Does auto insurance cover someone else driving my car?

If you lend your car to a relative or friend, you may wonder what will happen if they’re in an accident. In most cases, the insurance you have on your vehicle will cover an accident, but there are some exceptions.

Insurance typically follows the vehicle, so your coverage will probably cover an incident. However, if the person driving your car has insurance, that coverage can function as secondary or supplemental insurance when necessary.

In some instances, like if someone routinely borrows your vehicle, your insurance may not cover the individual driving. If that’s the case, the person driving may need to purchase a non-owner car insurance policy to ensure they have coverage in the event of an accident. 

Does my car insurance cover other drivers?

In most instances, the car insurance you have on your vehicle will cover someone else driving your car. This is because car insurance typically follows the vehicle, which means anyone driving your car should have coverage under your auto insurance policy. 

If someone else is driving your car and gets into an accident, your insurance coverage could help in multiple ways:

• Liability coverage. Your liability insurance covers damage you cause to other vehicles or property as well as injuries you cause to other individuals. Because auto insurance typically covers the vehicle, your liability insurance should cover the person driving your vehicle.
• Collision insurance. If you have collision coverage, this insurance will help to pay for damage caused to your vehicle during an accident. You will have to pay your deductible for collision coverage to kick in, but it could help you save hundreds or thousands of dollars.
• Medical payments or personal injury protection. Medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP) coverage help with medical bills associated with an accident. If the person driving your car sustained injuries in an accident, your PIP or MedPay coverage could help pay for medical bills like visits to the doctor or hospital stays. 

While your insurance covers other drivers in most cases, you should familiarize yourself with any exceptions to this rule.

Will my car insurance always cover another driver?

Depending on your specific car insurance policy, you may find that not everyone is covered under your insurance if they are driving your vehicle.

Many insurance companies require people living in the home with you to be added to your auto insurance policy if they plan to drive your vehicle. So, if you have a roommate or family member who lives in your home and drives your vehicle regularly, that person may not be covered if they’re in an accident.

Anyone who constantly drives your vehicle for any reason must either add themselves to your policy or purchase a non-owner car insurance option. Non-owner coverage is often cheaper than an auto policy on a specific vehicle. This coverage can help if the person is in an accident while driving your vehicle. 

If someone is driving your car and is in an accident, but the accident is another driver’s fault, your insurance may not come into play. In this scenario, the at-fault party is responsible for paying for repairs to your vehicle. Find out more about who is covered under your auto insurance.

Remember, too, that laws for car insurance vary depending on where you live. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s laws concerning auto insurance coverage to ensure you aren’t surprised in the future. 

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Does auto insurance follow the car or the driver?

Auto insurance typically follows the vehicle first, but policies technically follow both the car and the driver.

If you are driving someone else’s vehicle, that person’s insurance coverage will help first if you’re in a car accident and cause damage to someone else or their vehicle. But, if you also have an auto insurance policy on your vehicle, that policy can help as a secondary option if the first auto insurance policy’s limits are not enough to pay for everything.

The most common types of auto insurance that transfer into an auto insurance policy are liability coverage, collision coverage, and medical payments or personal injury protection.

If someone else crashes my car, whose insurance kicks in?

The first policy to work if someone else is driving your vehicle and gets into an accident is yours. Next, that individual’s auto insurance will kick in as a secondary policy. Lastly, if the driver is on another relative’s auto insurance policy, that policy can help in some scenarios when necessary.

Most auto insurance policies will pay out up to their limit before using a secondary policy. So, if your insurance has $20,000 in bodily injury liability but you need $23,000, the remaining $3,000 could come from the driver’s policy once yours paid what it could.

How do my car insurance coverages protect someone else driving my car?

In most cases, all of your auto insurance coverage will transfer to another person driving your vehicle. If you have a full coverage policy, your full coverage covers another driver. Because your car insurance covers other drivers, whatever coverage you have on your policy has the potential to help.

