Is It Legal to Drive a Friend’s or Colleague’s Car in the UAE? You may want to think about borrowing a friend’s or colleague’s car if you find yourself in a situation where you have an urgent meeting to attend and cannot access your own vehicle. But it’s important to know the legal ramifications of driving a car in the UAE that isn’t registered in your name.

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The Legal Consequences of Operating a Borrowed Vehicle

Article 447 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 states that utilizing a vehicle without the owner’s consent may result in serious repercussions. Anyone caught operating a car, motorcycle, or other similar vehicle without permission could spend up to a year in jail and pay a fine of Dh10,000. This law emphasizes how crucial it is to get the right permission before using someone else’s car.

Crucial Conditions for Operating a Borrowed Car

Is It Legal to Drive a Friend’s or Colleague’s Car in the UAE? Have a Valid Driver’s License: You need a valid driver’s license in order to drive a car legally in the United Arab Emirates. For inhabitants of the UAE, this might be a driver’s license; for visitors, it might be an international license. Article 51 of the traffic code of the United Arab Emirates states that operating a vehicle without the required authority or driving without a valid license can result in up to three months in jail, a fine of up to Dh5,000, or both. While visitors can drive using an international driver’s license, citizens of the UAE are required to use a UAE driver’s license.

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Obtain Permission to Drive the Vehicle: You must get the owner’s consent before you can drive someone else’s vehicle. The UAE Penal Code’s Article 447 provides further information on this criterion.

What Takes Place Should an Accident Occur?

Will the owner’s insurance pay for damages if you get into an accident while driving a rented car? In general, sure, as long as certain requirements are satisfied. The damage should be covered by the insurance policy provided the driver satisfies certain requirements, such as having a valid driver’s license for a minimum of a year and being older than 25, as per the unified policy on auto insurance of the UAE Insurance Authority. The claim history, though, might be impacted by this.

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You might need to add 10% more to the “excess amount” if you’re under 25 or if your driver’s license was recently obtained. The amount that the at-fault party in an accident pays is referred to as the excess amount in insurance terminology.

Insurance policies for high-value automobiles, such as supercars, are frequently tailored. These plans might have provisions that limit who is allowed to operate the vehicle, like making drivers over 30 or enacting “named driver policies,” which provide coverage for only the driver identified on the policy in the case of an accident.

In summary

While borrowing a friend’s or colleague’s car in the UAE can be convenient, it’s essential to ensure you have the proper authorization and understand the insurance implications. Following these rules will keep you out of trouble with the law and guarantee that you are protected in the event of an accident.