Winslow Arizona, Car Insurance Writer
@winslow_arizona
If someone else is driving your car and gets in an accident, your car insurance will likely cover any resulting damage. Car insurance generally follows the car instead of the driver, so the car owner's insurance will cover the crash, even if someone else is driving. On the other hand, if your car is taken without permission or the driver is not licensed, the driver is responsible.
Insurance Options When Someone Crashes Your Car
Remember, using your insurance means you are liable for paying your deductible, even if it’s a friend (and not you personally) who crashes your car. Fortunately, your friend’s insurance can help if the damage exceeds your coverage. For example, if your policy covers up to $45,000 and the damage is $55,000, the driver's insurance can cover the final $10,000.
However, that isn’t the case if you’ve specifically excluded the driver from your policy. You might choose to leave someone off your insurance because they are a high-risk driver and expensive to insure - like a new driver with multiple speeding tickets, or someone with DUIs on his or her driving record. If that excluded driver crashes your car, your insurance company will refuse to cover the damage.
Insurance Rates After an Accident
Unfortunately, an accident can affect your insurance rates even if you aren’t driving. One accident won’t necessarily raise your premium by itself. But if you were in another accident not too long before someone else crashes your car, your company is likely to raise your premium, retract your safe-driver discount, or even drop your policy.
At the end of the day, one of the best things you can do is consider adding people to your insurance if they regularly use your car. You don’t want to end up with a huge bill if your insurance company denies your claim because of who was driving. Also, make sure your friends have a valid driver’s license and car insurance if they’re using your car.
People also ask
Can someone drive my car and be covered on my insurance?
Yes, someone can drive your car and be covered on your insurance if you give the driver permission to use your car and they are not excluded from your policy. Car insurance typically follows the car, not the driver, so your policy will still apply if the person using your car gets into an accident. This is often referred to as permissive use.
When Permissive Use Does Not Apply
- You have a non-standard auto insurance policy that excludes anyone...
Can an uninsured driver drive my car?
Yes, an uninsured driver can drive your car if the uninsured driver is given permission to use the vehicle and the car’s insurance policy does not forbid such activity. If the uninsured driver crashes the insured car, your standard policy limits will usually apply. You and the uninsured driver will be responsible for any damages beyond your policy limits.
The details of car insurance policies vary, but most insurers cover occasional use by a...
read full answerDoes car insurance follow the car or the driver?
Car insurance follows the car, not the driver, in most cases. There are a few situations where car insurance follows the driver, though, such as when the car’s insurance limits are exceeded, in which case the driver’s coverage can be used to fill in the gaps. There’s also some disparity from company to company – your policy might provide less coverage for other drivers, or even no coverage at all.
It’s advisable to review...
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