Does car insurance follow the car or the driver?

Asked by: Mavis Sipes  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (16 votes)

Contrary to popular belief, car insurance typically follows the car — not the driver. 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.

Can someone not on your insurance drive your car?

Can someone else drive my car if they aren't on my insurance? A person can legally drive your car if they are a named driver on your policy. It's easy to add a named driver to your policy. ... If they are not a named driver on your insurance then the policy will provide no cover if they are driving.

Does my car insurance cover me if I'm driving someone else's car?

Does My Car Insurance Cover Me When Driving Another Vehicle? 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. ... Borrowing a friend's or family member's car with permission while yours is being repaired.

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.

Does your insurance go up when you add a driver?

You can expect your auto insurance premiums to change if you add a driver to your policy. The change might not be an increase in your rates. In fact, it might bring your premiums down significantly, depending on the primary and secondary drivers on your policy.

Does auto insurance follow the car or the driver?

43 related questions found

What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident without insurance?

Driving without insurance is against the law. ... The car owner may even be charged for allowing their car to be used by an uninsured driver. If you've caused damage to another vehicle or property, the other driver may take legal action to recover damages from you.

Does car insurance follow the car or the driver Geico?

In California, insurance typically follows the car, however not all cases are the same. If you're planning to lend your car to a family member or friend, or borrow one from someone else, remember that it's wise to review both of your insurance policies first.

How does insurance work if someone borrows your car?

Your auto insurance policy is responsible for your car when someone else driving it is involved in an accident. ... If a friend borrows your car and causes an accident, your insurance policy pays for any at-fault damages. A rule of thumb to remember in this situation is “car insurance follows the car, not the driver.”

Can I drive my girlfriends car?

Some drivers will be covered under your policy as long as you have given them permission to drive your car. This is considered "permissive use." These drivers may include immediate or extended family, friends, or even a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn't live with you.

Can someone else be the main driver on my car?

Car insurance fronting – where someone declares themselves as the main driver of a car even though it will be someone else – is illegal.

Can my son drive my car?

Can I get insurance for anyone to drive my car? An any driver insurance policy allows anyone to drive your car at any time. 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.

What happens if my son crashes my car?

If someone else is driving your car and another person causes the accident, the at-fault driver's insurance is usually responsible for covering costs. On the other hand, if the driver of your car is at fault, your car insurance will usually cover damages.

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.

What happens if someone drives your car and they get in an accident Geico?

The good news is that your car insurance company will likely pay to repair your car if it's involved in an accident while someone else drives your car. ... Your insurance policy may not cover the car damage, if the person driving your car is listed as an excluded driver on your car insurance policy.

Do speed cameras check insurance?

A new study has found that 90 per cent of motorists want speed cameras to check for vehicle tax, insurance and whether they have a valid MOT. ... If speed camera partnerships are issuing speeding tickets they should also follow up on a wider range of offences and this is backed by the vast majority of drivers.

Does a named driver have to live with you?

Does a named driver have to live at the same address as the main driver? No, someone does not have to live at the same address as you to be added as a named driver to your policy.

Can I be on my parents car insurance if I don't live with them?

If you or your spouse owns a vehicle, you can decide to insure the vehicle on your own car insurance policy or on your parents' policy. All drivers that share the same permanent residence should be listed on each policy. If you're married and don't live with your parents, you'll need your own policy.

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.

Should I put car in child's name?

Register the car in your child's name.

Generally and statistically speaking, college students are more likely than other types of drivers to get into car accidents. Recognizing this, insurance carriers may very well charge more to insure your son or daughter.

Do I need my own car insurance to be a named driver?

Being listed as a named driver on someone else's policy does not affect your own car insurance if you are involved in a road traffic accident. If you were to have a car accident while driving another person's car as a named driver, you would need to claim on the main driver's insurance policy.

Does fully comp mean I can drive any car?

You can get a type of insurance that means anyone can drive your car at a time - friends or family, or anyone with your permission, will be legally insured to drive it. That doesn't mean you can drive anyone else's car though, necessarily, unless they have cover too.

Does having a named driver lower insurance?

How much does car insurance cost with a named driver? Adding a named driver often makes the premiums cheaper because it's assumed you'll spend less time driving, since the car is shared. This reduces your probability of having an accident and making a claim, which is reflected in cheaper car insurance quotes.

Does it matter who is the main driver on car insurance?

The main driver (or vehicle policyholder) is the person who drives the vehicle most often and earns no claims discount. They do not need to be the principle policyholder but they must live at the same address as them.

Is it illegal to be a named driver on your own car?

In an attempt to reduce premiums, some people falsely claim that a more experienced driver is the main driver of the vehicle they own, and add themselves as a named driver. But this scheme, known as 'fronting', is a type of fraud and illegal.

How do insurance companies find out about fronting?

Fronting will most likely be discovered when a claim is made. If it is the named driver who is involved in a collision, for example, an insurance provider may launch an investigation. ... If the courts become involved, the policyholder may also be charged with fraud.