am I Insured If I Drive Someone Else’s Car?
Usually, but not always. In most cases, an occasional driver is insured if they have the vehicle owner’s permission to drive a covered vehicle. The car must be insured, the driver must have a valid licence, the policy can’t have an excluded-driver endorsement, and the policy has to allow the use. However, you should always check the owner’s policy before they lend you the vehicle.
According to the IBC, if someone is permitted to drive your car and they’re responsible for an accident that results in a covered loss, the owner’s insurer would normally deal with the vehicle claim first. The claim could affect your insurance price or claims history, and the owner might be responsible for the deductible. Coverage normally follows the vehicle, not the driver.
Is It Legal To Drive Someone Else’s Car?
Permission isn’t enough. Common pitfalls include an expired licence, an inactive insurance policy, or one that doesn’t cover drivers like you or how you’ll use the vehicle.
Before driving, confirm:
- You’re entitled to drive the vehicle and have the appropriate licence
- The owner has given you permission
- The vehicle is insured as required by Ontario law. Remember, a photo of a previous insurance card, also known as the “pink slip”, does not prove the vehicle is insured. Ask the vehicle’s owner to confirm the policy status. Keep valid proof of insurance in the vehicle or an Ontario-approved electronic version of the card.
What The Owner And Borrower Each Risk
| Issue | Vehicle owner | Borrower |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible | A vehicle owner may be responsible for the deductible under their vehicle policy. | The borrower may agree to reimburse the deductible, but the agreement does not change the policy. |
| Vehicle damage | Many at-fault damage situations are covered only if the vehicle owner has optional physical-damage coverage. | A borrower should never assume their personal policy will cover damage to the borrowed car. |
| Claim record | A claim on a vehicle insurance policy may affect a vehicle owner’s eligibility for insurance and/or future premiums. | The borrower may have a conviction or at-fault record that may affect their future insurance. |
| Permission and use | The owner must give permission and should disclose regular or household use to the insurer. | The borrower must stay within the permission and policy use. |
Agreements between friends about costs can be helpful, but they can’t create insurance coverage that doesn’t exist.
Can I Drive Someone Else’s Car Regularly?
If the person is a member of your household or will use your car frequently, you should report this to your insurer.
No rule of thumb says a secondary driver must stay below 50% use. Your insurer will advise you as to whom they need listed and how they will be rated. Be sure to have their answer in writing.
Be upfront with your insurance company about who will be driving. Listing a primary user of the vehicle as an occasional driver could be viewed as material misrepresentation.
Does OPCF 27 Cover A Borrowed Or Rented Vehicle?
OPCF 27 may extend physical-damage protection to a non-owned or rented vehicle that qualifies under your policy. Always confirm coverage limits, eligible vehicle types, deductibles, and all terms with your insurer before renting or borrowing a vehicle. It does not make an uninsured vehicle legal to drive, replace the owner’s permission, or cover a person excluded from the policy.
MyChoice analyzed 50,000 auto insurance quotes collected through the MyChoice platform since the start of 2026.
In Ontario, OPCF 27 had a reference amount of $19.18. OPCF 20 covers loss of use on your own insured vehicle and is not a substitute for OPCF 27. The OPCF 20 reference amount was $33.99, while the total annual premium in the same comparison was $2,345.
Not all drivers pay the same price for endorsements. Check with your insurer to see whether they’re included in your auto insurance policy.
Read More: See How OPCF 27 Covers Damage to a Non-Owned Automobile
Can I Use My Parents’ Car For A Driving Test?
If the car meets the test provider’s current requirements, you may use it for a driving test. No insurance rule applies in all cases that requires you to be rated on the policy before you undertake the road test. Your parents should advise the insurer and follow any instructions about listing learner drivers on their policy.
Can You Drive A Car With No Active Auto Policy?
No, having insurance on another vehicle does not make it okay to drive an uninsured car. Driving an uninsured car could result in serious fines and legal ramifications. Do not drive the car until the owner confirms insurance is in place.
Read More: Review Ontario’s Rules for Driving an Uninsured Vehicle
Excluded Drivers And OPCF 28A
OPCF 28A is a signed endorsement in Ontario that identifies an excluded driver and the vehicles affected. If that person drives the specified auto, there is no coverage under the policy except certain accident benefits.
If you are specifically named as an excluded driver, you are not to drive the specified vehicle.
Rideshare, Delivery And Carsharing
Personal automobile policies may not cover commercial driving, such as carrying passengers for hire or delivering goods.
Drivers should check whether their platform is included in FSRA’s list of approved insurance products.
Drivers should know when coverage does and does not apply, as it usually depends on status changes in the app and whether they’re transporting people, parcels, or food.
Using a friend’s car to drive for a commercial platform doesn’t mean their policy automatically covers you. You need the owner’s permission to use their vehicle for these purposes, as well as their insurer’s permission and the platform’s permission.
Read More: See When You Need Insurance for a Rental Car
How Ontario’s July 2026 Accident-Benefit Changes Affect Borrowing
Medical, rehabilitation, and attendant-care benefits will remain mandatory for policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2026. But other benefits, including income replacement, caregiver, housekeeping, non-earner, death, funeral, and some indexation protection, will be optional.
Anyone who borrows a car should not assume that the owner’s auto insurance policy includes the same optional benefits as another household policy. Drivers should confirm which policy and priority rules apply to anyone who drives the car.