Can I drive my friend's car if I'm fully comp?

Asked by: Forest Will  |  Last update: November 19, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (14 votes)

Even those with comprehensive cover may not be insured to drive any car. As always, if you're unsure about what your policy does or doesn't cover, check your certificate of insurance (which will state whether you have DOC cover) – or contact your insurance provider directly.

Can a friend borrow my car and be insured?

For the most part, insurance follows the vehicle. You cannot insure something you don't own. You wouldn't be able to insure the vehicle and if something happened, you wouldn't be able to compel your insurance to cover it over your friend's.

Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance Geico?

Some states require the car owner's insurance to cover any accidental damage, so if they're not insured or don't have the right coverage, as the driver you may end up being liable.

What are the disadvantages of fully comprehensive car insurance?

There are downsides. If you are in an accident, comprehensive insurance won't pay for the damage: collision coverage does. Comprehensive insurance may also be expensive if you are purchasing it along with collision insurance.

Do I have to add someone to my insurance for them to drive my car?

Do You Need to Add Someone Who Occasionally Uses Your Vehicle to Your Policy? Adding someone who occasionally uses your vehicle to your policy is optional. However, if someone occasionally uses your vehicle and lives with you, you may not have coverage for any accidents they have.

Can my friend drive my car

23 related questions found

Can my son drive my car if he is not insured?

Most insurers cover someone else driving the policyholder's car with their permission once in a while. But, if you're going to start driving one of your parent's cars regularly, you'll need to be added or named on their auto insurance. You can't legally drive your parents' car without any insurance at all, either.

What happens if a driver is not listed on an insurance policy?

You regularly allow a family member or friend to drive your car, but they aren't named on your auto policy. If this person gets in an accident while driving your car, your insurance company will likely deny your claim, leaving you liable for the damages.

When to drop full coverage on a car?

You should think about dropping your full coverage insurance policy if:
  1. You drive a high-mileage car. ...
  2. You struggle to fit the cost of auto insurance in your budget. ...
  3. Your car is worth less than the cost of your full-coverage policy. ...
  4. You have relatively high risk tolerance. ...
  5. You rarely drive.

Does Dave Ramsey recommend full coverage car insurance?

Dave usually recommends full coverage for car insurance, which includes both comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. These are often purchased together since they provide similar protections, but are actually distinct coverages.

How much will a comprehensive claim raise my insurance?

By State. You can expect the most elevated car insurance rates post-accident in California, where the average increase is more than 74 percent. Increases are less than 25 percent in Rhode Island, in contrast.

Does it cost more to add a driver to your insurance?

Typically, adding drivers to your policy can increase your premium. For example, there is a reason adding a teenage or newly licensed driver to an auto policy can result in an increase in insurance premiums.

Should you let other people drive your car?

If your friend or family member asks to borrow your vehicle, make sure they're fit to drive. You should never permit an unlicensed driver to drive your car, and you should never allow a person who is intoxicated or has a history of reckless driving to borrow your vehicle either.

What happens if I don't add my teenager to my car insurance?

Failing to add your teenager to your auto insurance can lead to coverage denial, legal penalties and policy cancellation. Lack of driving experience and perceived higher risk contribute to higher car premiums for teen drivers.

What happens if my friend drives my car?

If your friend or any family members get into an accident while behind the wheel of your vehicle, liability will also take into account whether or not they had driver's permission. California's laws on insurance coverage mean that the car insurance will follow the vehicle, no matter who is driving it.

Can I drive my boyfriend's car if I'm not on his insurance?

While there are exceptions, car insurance generally follows the car and not the driver. Allowing another licensed driver to borrow your vehicle is known as "permissive use," which means you give someone, who isn't listed on your car insurance policy, permission to operate your vehicle.

Does auto insurance follow the car or driver?

The Insurance Policy Follows the Car and Not the Driver

Under California law, in most instances, the insurance policy attaches to the car itself. If someone was driving your car, it would be your insurance policy that paid for the damages. However, that does not mean that you should assume that the driver is covered.

At what point is full coverage not worth it?

Paying for comprehensive and collision — the coverages that many people mean when they say "full coverage" — may not be worth it if your car's value is minimal and your policy includes a high deductible. Usually, you have to have comprehensive and collision on a financed car because most lenders require it.

What insurance does Suze Orman recommend?

One of my key life insurance rules is this: Stick with term life insurance. Unless you have someone in your family with special needs, there is typically no need to buy whole life, or universal life, which are referred to as “permanent” policies and cost a lot more.

What are the disadvantages of having full coverage car insurance?

The only real disadvantage of “full coverage” car insurance is the possibility that you may be paying for more car insurance than you need, given your vehicle's value and your financial situation.

What happens if I crash my car with full coverage?

Assuming you're covered, your insurer will send a payment to your lender for the actual cash value of the car, minus any deductible. Make sure you give your lender's contact information and the account number to your agent or insurance company.

At what point is car insurance not worth it?

You should hold on to full-coverage auto insurance until your annual premium meets or exceeds the estimated payout if your car needs to be repaired or replaced. If your car is five or six years old, the payout for replacement probably isn't worth what you pay in premiums.

At what age should your car insurance go down?

Experienced drivers are less likely to have accident claims, which means they cost less to insure. At Progressive, the average premium per driver tends to decrease significantly from 19-34 and then stabilize or decrease slightly from 34-75. At age 75, the average premium begins trending upward.

Can I lend my car to a friend?

Your insurance becomes the primary coverage when lending the car to family members or friends. Even if the person borrowing your car has the best coverage available, your insurance covers your vehicle. However, the borrower's insurance might provide backup coverage in certain situations.

Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?

Usually, yes. Your car insurance coverage should be able to extend to anyone else driving your car. Even if someone isn't listed on the policy, they can operate your vehicle. If you explicitly name someone as an excluded driver in your policy, however, none of this applies to them.

Can my daughter drive my car on my insurance?

Most insurers allow permissive use, so your child can drive your car occasionally with permission, even if they aren't on your policy. If your child lives with you and drives your car regularly, they may need to be added to your policy to ensure coverage.