Mandatory car insurance is a pretty hateful concept a form of prior restraint that says, in effect, because you may cause injury you must be insured against the possibility. One common question that tends to come up is whether your auto insurance covers you, the driver, no matter what vehicle youre driving. What are the legalities of a insured car but the driver is not insured. To give an example of how a listed driver is not covered, lets say that henry and mary are living together unmarried. Sep 21, 2018 some car insurance companies also offer broad form insurance that insures the driver and not the car. So if you lend your car to a friend or a visiting relative, you could. Whether or not they live in a different state, the other driver should be doing the same. Even if youve had car insurance for years, figuring out when you are and arent covered by your auto insurance can still be a tricky business. This is no more apparent than if a married couple has two cars, one registered to the husband, another to the wife. Jan 16, 2019 when an uninsured driver is hit by an insured driver they may still face some consequences for their lack of insurance. Dec 16, 20 typically, car insurance providers require that to be listed on a policy that the person lives in your residence and that the car being insured is parked at your address at the end of the day.
Aug 10, 2016 an additional driver will only be covered under the car they are listed as. Insurance might not cover other drivers who regularly drive the vehicle, as the insurance company might think the person should be listed on. The worst case is theres an accident that is not the driver s fault but the insurance doesnt pay. Contrary to popular belief, car insurance typically follows the car not the driver. If you want all drivers to be covered, ask your auto insurance company and get the specific policy you want.
If youre planning on driving a car that you dont own and that youre not insured to drive, its. If youve been reading our blog for some time, youve probably had the opportunity to learn a great deal about auto insurance. Can i drive a car if my name is not on the insurance policy. Henry owns the households only car and is the only named insured. What does it mean that my car is insured, but not the driver. So as long as the vehicle is insured, you will not get a citation here for not having insurance.
Mar 09, 2017 turning to your insurance question, the fact that the car you were driving was not insured raises the question whether proposition 2 applies. If the driver is not stated to be excluded, your car insurance would be. Unless a driver is specifically excluded from a policy, the driver will be covered and the policy should. Liability insurance coverage on a personal auto policy follows the driver no matter whose vehicle is being operated, provided it is an eligible. Is it legal for someone to drive my car who is not on my insurance policy. When this happens, it is always a question of if the other driver will be covered by the auto insurance the insured has. Does automobile insurance follow the car or the driver.
The liability uninsured motorist and med pay elements of the policy dont just cover your car, but you personally. What this means is, your auto insurance policy will cover whoever drives your vehicle, as long as the driver has your permission, and is not excluded from the policys covered drivers list. In most instances, it is preferable to put the claim in through the employer, but if they are not insured a claim would be put in against the driver. Kylie then drivers kims car into kendalls car, causing her minor injury and property damage. And, if you borrow the car often but arent on the owners policy, the owners insurance company may cry foul. Whether or not auto insurance follows the car or the driver is a common question and also a commonly misunderstood scenario lets say youve done your.
The one time you can be certain you dont have coverage is when an excluded driver drives your car. There are not enough specifics to accurately answer this question. Even though policyholders are encouraged to add all drivers who have access to their. The answer to whether car insurance covers the driver or the car is not black and white because there are parts of your car insurance policy that do follow you when you are driving someone. What this means is, your auto insurance policy will cover whoever drives your vehicle, as long as the driver has your permission, and is not excluded from the policys. The right question to be asking is not whether insurance follows the car or the driver, but whether or not other drivers will be covered by the insureds auto insurance. Generally, its not a problem if theyre driving with your consent, says jeanne. For example, coverage rules and regulations may be different if the driver lives in. The term named insured is frequently used in insurance. So if you lend your car to a friend or a visiting relative, you could be liable if an accident occurs. So if you lend your car to your best friend, your sister or even your second cousin, your insurance is most often the insurance that will pay in the event of an accident.
You may have hopped behind the wheel of a friends vehicle without much thought, and though it may not seem like a. Being a named insured or a listed driver filer insurance. If you and a friend own a vehicle together but do not live at the same address, you may have trouble obtaining an auto insurance policy. The drivers policy is then put to the test, which it may fail if. If you and a friend own a vehicle together but do not live at the same address, you may have. If you dont own a car but your highrisk driver profile requires you to file a proofofinsurance certificate with your state such as an sr22 or fr44 a nonowner. Insured driver driving insured car liability is covered if the driver was given permission to drive the car. Find out who is insured to drive a car on your car insurance policy. But generally speaking, if someone is in a car, accident in your car, your insurance will take care of the property damage to your car, and his insurance will take care of any of. When an uninsured driver causes injuries to another person, the driver will not be able to call upon the auto.
How does car insurance work for drivers not on your policy. Mar 28, 2017 an uninsured driver is usually covered by your auto insurance while shes behind the wheel of your car because insurance follows the vehicle. In most states, if there is an unsatisfied judgment arising from an automobile accident, the atfault driver will not be able to renew his driver s license until the judgment is paid. This means that if you loan out your car to driver who is not excluded on your policy see. When another driver has an accident in your car dmv. Whether or not auto insurance follows the car or the driver is a common question and also a commonly misunderstood scenario lets say youve done your homework and found a good insurance rate for a good policy from a good insurance carrier. Like comprehensive policies, collision insurance covers your car as long as a permissive driver is operating it source.
