What happens if my son was driving my car and had an accident in Michigan?

Asked by: Dr. Yesenia Carter PhD  |  Last update: March 15, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (66 votes)

Further, in Michigan, car insurance follows the car. This means the owner of the car who is responsible for the insured vehicle. So, if the car is insured, the coverage of the auto insurance policy extends to any person driving your car for as long as the driving is with permission.

What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident in Michigan?

Your friend's liability arises from being the driver and your liability arises from your status as the vehicle's owner. Under Michigan's “owner liability” law, a vehicle owner “is liable for an injury caused by the negligent operation” of his or her vehicle.

Will my car insurance cover my son driving my car?

Your car insurance typically will cover other drivers operating your vehicle if they're listed on the policy. This may include your spouse or significant other, your parents, your siblings or your children. It also may include other household members.

What happens if someone wrecks your car and they aren't on your insurance 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.

What happens if someone else drives your car and has 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 ...

What happens if someone else driving my car gets in an accident?

44 related questions found

What happens if I let someone borrow my car and they crash?

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. However, there are exceptions to this coverage, which we will discuss in the following subsections.

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 someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance in Michigan?

In Michigan, there are three exceptions when someone else drives in which they may not be covered by your No Fault insurance: your policy excludes the driver, the driver lives out of state and doesn't own a vehicle registered in Michigan, the person didn't have permission to drive your car.

What happens if my son crashes my car?

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.

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.

Can my dad drive my car if he's not on my insurance?

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. However, some coverages may not apply when the primary insured isn't driving the car.

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 happens if I don't list my child on car insurance?

If your child gets into an accident and isn't listed on your policy, your insurance company may not cover the damages, and there could be other consequences, like policy cancellation.

How does insurance work when someone hits your car?

Collision coverage typically helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it's hit by another vehicle (or if you hit another vehicle or object), regardless of who is at fault. Even if you cannot find the other driver, you may be able to file a claim under your own auto insurance policy's collision coverage.

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.

Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Michigan?

In Michigan, generally the answer to the question of does insurance follow the car or the driver is that auto No-Fault insurance coverage will follow the driver, but depending on the contract language of your policy, it can also follow the vehicle. Liability exposure will almost always include both.

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.

Can I be sued if my adult child is on my car insurance?

Can parents be sued if their adult child is listed on their insurance policy? While parents may not be directly liable, their insurance policy may be used to cover damages if the adult child is a named insured or listed driver.

What happens if someone wrecks your car and they aren't on your insurance in NJ?

In most cases, insurance companies will not compensate you if the individual who drove the car did not have your permission. In that case, you may be required to file a claim through the driver's insurance provider. You can also consult an experienced car accident attorney to explore your options.

How does insurance work when driving someone else's car?

Car Insurance Coverage When You Drive Someone Else's Car

In general, car insurance will typically follow the car no matter who is driving it (assuming the driver has permission to drive it).

What happens if someone drives your car and they are not on your insurance?

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 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.

Can my son drive my car if he is not on my insurance?

Yes, your son can drive your car with your permission, even if he is not insured. It is known as “permissive use” and is generally allowed by insurance companies. Check your auto insurance policy to see if it allows for occasional or permissive use by family members.

Does your insurance go up if you add another 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.

Do my parents have to put me on their car insurance?

To have the ability to be covered by a vehicle insurance policy you must be added as an additional driver to the vehicle owners policy.