Does my car insurance cover me in another car? Am I insured when I drive other cars?
Your type of insurance will determine this. Some insurance coverage follows the driver, while other coverage follows the vehicle. Utilizing a friend’s, a dealership loaner, or a rental car is all covered by liability insurance.
Please read on for more detailed information.
Does Insurance Follow the Car Or the Driver?
Your coverage type will determine this. Usually, insurance moves along with the vehicle. Below we list the two main types of coverage:
- Liability Insurance: Every state, with the exception of New Hampshire, mandates liability insurance. Liability insurance follows the driver, not the car. How Much Does General Liability Insurance Cost?
Remember that temporary use of a car is typically the only coverage provided by liability insurance. Your liability insurance might not provide coverage if you intend to borrow someone else’s vehicle for a long time. Ask the insurer how their particular policy operates if you intend to purchase liability insurance.
- Comprehensive and Collision Insurance: These insurance policies follow the vehicle rather than the driver. If a car borrower is involved in an accident, the owner’s insurance will pay for the damage to the vehicle. To ensure that you are protected in case of injury, the owner must add you to the list of drivers on their policy.
This only applies when using a friend’s or relative’s vehicle. Liability insurance is sufficient if you’re borrowing a car from a rental company or a dealership.
Insurance Follows the Driver If:
- The insurance carrier of the person who lends the car only covers drivers specifically named in the policy.
Normally, in order for a driver to be uninsured, they would need to be specifically excluded from your policy (in which case, it would seem strange to lend your car to someone you have excluded, but that’s beside the point). However, there are some insurance companies that need all drivers to be specifically named/included on a policy if they are to be covered.
However, in most cases, your insurance will protect anyone to whom you’ve granted permission to drive your car, including family members you live with and your dependent children who are away at school.
It’s important to note that insurance companies do typically require that any family members who reside in your home and will be regularly operating your vehicle be specifically named and included as drivers in your policy.
- The borrower’s insurance policy’s maximums have been met.
In the case where the amount needed to repair damage from a collision exceeds your insurance policy’s “limits”—that is, the maximum amount the policy will pay for repairs—then the driver’s coverage policy might have to step in to cover what yours can’t.
Of course, this only applies to situations where the driver’s coverage limits are higher than the car-lender’s coverage limits.
- It’s clear that you didn’t give permission.
If it is obvious that you did not give someone else permission to drive your car and a collision occurs, the driver’s insurance would be liable for paying for coverage. Of course, if your car was stolen and there was a collision, this would be the situation.
- personal injury and medical expenses
Most of the time, any personal injury or medical costs (on the part of the driver) will be covered by the insurance policy of the driver. On the other hand, if the occupants of the car lack personal insurance, your policy might be responsible for paying for their medical bills and other damages.
Non-owner Car Insurance is An Option
If you plan to use someone else’s car often, consider non-owner car insurance. Drivers without their own vehicle are covered by liability insurance under this type of policy. It normally includes bodily injury and property damage liability. Even medical and uninsured motorist coverage are included on occasion.
Ask potential insurers what is covered by their non-owner car policy. Comprehensive, collision, loss of use, and towing coverage are not included in a non-owner policy.
Get a quick quote by contacting Progressive right away. You can learn more and discover what suits you best.
FAQs
What Happens If Someone Else is Driving My Car and Gets in An Accident in Texas?
If another driver caused a recent accident with you, they are responsible for all resulting damages. You can make a claim against their auto insurance policy to get reimbursed for all financial losses you sustained, as well as to get paid for any pain and suffering the defendant caused you.
What is the Penalty for Driving Someone Else’s Car?
If the case goes to court you could get an unlimited fine or be disqualified from driving. The vehicle that is being driven without insurance may also be seized by the police and, in some circumstances, destroyed. For allowing someone without insurance to operate their vehicle, the owner would also be prosecuted.
How Do You Claim on Someone Else’s Car Insurance?
To make a claim, get a form from your insurer or write to the other driver or their insurer, giving details of the accident and the other driver’s policy number.
Summary: Does My Car Insurance Cover Me in Another Car?
Generally speaking, auto insurance follows the car instead of the driver. Follows the car, i.e., if you lend a friend your car and they get into an accident, your insurance would pay for it, and if you borrow a friend’s car and you get into an accident, your friend’s insurance would pay for it.
According to the circumstance and the kind of insurance coverage, there may be exceptions to this rule.
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