Motor insurance

The principal policyholder is the person who entered into the contract of insurance on behalf of themselves, each vehicle policyholder and each named driver. They’re the person who took out the policy and they can then choose who is a vehicle policyholder and who is a named driver.

The vehicle policyholder is nominated by the principal policyholder as being the person who drives the vehicle most often and earns the no claim discount. 

Named drivers are additional drivers nominated by the principal policyholder who are entitled to drive the vehicle under the policy.

If you have comprehensive insurance, you're covered with third party only insurance if you need to drive someone else's car. Third party only is the minimum cover you need to drive legally in the UK. We'd pay compensation to someone you injure or for damage you cause to other people’s vehicles or property in an accident – but wouldn't cover you for loss of, or damage to, the vehicle you were driving.

This cover is for the vehicle policyholder only, not named drivers. If you’re the principal policyholder but aren’t the vehicle policyholder you also won’t be covered. Normally the principal policyholder and the vehicle policyholder are the same person, but sometimes a principal policyholder takes out insurance for someone else, who becomes the vehicle policyholder. In that instance the principal policyholder wouldn’t get Driving Other Cars cover, only the vehicle policyholder. Driving Other Cars cover is also not available on policies in the name of a business.

The driver must be 25 or older when your motor policy with us started or renewed. You don't need to tell us that you'll be driving the other car, but you must have the car owner's consent.

If you have any questions, please call us on 0345 307 8590 before you drive the other car.

For cover limits, exclusions and further information please refer to the documents section for the policy you wish to view in MyAviva. Your certificate of motor insurance will also confirm if you have this cover.

From 2 August 2021, the UK became part of the Green Card Free Circulation Area (GCFCA) again, which is made up of all 30 European Economic Area (EEA) countries, as well as Andorra, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Switzerland, and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar.

 This means you’ll no longer need to carry a Green Card when driving in these countries.

Your insurance policy will provide the minimum cover needed to drive your insured vehicle in most European countries, which is third party only cover. This covers your legal liability to others – for example, if you injure someone in a motor accident or damage their property. However, it won’t cover you for loss of, or damage to, your own vehicle. For this kind of cover, you need to add Foreign Use.

Foreign Use is included as standard with an Aviva Online, Aviva Premium, or AvivaPlus Premium policy. Or if you have comprehensive cover with one of our other Motor Insurance products, you can add Foreign Use for an additional price. Foreign Use gives you a similar level of cover to what you have in the UK, when driving in the countries listed in your policy booklet. Cover is valid for up to 90 days for one trip and up to 180 days during the year.

To add Foreign Use onto your policy:

1. Log in to MyAviva

2. Select your Motor policy, then choose 'Details'

3. Choose 'Amend my policy'

4. Under Excesses and additional covers choose ‘Yes’ to the Foreign Use option

Or if you’re a new customer, simply add Foreign Use to your policy when you get a quote. 

Foreign Use isn’t available with an AvivaPlus Basic policy.

Please note: Driving Other Cars (DOC) cover, courtesy vehicles, UK breakdown cover (Rescue Cover) and Motor Legal Services only operate within Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Adding Foreign Use will not extend these covers outside of the UK.

For exclusions and further information, see the documents section in MyAviva for the policy you want to view.

If you plan to travel with your own car to a country not listed in your policy booklet, please contact us first.

They’re optional add-ons to your policy so an additional cost will apply if you would like to add them to your standard cover.

If you have AvivaPlus Regular, Premium Car Insurance or Aviva Online Car Insurance, these products have courtesy car included as standard.

Aviva Plus Premium Car Insurance has Motor Legal Services and Courtesy Car cover included as standard.

Motor Legal Services 

Expert legal support for you, any named drivers and passengers to help recover compensation and financial losses up to £100,000, following a motor accident that wasn’t your fault. Only applies if it’s likely you will be successful in your claim against the person responsible.

Courtesy car

Access to a replacement vehicle, with multiple different options available.

UK breakdown cover

Cover for your car, regardless of who's driving it, when it breaks down. You can choose from different levels of cover as an optional add-on to your car insurance. 

We also offer a standalone breakdown cover. Different options are available to cover your vehicle, yourself in any vehicle or yourself and another person in any vehicle.

Protected No Claim Discount

Guarantees you won’t lose your No Claim Discount after making a claim for an accident that was your fault (terms and conditions apply).

Motor Injury Protection Plus / Increased Personal Accident Cover

Cover if you suffer a serious injury or death as the result of a motor accident.

Motor Injury Protection Plus is available with Aviva Motor Insurance and AvivaPlus Regular or Premium (terms and conditions apply).

Increased Personal Accident cover is available with Aviva Online car insurance (terms and conditions apply).