Liability, collision, and PIP or MedPay are the most common coverages that transfer, but you may find that other coverages help in different scenarios, such as:

• Roadside assistance. If a friend is stranded while driving your car, your coverage should help that individual get flat tire services, fuel services, lockout services, or a tow.
• Rental car reimbursement. If your friend wrecks your vehicle, you should still get reimbursement for rental cars. 
• GAP insurance. GAP coverage should still apply if your friend wrecks and totals your vehicle and your lease or loan amount is higher than the actual cash value of your vehicle. 
• Comprehensive coverage. Your comprehensive coverage should help if your friend or relative parks your vehicle and it sustains damage by something like wild animals or inclement weather.

It’s important to note that PIP and MedPay coverage laws typically vary by state. So if you and your friend both carry PIP or MedPay coverage and your friend wrecks your vehicle, it may depend on where you live as to whose coverage helps first.

Are there times when my car insurance won’t cover other drivers?

Sometimes, your car insurance will not cover someone else driving your vehicle. The most common scenario in which someone would not have coverage under your auto insurance policy is if they are a “named excluded” driver. For example, if a named excluded driver is driving your car and gets into an accident, your insurance policy will not help pay for the damages. 

What is a “named excluded” driver?

A “named excluded” driver is someone you’ve said cannot drive your vehicle. You will often exclude someone by name on your policy if they live with you but are considered a high-risk driver. Adding this person to your policy could increase your rates, so you may want to exclude them altogether. 

If you exclude a person from your policy and that individual drives your vehicle, they are driving without your permission. Anyone who gets into an accident in this scenario would be responsible for paying for damages to your vehicle or someone else’s out of their pocket.

Some states do not allow you to exclude a person from your auto insurance policy. These states include:

• New York
• Kansas
• Michigan
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

If you live in one of the states listed above, your rules on policy exclusions may differ. Speak with a company representative to learn more. 

Can my insurance company exclude someone from my policy without telling me?

Your insurance company should tell you if they exclude specific people from your policy, but you may have to know where to find it.

Some insurance companies require adding people under the same roof to your auto insurance. Those people may automatically be excluded from your policy if you choose not to. You can check your policy to see if it has specific exclusions.

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What’s the difference between permissive and non-permissive use?

Permissive use is the use of your vehicle based on your permission. Most car insurance companies will cover any permissive use of your vehicle. Non-permissive use occurs when someone drives your vehicle without your consent.

If a friend borrows your vehicle without asking, or if someone steals your car, your insurance will likely not cover any accidents. Still, you may have to file a claim with your insurance company if you need your collision coverage to pay for repairs to your vehicle. Find out whether you can drive a car if your name is not on the insurance.

Can I borrow someone’s car without insurance?

If you do not have insurance, you can borrow someone’s car if that policy offers you coverage as a permissive driver. However, if you are excluded from someone’s car insurance policy but decide to drive their vehicle and end up in an accident, you could be personally liable for any damages.

Anyone who regularly borrows someone else’s vehicle should invest in a non-owner car insurance policy. Non-owner insurance typically provides liability coverage if you’re in an accident while driving someone’s vehicle. Find out if you need car insurance to drive someone else’s car.

Can the other driver’s car insurance become involved?

Yes, another driver’s car insurance can be involved if they get in an accident in your vehicle. The most common scenario would be if your insurance did not cover the extent of the damages or if the driver was excluded from your policy.

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Does car insurance cover damage if someone steals your car?

If someone steals your vehicle and then damages it, the damage will be covered if you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle. 

Comprehensive coverage helps with things like theft, vandalism, inclement weather, and wild animals. If you do not have comprehensive coverage, you may have to pay for damage to your car out of pocket. 

Car Insurance and Other Drivers: The Bottom Line

Most car insurance policies follow the vehicle. So, if someone borrows your car and is in an accident, your auto insurance may be the primary policy for paying for repairs and medical bills.

Still, state laws vary regarding how auto insurance works when someone borrows your car. Therefore, you should check your insurance policy before letting anyone borrow your vehicle and purchase non-owner auto insurance coverage if you regularly borrow someone else’s car. 

As you search for proper coverage, compare quotes from multiple companies in your area. Doing so will help you avoid paying too much for car insurance. 

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