What happens if someone drives your car and gets in an accident?

Asked by: Zoey Ryan  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (56 votes)

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. The claim would go on your insurance record and could affect your car insurance rates in the future.

What happens if someone who isn't on your insurance crashes your car?

If someone is listed as an excluded driver on your policy, then they're expressly excluded from your car insurance. This means that if that person drives your car, your insurance will not cover any damage that takes place.

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.

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.

Who is liable in a car accident owner or driver?

Insurance coverage attaches to the vehicle and its driver. Therefore, a car owner is NOT liable for any accident that a friend, family member, or other borrower causes while operating the owner's car.

Am I Liable If Someone Borrows My Car And Gets Into An Accident?

37 related questions found

Will my insurance go up if someone else crashes my car?

The short answer is yes, probably. Since your car insurance works much the same way when you lend it to someone and when you're driving it yourself, your premiums will go up if someone else causes an accident in your vehicle, just like they would if you caused an accident.

Can my friend drive my car with me in it?

Usually, yes — your car insurance coverage should extend to anyone else driving your car. ... So if you lend your car to your best friend, your sister or even your second cousin, your insurance is most often the insurance that will pay in the event of an accident.

Can someone else be the main driver on my car?

Car insurance fronting – where someone declares themselves as the main driver of a car even though it will be someone else – is illegal.

Does being fully comp mean you can drive any car?

Can I drive another car with comprehensive insurance? ... Having fully comp insurance on your own vehicle doesn't mean that you're fully comp on someone else's. If your insurance provider does allow you to drive a different vehicle, it's likely that they will only provide third party cover as a maximum.

How does insurance work if someone borrows your car?

Your auto insurance policy is responsible for your car when someone else driving it is involved in an accident. ... If a friend borrows your car and causes an accident, your insurance policy pays for any at-fault damages. A rule of thumb to remember in this situation is “car insurance follows the car, not the driver.”

Can I sue my friend for crashing my car?

You can sue someone for a minor car accident, but generally, the criteria for a successful lawsuit are as follows: The other party owed it to you to drive safely. ... Their unsafe driving caused your accident. You suffered injuries and financial losses.

Do you have to be 25 to drive someone else's car?

If you're under 25 and want to drive someone else's car, your best bet would be to either get added as a named driver on their policy or take out temporary cover. There are a few companies who don't place an age restriction on the benefit, so you might be lucky.

Can you own a car but not be the main driver?

Every car insurance policy has a "main driver". This has to be the person who does most of the driving. To get someone else insured on that car, you have to add them as a "named driver". ... But the main driver doesn't necessarily have to be the owner or the registered keeper.

Does it matter who is main driver on car insurance?

The main driver (or vehicle policyholder) is the person who drives the vehicle most often and earns no claims discount. They do not need to be the principle policyholder but they must live at the same address as them.

Do you have to be a named driver to drive someone else's car?

Can I drive another car without being a named driver? If your policy has DOC (drive other cars) cover then yes, you can drive another car if you are not a named driver on the main driver's policy - but only in the event of an emergency, not occasionally like with named driver cover.

Does insurance follow the car or the driver?

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 my BF drive my car?

In most all instances, yes. As long as your car is currently registered and insured and your boyfriend hold a current driving license he can legally drive your car with your permission. However, there are certain clauses in some automotive insurance policies which this would be disallowed.

Who is the legal owner of a car on finance?

A car on finance legally belongs to the car finance provider until you've completed your payment plan. Once you've fully paid off the car it may belong to you, or you may have to hand it back to the lender - depending on your car finance agreement.

Can I insure my wife's car in my name?

Generally, a car insurance company will only insure a car in the name of the person who is listed on the car's title. So, for example, if your wife is listed as the car's owner, then an insurance policy for the car would have to be listed in her name. ... However, you two could have a joint policy with both your names.

Does a named driver have to live with you?

Does a named driver have to live at the same address as the main driver? No, someone does not have to live at the same address as you to be added as a named driver to your policy.

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.

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

If someone else is driving your car and another person causes the accident, the at-fault driver's insurance is usually responsible for covering costs. On the other hand, if the driver of your car is at fault, your car insurance will usually cover damages.

Can I sue if the accident was my fault?

In California, the answer is yes. If you are partially to blame for a car accident in California, you can still recover financial damages from any other party who is also at fault, regardless of how much you are at fault.

What should I do if I crash someone else's car?

Notify your agent and/or your insurance company immediately. If anyone is injured or the vehicle damage exceeds $750.00, you must report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. Failure to notify the DMV may result in the suspension of your driver's license.

Can I sue someone for hitting me without insurance?

Yes. There are no laws against it, so an accident victim can still press a lawsuit against an at-fault party if they themselves are not insured.