Can I drive a car if the insurance is not in my name? 

Yes, provided that the vehicle has a valid insurance policy and your driver profile (age, years since you obtained your licence) is comparable to that of the policyholder and the main named driver.

One of the most common doubts regarding driving without insurance arises when a friend, family member, or acquaintance offers you the use of their vehicle for a particular journey: will you be fully covered by their car insurance if an incident occurs?

In this respect, and as explained in our FAQ “Can I include other drivers on my policy”, you can rest assured that the insurance policy can cover you, as long as your driver profile is similar to that of the policyholder.

To put it another way: if the policyholder and the main insured driver of the vehicle you are going to drive have a similar licence-holding history to yours, then in most cases the insurance company will not object to extending driver cover to you.

However, issues may arise in a common situation: when a parent allows their child to drive the family car. Most insurers require the occasional driver to be at least 28 years old and to have had a licence for at least two years.

For this reason, if you want your child to be properly covered, it’s best to add them to the policy beforehand to avoid potential discrepancies.

Can I drive without insurance in Spain?

It is essential to always bear in mind that having valid car insurance, with at least mandatory basic cover, is indispensable if you wish to drive your vehicle legally.

When you take out a car insurance policy, it will always include at least third-party liability cover. Therefore, not having insurance not only means being left without adequate protection yourself, but also leaving unprotected those who, entirely involuntarily and through no fault of their own, might be affected by an accident caused by your vehicle.

To help you choose the car insurance that best suits your needs, you can use our online quotation tool, which allows you to calculate the price of your car insurance while comparing the cover included in each option: third-party, extended third-party, and fully comprehensive.

Calculate the price of my car insurance.

What is the fine for driving without insurance in Spain?

Driving without insurance is one of the most strictly enforced traffic offences and, at the same time, one of the most heavily sanctioned, as it demonstrates a lack of responsibility and a complete absence of solidarity towards the people you share the road with daily.

According to the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico), fines can range from 650€ to 2.800€ depending on the vehicle and licence type, and the penalty is applied to the owner of the uninsured vehicle.

Moreover, the driver may be held civilly or even criminally liable for any damages caused in an accident while uninsured.

Finally, it is worth noting that, with today’s monitoring systems, the DGT can impose the penalty electronically without a police officer having to stop your vehicle right away.