How does insurance work if you let someone borrow your car?
Asked by: Lois Schaden | Last update: March 25, 2025Score: 4.4/5 (49 votes)
How does insurance work when your friend borrows your car?
Generally, insurance follows the car, not the driver. So any one who legally borrows your car is covered for liability under your insurance policy.
Is it a good idea to let someone borrow your car?
Make sure you are fully aware of the liability you may be opening yourself, and your auto policy, up to before handing over your keys. "Don't be cavalier about lending your car," adds Salvatore. "If you know someone isn't a good driver, think twice about giving your permission.
What happens if I let someone borrow my car and they get 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 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 ...
How Auto Insurance Works When You Borrow A Friend's Car
What happens if my boyfriend is driving my car and gets in an accident?
In general, your insurance company will cover the accident if the person driving had permission to use your car and caused the accident. If they didn't cause the accident, the at-fault driver's coverage usually kicks in.
Whose insurance covers a borrowed 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.
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.
Does Geico cover permissive use?
Which insurance companies offer permissive use? Most of the big auto insurance companies — Allstate, AAA, GEICO, and USAA — allow for permissive use, but you should always confirm your policy details. If you have a named driver policy with any of those companies, you will not have permissive use.
Can I sue someone who borrowed my car?
If a friend, family member, or someone else borrowed your car without permission and got into an accident, they may be directly liable for the damages.
Can I give permission for someone to drive my car?
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.
How do you safely let someone borrow your car?
Make sure that person's driver's license is legal and valid.
Check in with your car insurance company to find out their rules concerning someone else driving your vehicle and what they would cover if a car accident occurred while that person was driving.
Can my husband drive my car if he is not on my insurance?
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.
What happens if I don't add my teenager to my car insurance?
Failing to add your teenager to your auto insurance can lead to coverage denial, legal penalties and policy cancellation. Lack of driving experience and perceived higher risk contribute to higher car premiums for teen drivers.
How does insurance work if you share a car?
Person A holds the title and registration in their name while sharing regular driving duties with Person B. In this example, Person A would insure the vehicle and Person B would be listed as a covered driver. If the vehicle were totaled, all claims payouts would be made to Person A, who owns the vehicle.
Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance in Georgia?
Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers
Before you allow someone else to drive your car, ask for proof of insurance. Their policy should meet Georgia's insurance requirements, which mandate drivers have at least: $25,000 per person for bodily injury. $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and.
How does insurance work if I let someone borrow my car?
While there are exceptions, car insurance generally follows the car and not the driver. 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.
Should you let other people drive your car?
If your friend or family member asks to borrow your vehicle, make sure they're fit to drive. You should never permit an unlicensed driver to drive your car, and you should never allow a person who is intoxicated or has a history of reckless driving to borrow your vehicle either.
Does Geico cover you if you drive someone else's car?
Insurance in California follows the vehicle, not the driver. This means you will be covered by the same insurance that covers the car if you drive a friend's car in California. The insurance company will cover everything they typically do when the owner is behind the wheel.
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 wrecks your car and they aren't on your insurance in CA?
Insurance follows the vehicle, so if someone else drives your car and gets into an accident, your insurance will handle the claim. This is known as permissive use — your policy covers the damage, not theirs. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
Am I responsible for someone else driving my car?
Liability When Someone Else Drives Your Car
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 my friend borrowed my car and gets in an accident?
What Happens If Someone Borrows My Car and Has an Accident That Wasn't Their Fault? If the borrower of your vehicle has an accident and another driver is at fault, California's fault rule comes into play. You and the borrower would both have grounds to file claims against the at-fault driver's insurance policy.
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.
Can you be insured if your parents are letting you borrow their car?
If your parents' have insurance, then you don't necessarily need your own insurance policy to drive their car. If you don't live with them and just borrow it occasionally then you don't need to be listed as a driver on their policy either.