Borrowed, Rented or Just Bought: The First Five Minutes in an Unfamiliar Car
New drivers usually learn in one car. Then a parent's other car, a friend's car, a rental or a newly bought used car arrives, and everything is in a slightly different place. First-day mishaps in a new-to-you car tend to happen in the first mile, at low speed, because of a control nobody found.
The five-minute setup, before the engine starts
- Seat: able to press the brake fully with a bent knee; wrists rest on top of the wheel with your back against the seat.
- Mirrors: both side mirrors and the rear-view, set for you, not the last driver.
- Head restraint: roughly level with the top of your head.
- Lights: find the headlight switch and check whether it is set to automatic. A car with lights set to off can feel fine under streetlights and be invisible to others.
- Wipers and washers, front and rear.
- Hazard switch, horn and the parking brake — foot pedal, hand lever or electronic button.
- Fuel or charge level, and the right fuel type.
The controls that catch people out
| Feature | The surprise |
|---|---|
| Push-button start | The car may still be on when it seems silent; check the dash before walking away |
| Rotary dial or button gear selector | Selecting reverse instead of drive in a tight space |
| Automatic engine stop at lights | The engine goes quiet at a red light; it restarts when you lift off the brake |
| Strong regenerative braking (EVs) | The car slows sharply when you lift off the accelerator |
| A bigger car than yours | Wider turns, longer stopping distance, a blind spot where a cyclist fits |
The first mile
Drive it first in an empty lot or a quiet block. Test the brakes gently, then firmly. Make a full-lock turn each way to feel the turning circle. Reverse once using mirrors and a shoulder check, not just the camera. Only then head into traffic.
Who covers you in it
California requires a liability policy to insure the named insured and anyone else using the insured car with permission, within the scope of that permission (Insurance Code section 11580.1). So in a borrowed car, the owner's policy normally responds first, and the owner can be held liable for a permitted driver's negligence within set limits under Vehicle Code 17150. Three quick checks:
- Is the car insured right now, and are you excluded by name on that policy?
- Will you be driving it regularly? If so, its insurer expects to know about you.
- Rental car? The rental company's own age and driver rules apply, and how your policy treats a rental varies by insurance company.
If you are still on a permit, the unfamiliar car must also have a qualifying supervisor in the passenger seat, and the DMV advises against borrowing an unfamiliar car for the drive test unless it is necessary.
The habit worth keeping
Do the five-minute setup every time you change cars, even when you are in a hurry and even in a car you have driven once before. Someone else may have moved the seat, the mirrors or the light switch since then.
Just bought it?
A car you have just bought needs its own coverage in place before you drive it home; call your insurer with the VIN before signing, not after.
Switching cars soon? Get the new one quoted first so the first mile is covered.
Where this comes from
Get this quoted for your situation
Free quotes from multiple carriers, prepared by a licensed California agent. Two minutes, no obligation.
Get My Free QuoteMore of what callers ask
Am I insured when I drive someone else's car?
Generally the owner's policy covers people driving the car with the owner's permission, because California requires liability policies to include permitted drivers. Check that the car is insured and that you are not excluded by name.
What should I check before driving an unfamiliar car?
Set the seat, mirrors and head restraint, then find the lights, wipers, hazard switch, horn and parking brake, and check the gear selector and fuel. Drive the first minutes somewhere quiet.
Should I take my drive test in a borrowed car?
The DMV advises against borrowing a vehicle for the drive test unless it is necessary, because you need to know where every control is.