Can other people drive my car?

Asked by: Dr. Avis Hirthe IV  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.6/5 (5 votes)

Usually, yes — your car insurance coverage should extend to anyone else driving your car. ... 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.

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

If a friend or a family member has an accident and isn't insured, then you will have to use your insurance. Unless you have expressly denied that driver permission to use your vehicle.

What happens when you let someone else drive your car?

If you let someone else drive your car and they get in an accident, your insurance company would likely be responsible for paying the claim, depending on the coverages in your policy. The claim would go on your insurance record and could affect your car insurance rates in the future.

Can someone else drive my car without me?

Non-Permissive Use and Excluded Drivers

If someone borrows your car without your permission and causes an accident, then they would be liable for the damage. ... This means that if that person drives your car, your insurance will not cover any damage that takes place.

How does insurance work driving someone else's car?

Generally speaking, auto insurance follows the car instead of the driver. Follows the car, meaning: if you lend your friend your car and your friend gets into a collision, your insurance would cover it, and if your friend lends you their car and you get into a collision, your friend's insurance would cover it.

Can I be Responsible if I Let Someone Drive My Car? | Southern California Personal Injury Lawyer

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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.

Can my friend drive my car with me in it?

Usually, yes — your car insurance coverage should extend to anyone else driving your car. ... 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.

Can my son drive my car if he doesn't live with me?

Your child likely won't be able to be on your auto policy any longer because he or she doesn't live in your household. ... If you're the parent who isn't listing the child on your car insurance, your child can still drive your car and be covered by your insurance. It works just as if you had a friend borrow your car.

Can I sue my friend for crashing my car?

You can sue someone for a minor car accident, but generally, the criteria for a successful lawsuit are as follows: The other party owed it to you to drive safely. ... Their unsafe driving caused your accident. You suffered injuries and financial losses.

Are you liable if someone has an accident in your car?

How Your Primary Coverage Works. The bottom line is that when someone to whom you have loaned your car causes an accident that injures another person or damages someone's property, you are liable, and your insurance will be the first in line to cover their costs.

What happens if my friend borrowed my car and gets in an accident?

If you let a friend borrow your car and he or she causes an accident, your auto insurer would be responsible for paying for damages to the other driver and his or her passengers, up to the limits of your policy. If damages exceed your policy limits, your friend's insurance would act as secondary coverage.

What happens if I crash my girlfriends car?

Your collision insurance will pay for the damages to your own vehicle if your friend crashes your car, if you have that coverage on your policy, as collision is optional. ... So, if your friend is in a serious accident, the damages may go beyond your limits and that is where it gets interesting.

What happens if I crash a friend's car?

Car Insurance Normally Follows the Vehicle, Not the Driver

Your friend's insurance normally wouldn't cover damage from a crash when they're driving someone else's vehicle. Your insurance generally pays for the friend's crash, as long as your friend is a licensed driver and doesn't regularly borrow your car.

Can you add someone to car insurance temporarily?

You should be able to add a second driver to your insurance policy temporarily, but you may not need to do so. That's because most car insurance policies cover anyone you let use your vehicle--up to a point. This is called permissive use.

Can I be on my parents car insurance if I live at a different address?

Yes. You can stay on your parents' car insurance if you move out, as long as: You're away at school and still list your parents' home address as your primary residence. ... You're living in another house your parents rent or own.

Can I drive my mums car?

There's no limit to how many people can drive the car, so any friends or family, who have your permission, are legally insured to drive it. This type of car insurance is far less common, as most people only have one, or a few, named drivers added to their existing policy.

Can I lend my car to a friend long term?

If you have a regular long-term arrangement to either borrow or lend a car, the borrower should probably be added to the owner's personal auto policy. ... Ultimately, it's usually safe to loan your friend your car for occasional errands or projects. And the same goes for borrowing a car.

Can I drive my dads car?

Can I drive my parents' car without insurance? ... You must be properly insured if you drive on the public road, no matter how short the distance, even if your parents have given their permission for you to drive the car, and even if they have their own insurance policy covering the vehicle.

What should I do if I hit someone's car?

Many people panic when they hit a parked car, wondering what they should do. Don't worry, you're not alone.
...
  1. Stay calm and breathe. First, stop your car and take a breath. ...
  2. Don't hit and run. ...
  3. Leave a note. ...
  4. Report it to police. ...
  5. Take photos and video. ...
  6. Talk to witnesses. ...
  7. Call your insurance company. ...
  8. Consult an attorney.

What do I do if I damage someone else's car?

Notify your agent and/or your insurance company immediately. If anyone is injured or the vehicle damage exceeds $750.00, you must report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. Failure to notify the DMV may result in the suspension of your driver's license.

Will my insurance go up if someone hits me?

Naturally, most injured victims that contact our firm want to know about the financial consequences of the collision. A common question that potential clients ask us when they call is whether their car insurance rates will increase as a result of the collision – even if they weren't at fault. The answer: no.

Who is liable if I loan my car to a friend?

In California, vehicle owners are generally responsible for damages if they allow friends or relatives to borrow their vehicle. ... That means it will not cover damages the excluded driver causes. Whether you are liable for damages depends on the situation and should be discussed with a licensed attorney.

Is it OK to borrow a friend's car?

Ultimately, it's usually safe to loan your friend your car for occasional errands or projects. And the same goes for borrowing a car. Just make sure it's for “normal” use. You'll want to confirm that the car has coverage and that your insurance, whether you're the owner or borrower, will apply.

Should I let my boyfriend use my car?

“You can let your boyfriend drive your car on occasion. As long as he has your permission to drive your car, your car insurance will likely cover him. ... So be careful and make sure your boyfriend can be trusted with your car. “

Do I need to tell my car insurance if someone hits me?

Yes, you need to declare all accidents that you're involved in, regardless of who, or what, was at fault. Pretty much all insurance providers will have a clause in their policy requiring you to declare any incidences you're involved in while driving in the past 5 years.