Research by temporary car insurance service Tempcover has found that men are more likely to deny their partner the keys to their car, with 14% of men snubbing a request, compared with 10% of women.
They say love is all about sharing, but for one in ten drivers, there’s one thing that’s definitely off-limits this Valentine’s Day – their car keys! A tenth of motorists (12%) admit they refuse to let their partner borrow their car[1] – with a quarter of them (26%) confessing that they don’t trust their driving[2], reveals research by Tempcover, the temporary car insurance service.
Men are more likely to refuse when asked for the car keys, with nearly one in seven (14%) admitting to saying ‘no’ when their partner makes the request, compared with 10% of women[1].
On the flip side, women are more likely to worry about their partner’s driving, with a third of women (34%) and a fifth of men (21%) saying concerns over driving skills stop them from handing over the keys[2].
That uneasy feeling about lending a car is not without reason. More than a quarter of motorists (27%) have had their car damaged when lending it to family and friends[3] – requiring £718 in repairs on average[4].
The potential damages bill has totalled more than £4 billion in the UK over the past five years—or £840 million a year[4].
Historically, motorists with comprehensive insurance policies were covered to drive any other car as standard. However, in the early 2000s, insurers began to gradually remove this coverage.
More than half of people (52%) aren’t aware that most comprehensive insurance no longer automatically covers them to drive another person’s vehicle. This confusion rises to almost three-fifths (58%) of drivers aged over 55, who grew up being used to having this cover as standard[5].
Drivers who are confused about whether they are covered should look in their insurance documents for a section referencing Driving Other Cars.
Tempcover advises motorists to consider using temporary car insurance for peace of mind when letting someone borrow their vehicle.
Claire Wills-Mckissick at Tempcover said, “When Meatloaf sang, ‘I would do anything for love, but I won’t do that‘; perhaps he was referring to lending his car to his partner.
“This Valentine’s Day, you can make it extra special by gifting your partner the car keys or sharing a romantic long drive to explore somewhere new together. Just be sure your insurance has you covered so you can concentrate on the journey ahead.”
With Tempcover’s temporary car insurance, motorists can get a quote online and be on the road in under two minutes. Prices start from £16.50 for 24 hours of comprehensive cover at Tempcover[6].
References
[1]. Respondents were asked, ‘When, if at all, did you let the following people borrow your car?’ 12% to ‘Partner’.
[2]. Respondents were asked, “You mentioned that you wouldn’t consider letting the following people borrow your car. Why is this? Please select all that apply” For those who said ‘Partner’, 26% said “I don’t trust their driving”.
[3]. Respondents were asked, “You mentioned that you have lent your car to at least one person in the last 5 years. Did any of the following occur on the occasion(s) that they borrowed your car? Please select all that apply”. 27% of people who had loaned a car had received damage.
[4]. Respondents were asked, “You mentioned that someone damaged your car when they had borrowed it. How much did the damage cost to fix? If you are unsure, please give your best estimate.” The average damage cost was £718.30. 228 / 2000 of 54 million UK adults = 6.16 million drivers. 6.16 million x £718.30 = £4.4 billion.
[5]. Respondents were asked “Prior to reading the statement about DOC, were you aware that cover for driving other cars is not offered as standard on most comprehensive policies these days?” 52% said ‘No’.
[6]. Tempcover data: In September 2024, 10% of customers paid £16.50 or less for 24 hours of private car cover.
The research was conducted online by Opinium between 11th and 15th October 2024 among 2,000 UK residents, weighted to be nationally representative.
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