A basic auto insurance policy issued in ontario lists both the car by vin number and the policyholder by name. The following article provides information in response to this question and highlights common concerns. If you gave your friend permission to drive your car, your car insurance would typically be deemed the primary coverage. Mar 15, 2019 even if youve had car insurance for years, figuring out when you are and arent covered by your auto insurance can still be a tricky business. You may have hopped behind the wheel of a friends vehicle without much thought, and though it may not seem like a big deal to. The liability uninsured motorist and med pay elements of the policy dont just cover your car, but you personally. The legal requirement, per kentucky law, that your car must have insurance coverage. When i approached the other driver for her insurance details i was devastated to hear she didnt have insurance. You may loan your car to a friend, roommate, or family member, only to get a call that an accident has happened in your car. My friend got into an accident with my car and were both insured. The driver s insurance company becomes responsible to pay any valid claims made against that driver, those named on the insurance policy, or in many cases, against those driving the insured. Heres what to do if someone who doesnt have car insurance hits your vehicle and damages it or injures you. See a range of car insurance quotes in just a few minutes when you compare with uswitch.
If the other driver is insured, their insurance company will pay for your damages. What to do if an uninsured driver hits you quotewizard. Jun, 2019 when doesnt your car insurance cover other drivers. What this means is, your auto insurance policy will cover whoever drives your vehicle, as long as the driver has your permission, and is not excluded from the policys covered drivers list. Our drivers can expertly handle driving long distances, overcoming adverse road conditions, driving large vehicles, and towing. My car was totaled by an uninsured driver and i only have liability. After a car accident, you may receive a call from the other driver s insurance company, regardless of how clear it may be that the other driver was at fault for the crash. It is usually not a big deal for someone, like a friend who needs to borrow your car, to be covered on your insurance if you take the time to notify your insurance company before you lend the car. When another driver has an accident in your car dmv. Insurance coverage attaches to the vehicle and its driver.
In most jurisdictions, its perfectly legal for an individual to insure a vehicle in his or her name without actually owning the car. When doesnt your car insurance cover other drivers. Nov 20, 2018 what to do if youre hit by an uninsured driver. Are you asking yourself who the heck can insure my vehicle. I heard somewhere that insurance follows the car and not the driver and that even if i wasnt on the insurance policy but had permission from the owner to drive the car. Is an uninsured driver covered on my insurance while driving. Jun 05, 2014 the blanket query into whether or not insurance follows the car or the driver in a particular jurisdiction is such a question one we see regularly. Does auto liability insurance follow the car or the driver.
Most insurers will ask you to list these people along with regular users of your car when you apply for car. What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident. This means that regardless of the driver, an insured vehicle will cover the driver as long as the policy does not expressly exclude a nonowner driver from coverage. Who is liable in a car accident the owner or driver. In general, if the driver of the car is someone you explicitly excluded from your policy, your insurance company can refuse to pay for any damages. In fact, the standard for most insurers is that all related drivers within the same household are covered under a car insurance. However, since they also have car insurance, their insurance would probably be considered secondary coverage. Knowing who needs to be listed as a driver and who does not is the crucial information you need so you know your car is covered. As stated above, penalties for driving without insurance vary from state to state. In general, auto insurance follows the car instead of the driver.
Typically a family will take out one insurance policy and include all drivers and all cars on the same policy. If possible, add your teen driver as the primary driver for the cheapest car listed on your policy, which will save money. I was once in a car accident that wasnt my fault, which happened in a supermarket car park. When an insured allows other drivers to drive his vehicle, then, and only then, does the question of whether insurance follows the car.
The permitted drivers own insurance would serve as secondary coverage. But, the car owners insurance will provide primary coverage for the person operating the car. The purpose of the miidb program is to reduce the number of uninsured motor vehicles. Mar 19, 2020 be aware of what can happen if an uninsured driver has an accident while driving your car. Should parents title and insure a teen driver s car separately from other cars in the household. A named insured is mostly the owner of the car insurance policy. After most car accidents, figuring out whether a driver is covered under a car insurance policy isnt usually necessary. Jan 16, 2019 this sort of incident could be catastrophic if the uninsured driver was at fault, but even an accident where the uninsured driver isnt to blame can cause some anxiety. Does insurance apply to my car or the driver car insurance follows the vehicle. I heard you have to have insurance on the driver and car.
