driving a car in uk

[marryme]

i'm in uk for a year with a valid drivers licence can i drive my parent's car or friends cars or do i have to still get insurance for myself?

[dzug]

It depends on their insurance. You will only be able to drive their car if you are either a named driver on their policy or their policy is for any driver. The latter is unusual as it is very expensive.

[Hamish]

In the UK it is the car that is insured not the person (as in the US I think) the policy for the car must therefore specifically cover you as a driver.

[lady_p_gold]

All they need to do is put you on as a named driver.

[Buenchico]

I've already answered this question here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Motoring/Questi on271842.html

I'm posting here, however, to correct Hamish's post. Cars don't require insurance. Drivers do. For example, if my friend lets his insurance policy expire, I can still drive his car (because of the 'third party - any vehicle' provisions in my insurance). The fact that the policy which specifically referred to that vehicle has run out is completely irrelevant.

Chris