Does liability insurance cover the car or the driver?

Asked by: Dr. Halie Blanda DVM  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (57 votes)

Generally, car insurance follows the car. That means if someone borrows your car and is at fault for an accident, your policy's liability coverage will cover them. There are instances when car insurance follows the driver, like when you rent a car.

Does liability follow driver or car?

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 liability insurance cover the driver?

Auto liability insurance coverage helps cover the costs of the other driver's property and bodily injuries if you're found at fault in an accident. ... If you have liability insurance, your insurance provider will cover costs for the driver's damaged car, minus your deductible, and up to your covered limit.

What does liability cover on a car?

Liability coverage pays for property damage and/or injuries to another person caused by an accident in which you're at fault. This coverage is required by most states to legally drive your vehicle. Liability coverage is broken down into 2 parts: property damage and bodily injury.

What is Liability Car Insurance?

45 related questions found

What type of insurance pays for your car if you are not at fault?

A deductible is commonly required with collision coverage, which is coverage that would protect you in an accident that's not your fault. You'd also pay a deductible with comprehensive coverage and sometimes with uninsured or underinsured coverage.

How does insurance work when 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 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.

Do you need insurance to drive someone else's car?

You do not need your own car insurance policy to drive someone else's car every once in a while. However, if you frequently drive someone else's car, you might want to consider getting non-owner car insurance.

Does car insurance cover other cars?

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

Progressive insurance will cover someone else driving your car in most cases, but it can depend on coverage types and limits. ... It's possible your Progressive car insurance offers less or no coverage for drivers not listed on your policy. A claim won't be covered if the person should have been listed, for instance.

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 I let someone borrow my car and they crash?

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.

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 you have no insurance but the other driver was at fault Texas?

As soon as the at-fault driver admits to not having car insurance, involve the police, even if it was a minor crash. Driving without insurance is a crime in Texas that is punishable with a citation, fines and fees of up to $1,100, and the revocation of the driver's license.

When someone hits your car do you call their insurance?

If someone hits your car, you should call your insurance company. But first, you'll probably want to call the police, especially if the damage is severe, there are any injuries, or the accident was a hit-and-run. Even if you don't think you are at-fault, you're required to report potential claims to your insurer.

What happens if your insurance company finds you at fault?

In most states, if you are at fault for an accident you (or your insurance company if you have liability coverage) will have to pay for the losses of the other driver, passengers, and anyone else harmed by the accident. Losses include things like car repairs, medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Does full coverage cover at fault accidents?

So what does full coverage car insurance cover? In most cases, it includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. Collision and comprehensive will protect you and your vehicle if you get into an accident. If you're found at fault for an accident.

What should I do if someone hit my car?

Steps to Take at the Scene
  1. Call the police. An officer will document the incident and create an official accident report, which you will typically need to have when filing your claim with your insurance company, says the Insurance Information Institute (III). ...
  2. Document the accident. ...
  3. Notify your insurer.

How do I add a driver to my insurance?

Contact your insurer and tell them you want to add another driver to your policy. You'll probably have to pay a fee for making changes to your policy, even if the price of your premium doesn't change. Your insurer could refuse to cover an extra driver – if they think they're too inexperienced or risky for example.

What does it mean to have a named driver on your insurance?

A named driver is someone who is insured to drive a vehicle in which another person does most of the driving. When driving that vehicle, the named driver will have the same level of cover as the main driver. They may also be referred to as an additional driver.

Does a named driver have to drive the car?

Also known as an additional driver, a named driver is an individual who has been added to someone else's car insurance policy so that they can legally drive their vehicle with the same level of cover as the main driver. A named driver is not legally permitted to drive the vehicle more than the main driver, however.

Can someone 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.

Should I call my insurance if it wasn't my fault?

Yes, you should call your insurance company if you were in a car accident that was not your fault. ... First, your insurance company may require you to contact them as outlined in your policy. Second, you may discover available coverage to help you with your damages, even if the accident is not your fault.

What happens after someone hits your car?

If someone hits your vehicle, notify the police even if you think it was a minor accident. They'll write up a police report, which can then be used for your insurance claim. ... Calling the police is especially vital if someone hit your car and then proceeds to flee the scene without leaving a note.