Mar 15, 2019 even if youve had car insurance for years, figuring out when you are and arent covered by your auto insurance can still be a tricky business. These factors include if the insured has permission, if the car is a rental, or if the car is a loaner from a dealership. The other driver will not cooperate with the insurance. Jan 10, 2019 the answer to whether car insurance covers the driver or the car is not black and white because there are parts of your car insurance policy that do follow you when you are driving someone elses car. As said before, the car will likely be insured, but the driver may not. Even if your friend has great coverage with the highest limits and the lowest deductibles, your auto insurance would have to cover the. This may be due to a technicality or clause but the end result is you dont have a car. If youre planning on driving a car that you dont own and that youre not insured to drive, its important that you verify that you have coverage in the form of an automatic coverage extension. Ok so the driver is not on the policy and is not on a policy of there own. Your car is usually covered by your insurance if the person who borrows it does so with your permission. Contrary to popular belief, in case of an accident, car insurance follows the car not the driver. You typically will not be able to add a nonrelated driver who does not live in your home to your insurance policy. Its a common misconception that car insurance follows the driver.
If youve excluded a driver from your auto insurance policy, e. Typically, car insurance providers require that to be listed on a policy that the person lives in your residence and that the car being insured is parked at your address at the end of the day. Your insurance agent can help you determine the best way to handle this situation. Liability policies cover named insureds no matter what car they are driving. Many auto insurance companies allow multiple drivers for a vehicle, but to get the best rates when applying for auto insurance online, be sure to know the driving history and personal information of any other drivers you want on the policy. Mar 19, 2020 a named insured has all the control of the insurance policy whereas anyone listed as a driver or not listed on the policy does not. Can i add my child to my car insurance if she doesnt live. Its worth noting that not every state allows this, and these policies are uncommon. That permission can be either written, verbal or implied, but it must exist. Does the insurance policy follow the car or the driver. Oct 23, 2014 whether the above scenario describes your car accident or if even the exact opposite is true the driver s insured but the car isnt the bottom line is that there is no question that our attorneys field more frequently than the questions of whose coverage applies.
Liability coverage under auto policies follows driver, not car. When you drive someone elses car, the owners auto insurance policy should. The insured drivers insurance may cover liability but will not cover repairs. If they do not live in the same house as you, and your policy is a permissive use policy, then they would be covered. Can someone not on my insurance policy drive my car. In most states it is a criminal offense to drive without having your car properly insured. Jul 31, 2017 to give an example of how a listed driver is not covered, lets say that henry and mary are living together unmarried. Mary is a regular driver and henry, being responsible, adds her as a listed driver to his policy. A driver who has insufficient insurance coverage, but has personal assets that might be recovered following an accident, puts those personal assets at risk. A thief driving an automobile is not insured, but when the boss loans the car to the employee or dad loans his car to his daughters boyfriend, the permissive drivers are covered.
If your state has an insurance requirement, or if you are. If you dont take the time to research how your insurance works, borrowing a friends car can result in disaster. If you dont own a car but your highrisk driver profile requires you to file a proofofinsurance certificate with your state such as an sr22 or fr44 a nonowner policy can fulfill the liability coverage requirement you need to keep your drivers license. However, not all nonowner policies extend coverage to rental. Turning to your insurance question, the fact that the car you were driving was not insured raises the question whether proposition 2 applies. If your state has an insurance requirement, or if you are unable to comply with the insurance alternatives, you can still file a claim against an insured driver. Usually, yes your car insurance coverage should extend to anyone else driving your car. Aug 07, 2014 2 weeks ago,a non licensed driver,in a commercial vehicle ran right into the back of me,tore my car up,he called his dad,who was the insured,we did a police report, and his insurance company wont do anything until they here from him,he hasnt reported the accident nor returned any calls.
Most people assume that a comprehensive policy means yes. One common question that tends to come up is whether your auto insurance covers you, the driver, no matter what vehicle youre driving, or whether it sticks with the car or cars listed on the policy, even when someone else is driving them. You should know whether any drivers are excluded from your policy. Generally, permissive drivers of the vehicle are insured unless the contract language specifically excludes that particular driver. Is it illegal to drive an insured car if im not insured. The term named insured is frequently used in insurance paperwork. A named insured has all the control of the insurance policy whereas anyone listed as a driver or not listed on the policy does not.
If someone borrows your car without your permission, that driver might not be insured. Apr 19, 2020 a driver is excluded when the insured person signs documentation stating they understand the driver will be excluded from coverage on a particular car insurance policy. If you are ever unsure about your car insurance policy. Hit by an uninsured driver in an insured car page 1. Now, lets look specifically at how liability, comprehensive and collision. A driver is excluded when the insured person signs documentation stating they understand. Each factor depends on the circumstances and the insurance law of the.
Jun 05, 2014 the right question to be asking is not whether insurance follows the car or the driver, but whether or not other drivers will be covered by the insureds auto insurance. Unfortunately, there is no bright line answer to the question, and it depends greatly on the language of the policies involved, the jurisdiction you are concerned with, and. Some car insurance companies also offer broad form insurance that insures the driver and not the car. If you let someone else drive your car and they get in an accident, your insurance. This means that regardless of the driver, an insured vehicle will cover the driver as long as the policy does not expressly exclude a nonowner driver from coverage. Insuring the driver not the vehicles libertarian car talk. If you have the right car the driver is uninsured then the insurer should be article 75 insurer, i. The main driver of a car, the address of the driver and the location where the car is kept at night make a difference to car insurance companies because. Understanding what a named insured is will help you know your entire insurance policy better. Hit by an uninsured driver in an insured car page 1 speed.