What happens if I let someone borrow my car and they wreck it?
Asked by: Prof. Omari Cronin II | Last update: June 28, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (72 votes)
What if my friend borrowed my car and crashed it?
As the insured, you should contact your insurance company to have the claim setup. In terms of your deductible, since your friend was at fault, your friend should pay the deductible. If all else fails, you can sue to recover that.
What happens when you let someone borrow your car?
Insurance Coverage: - Typically, the car owner's insurance will cover the damages if the borrower has permission to use the vehicle. This means your policy may pay for the damages to your car and any liability for damages caused to other vehicles or property.
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.
Should I file an insurance claim if I am not at fault?
Always File a Claim, Regardless of Who Was At-Fault
One of the primary questions we receive from clients who have been in an accident is whether they should report the accident to their own auto insurance carrier, particularly when the accident was not their fault. And the answer to that question is: always.
What happens if I let someone borrow my car and they’re in an accident?
When someone hits you, do you call your insurance or theirs?
You should call both, regardless of who you think is at fault. If it turns out the other driver is at fault, their insurance will pay, but it's helpful to have your insurance company involved.
What happens if someone who isn't on your insurance crashes your car Progressive?
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. If they're involved in an accident, your auto insurance may pay for the damages and injuries, up to your coverage limits.
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.
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.
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.
Can I be sued if I let someone borrow my car?
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.
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.
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.
What to do when you let someone borrow your car?
Be prepared.
Even if you trust your friend and they follow precautions, accidents can still happen (that's why they're called accidents!). Make sure you know what to do in case of an accident, and make sure your insurance information is accessible in your vehicle.
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 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 someone borrows your car and gets 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 ...
Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance Geico?
Some states require the car owner's insurance to cover any accidental damage, so if they're not insured or don't have the right coverage, as the driver you may end up being liable.
Does insurance go up if you add a driver?
Typically, adding drivers to your policy can increase your premium. For example, there is a reason adding a teenage or newly licensed driver to an auto policy can result in an increase in insurance premiums.
What happens if someone else drives your car and has an accident?
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.
Can someone else drive my loaner car?
Who is authorized to drive the Loaner Vehicle? Only you, and any immediate family member living within the same household, specifically listed on your insurance policy, and is over the age of 25. Any additional driver covered under your insurance policy will need to supply a valid drivers license.
What happens if my son crashes my car?
Is the Registered Owner of a Car Liable for an Accident in California? If someone other than the registered owner of a vehicle causes an accident while operating that vehicle, the victim has the right to file an insurance claim against the registered owner's auto insurance policy.
How does insurance work if you borrow a car?
Car insurance coverage follows the vehicle, not the driver. When you allow a friend, family member, or babysitter to borrow your vehicle, they also borrow your car insurance. Your insurance becomes the primary coverage when lending the car to family members or friends.
What happens if someone is not on your insurance?
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.
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.