Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance in Canada?
Asked by: Prof. Jennings Hauck II | Last update: July 19, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (21 votes)
Can you drive someone else's car if you don't have insurance Ontario?
Yes, you can drive someone else's car in Ontario. When they lend you their vehicle, they also lend you their insurance coverage.
Can my son drive my car if he is not insured?
If your son has a driver's license, he can still legally operate your car if he has his own insurance, because if he does not have insurance, you become liable for his actions.
What happens if my friend is driving my car and gets in an accident?
Insurance Coverage: Generally, the car owner's insurance policy will cover the damages if someone else is driving their vehicle with permission. This means that the insurance could pay for repairs to the car, medical expenses, and liability for damages to other vehicles or property.
What happens if someone who isn't on your insurance crashes your car in Ontario?
If someone borrows your car and gets into an accident, any damage claims from other parties will be made against your insurance policy. This incident will be recorded on your insurance history and could result in higher premiums.
Can you drive someone else’s car without insurance in Ontario?
Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?
A driver who lives in your household and isn't listed on your auto policy may be denied coverage if they borrow your vehicle and are involved in an accident. Family members who live in your household and drive your vehicle, including a teenager or your significant other, should be listed as drivers on your policy.
Can I drive my friends car in Canada?
As mentioned earlier, auto insurance is associated with the car, not the driver. So, as long as the vehicle is insured, anyone can drive it, as long as the person has permission from the car owner and is legally operating the vehicle.
What happens if you let someone borrow your car and they crash it?
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.
Who is liable if someone else is driving your car?
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 son drive my car if he doesn't live with me?
If your son doesn't live with you but needs to borrow your car, he can do so with your permission. It is known as permissive use, which means that when someone who doesn't live with you gets permission to borrow your car, they are also “borrowing” your auto insurance coverage.
Is it okay to let someone borrow your car?
If they have a current license, a clean record, and a valid insurance policy, you may feel more comfortable lending them your car. Consider the circumstances. Is your friend impaired in any way or unfit to drive? If the answer is “yes,” then your answer to them should be a resounding “no.”
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.
Does my name have to be on the car insurance to drive it?
Borrowing a car from a friend or family member
In many cases, you will be covered by their insurance, even if you are not named as a regular driver on the policy.
What happens if you get pulled over in someone else's car without insurance?
If your friend was pulled over without insurance, they would be the one to receive the ticket. However, if they caused an accident, the other party may be able to come after you AND your friend for damages. This is because you are the owner of the car and required by law, as an owner, to have insurance on the vehicle.
Do both owners of a car need insurance?
If you and another person share vehicle ownership, the name on the vehicle's registration can differ from the insurance policy. However, both drivers should have sufficient coverage on the vehicle. One owner may purchase the policy and then list the other owner as a covered driver.
What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident in Quebec?
If the person borrowing your car gets into an accident, you may or may not be compensated. This depends on the coverage you have on your policy: If the driver isn't at fault, you'll be reimbursed for the damage.
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.
What happens if my friend drives my car and crashes?
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.
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.
How does insurance work if you lend your 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.
Who is responsible if someone else is driving your 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.
What happens if someone drives my car and is not on my insurance in New York?
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.
Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance in Alberta?
In Canada, car insurance usually follows the car, not the driver. This means that if you lend your car to someone with your consent, they can be covered under your insurance policy. However, there are some limitations to keep in mind, and different policies may have specific restrictions.
Who can drive a car in Canada?
Anyone above the age of 16 can drive a car in Canada. However, in addition to meeting this age requirement, drivers in Canada must also: Possess a valid provincially/territorially issued driver's license (more on that later) Carry proper and valid insurance coverage for the vehicle you will drive.
Can my son drive my car if he is not insured in Ontario?
Your child just got their driver's license and they're begging to borrow your car. What do you do next? Whether it's your child, a friend, a family member or someone you live with looking to regularly use your car, they'll need to be insured before putting your car into drive.