Can I drive my girlfriend's car if I'm not on her insurance?
Asked by: Reba Thiel | Last update: March 7, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (16 votes)
Is my girlfriend covered if she drives my car?
Comments Section The insurance travels with the vehicle not the driver. And yes, legal drivers of the vehicle, which includes someone you give permission to, are covered by your insurance.
Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?
Yes, as long as that person is legally licensed to drive. In the USA, most if not all car insurance policies cover the occasional driver who is known by you and for which you give that person permission to drive your car. Be careful if you have a ...
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.
What happens if my girlfriend is driving my car and gets in an accident?
If a friend or girlfriend drives your car and causes an accident, the general rule is that the driver who causes the accident is liable for the damages. If the other driver is at fault, their insurance is usually responsible for covering costs.
Will my insurance cover if my friend gets in an accident with my car
How does insurance work when driving someone else's car?
If you're specifically listed on the car owner's insurance policy, you'll be covered when driving that car – even if it's not your own. If you're not on the owner's policy, applicable coverage will again depend on consent.
What happens if someone borrows my car and gets in an accident?
Vehicle Owners Are Liable Under California Law
This law holds a vehicle's owner responsible for collisions caused by the driver of the vehicle – even if the driver is not the owner. Liability is determined by identifying the actual owner of the vehicle.
What happens if I let someone drive my car and they get in an accident?
Usually, a car insurance policy covers the vehicle itself, not the person driving it, and that means the liability coverage (which is required by California law) should cover the friend. California is an at-fault state, which means the driver responsible for an accident is the one whose insurance will be the primary ...
Can my daughter drive my car if she is not on my insurance?
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. If they're involved in an accident, your auto insurance may pay for the damages and injuries, up to your coverage limits.
How does insurance work if you borrow a car?
Generally, insurance coverage follows the vehicle rather than the driver. So in most instances, as long as the owner of the car has insurance, it's covered even if someone other than the owner is driving it — as long as they have the owner's permission.
Can you let someone who is not on your insurance drive your car?
Permissive use
Most car insurance policies will cover drivers you've listed on the policy, or anyone whom you give permission to drive your car, says Nolo.com. This means your insurance will likely cover another driver in the event of an accident, if they had your permission to drive your vehicle.
What happens if someone who isn't on your insurance crashes your car Progressive?
If an unauthorized driver not on your insurance causes an accident, your liability coverage may not apply. However, with collision insurance, it covers damages to your vehicle if a friend crashes it.
Is a spouse automatically covered under car insurance?
Spouse – Even if the spouse is not specifically named on the insurance policy, most liability insurance will cover the spouse. However, there may be some exceptions, such as if the spouse is specifically excluded or if the spouses no longer reside together.
What happens if you don't add a driver to your insurance?
If someone in your household, who is unknown to your insurance company, gets in an accident, your insurer might rescind or cancel your policy and/or deny your insurance claim because they've been kept in the dark.
Can I let my girlfriend drive my car?
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.
Do I need insurance to drive my wife's car?
For people who live at the same address and share a vehicle or vehicles, your insurance company may just add the driver and/or vehicle(s) to the policy. This covers all vehicles and drivers. If you want to keep separate policies but plan on driving each other's vehicle(s), you'll need to contact each company.
Am I insured to drive another car?
To legally drive a car that is not yours, even if it belongs to friends or a family member, you need insurance. You can get insurance as a named driver on their car insurance policy, take out temporary insurance, or you have your own car insurance policy that includes DOC.
What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident in NY?
NY Car Insurance Follows the Car
In New York, your car insurance coverage includes coverage for other drivers of your vehicle—following the car rather than the driver. This applies to collision, uninsured motorist protection, comprehensive, personal injury protection (PIP), and property damage liability insurance.
Does insurance go up if you add a driver?
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.
What happens if someone not on your insurance gets in an accident?
In most cases, your car insurance covers your vehicle, not you, the owner. So, the good news is, if you give your friend permission to drive your car, and they get into an accident, your insurance will probably cover it.
Who is liable if you let someone borrow your car?
When Someone Else Was Driving. California requires all motorists to carry at least liability insurance on their vehicles. If you have insurance coverage on your car, the licensed driver you let borrow it will also be covered under your policy.
Am I liable for someone driving my car?
Liability for accidents involving another driver operating your car depends on whether the driver had permission to use the vehicle. When it comes to insurance coverage, policies in California typically follow the vehicle, meaning that your policy would cover damages even if someone else was driving your car.
Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance in California?
You can not drive a vehicle in California without insurance, and you or the person you're borrowing from must have insurance to drive legally. Your regular auto insurance policy in Los Angeles tends to follow the car instead of the person who has paid for the insurance. The same applies to when you borrow a car.
Is it okay to let someone drive your car?
Can someone drive my car if they're not on my insurance? Most of the time, as long as you gave a driver permission to borrow your car, it's likely not a problem for them to drive your car, even if they're not on your car insurance policy.
What is permissive use?
Permissive use in an automobile insurance policy means that you give a person—who is not specifically covered by name or as a household member—permission to drive your car. For example, if you allow a friend to borrow your car, that is permissive use. You have given your friend your permission to use your car.