Operated a car (5)
I believe the answer is:
drove
'operated a car' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for drove that I've seen before include "Flock of animals being driven" , "Carried along by force" , "Went by car" , "acted like Mr Toad" , "Travelled by car" .)