Is my girlfriend covered if she drives my car?
Asked by: Oliver Prosacco | Last update: August 23, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (3 votes)
Am I covered if I drive my girlfriend's car?
Comments Section The insurance travels with the vehicle not the driver. And yes, legal drivers of the vehicle, which includes someone you give permission to, are covered by your insurance.
What happens if my girlfriend is driving my car and gets in an accident?
If a friend or girlfriend drives your car and causes an accident, the general rule is that the driver who causes the accident is liable for the damages. If the other driver is at fault, their insurance is usually responsible for covering costs.
Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?
Yes, as long as that person is legally licensed to drive. In the USA, most if not all car insurance policies cover the occasional driver who is known by you and for which you give that person permission to drive your car. Be careful if you have a ...
Am I liable if I let someone drive my car?
Whenever someone uses your car with your permission, you're liable if they drive negligently and cause any harm. This is called vicarious, or indirect, liability because you're liable for the wrongful acts committed by someone else.
Does Insurance Cover Someone Else Driving Your Car?
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.
Can I drive my boyfriend's car if I'm not on his insurance?
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.
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.
Does it matter whose name is on the car?
Yes, the name on a car title can impact insurance coverage. Insurance companies usually require the policyholder to have an insurable interest in the vehicle, meaning they either own the car or have a significant financial interest in it.
What happens if someone borrows your car and gets in an accident?
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.
What happens if a driver is not listed on an insurance policy?
You regularly allow a family member or friend to drive your car, but they aren't named on your auto policy. If this person gets in an accident while driving your car, your insurance company will likely deny your claim, leaving you liable for the damages.
What if my boyfriend drives my car and has an accident?
If someone else is driving your car and another person causes the crash, the at-fault driver's insurance is usually responsible for covering costs. On the other hand, if your car's driver is at fault, your car insurance will usually cover damages. However, there are some exceptions to this.
How does insurance work if you borrow someone's 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 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.
What happens if my girlfriend gets in an accident in my car?
If someone else crashes your car, what happens next depends on various factors. 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.
Do I have to add my girlfriend to my car insurance?
Your insurance provider may also require you to add your significant other if they drive your car regularly. Excluded: If your significant other has a poor driving record or multiple claims, adding them as a driver on your policy may push your rate up.
Does the car belong to the one with the title or the one who pays for it?
Legally, the vehicle belongs to whoever is listed on the car title as the owner or joint owner, which may include the lienholder if the car is currently financed.
Does it matter whose name is on an insurance policy?
Insurance Credit Scoring
As you may or may not know, credit makes a huge difference for many insurance company's when determining rates for policies like your auto and home insurance. In many instances, the insurance company will only run an insurance score based on credit on the name who is listed first on the policy.
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.
Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance Progressive?
If you give someone outside your household permission to drive and borrow your car (also referred to as "permissive use") and they aren't rated on your policy, any accident they're involved in may be covered by your insurer, depending on your state and insurer.
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.
Does a driver need to be insured or just the car?
Under California law, in most instances, the insurance policy attaches to the car itself. If someone was driving your car, it would be your insurance policy that paid for the damages. However, that does not mean that you should assume that the driver is covered.
Can I let my girlfriend drive my car?
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.
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.
What happens if my boyfriend drives my car?
Most auto insurance policies provide coverage to the vehicle, not to the driver in it. This means that the liability coverage generally extends to the person driving your vehicle, even if it was not you. The precise details of the policy will make a big difference.