Your car insurance typically will cover other drivers operating your vehicle if theyre listed on the policy. This page will guide you through some of the most commonly asked questions about auto insurance for teens. Hi, i am 17 and just obtained my drivers license, i am not on the insurance policy for the family cars. Our guide explains how to run a car insurance check to find out if your car is insured. 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. Your liability coverage can pay for damages up to the limits of your policy. Every car and driver is unique, and while certain standards can apply to car insurance premiums like cars with fewer safety features or car alarm systems typically costing more to insure, and cars with. Its no secret that your car needs to be insured in order to be driven on the road.
Even in situations where youre at fault, the other driver s insurance company could still contact you. Understanding what a named insured is will help you know your entire insurance policy better. Maybe youve heard that you can bundle your home and auto insurance and save on insurance costs. Anyone who has read one of my blogs or has visited my website. If you are ever unsure about your car insurance policy. Being a named insured or a listed driver filer insurance. The answer to whether car insurance covers the driver or the car is not black and white because there are parts of your car insurance policy that do follow you when you are driving someone elses car.
What does it mean that my car is insured, but not the driver. Down the street another car runs a stop light and hits him. Either way, you need to be careful with the information you provide to the other drivers car insurance. The driver s insurance may cover some personal injury or medical expenses. Insert link to what is auto insurance its a vast topic, as not everyones situation is identical in every case. Excluding a driver from your car insurance might sound like the same thing as removing someone from a policy. There are coverages that follow the car and coverages that follow the driver. Automobile insurance polices and coverage can vary from company to company and state to state. If you let someone else drive your car or you borrow a vehicle, it can complicate insurance claims. The liability uninsured motorist and med pay elements of the policy dont just cover your car.
Unfortunately, there is no bright line answer to the question, and it depends greatly on the language of the policies involved, the jurisdiction you are concerned with, and. Can someone not on my insurance policy drive my car. The right question to be asking is not whether insurance follows the car or the driver, but whether or not other drivers will be covered by the insureds auto insurance. Named drivers within your car insurance policy are members of your immediate family who live in your household. Does my car insurance cover other drivers who operate my vehicle. Under a personal auto policy, who is insured tends to include the named insured, their spouse, family members living in the same house and any driver with permission to drive the insured vehicles. The main driver of a car, the address of the driver and the location where the car is kept at night make a difference to car insurance companies because. Things get worse if an unlicensed driver has an accident in your car. The first being, that the driver is legally licensed. When an accident occurs, the vehicle whose driver was at fault is covered by its own car insurance policy.
Can i add my child to my car insurance if she doesnt live. In every state where insurance is required, it is illegal to be an insured driver driving an uninsured car. Motoring lawyer jeanette miller looks at what happens if youre involved in an accident with an uninsured or untraceable driver. Mostly, its because many drivers dont have insurance policies in their own names teenagers, for example. In the simplest of terms, car insurance, such as comprehensive and collision coverage, is in place in the event that a vehicle is damaged. An uninsured driver is usually covered by your auto insurance while shes behind the wheel of your car because insurance follows the vehicle. It goes without saying, but you should always check with your insurer about who in your household your insurance covers. The atfault driver informs you that he does not have insurance personally, but the owner of the car which he borrowed does. That permission can be either written, verbal or implied, but it must exist.
However, what happens if you cannot insure your vehicle for one reason or another. If someone borrows your car without your permission, that driver might not be insured. Who is and who is not allowed to drive an insured vehicle can vary based on where you live and the company that insures you. Communicating with insurance company after car accident nolo. Will a teen driver pay more for car insurance than an adult.
The province requires certain statutory insurance coverage for any vehicle using public roads. In general, auto insurance follows vehicles instead of drivers. Typically, even if the person driving your car has his or her own insurance, your insurance will be the primary payer for damages caused by your vehicle. They have a passion for driving and have received specialized driver training. Updated on tuesday, november 20 2018 by erika sommer. If you give any nonexcluded driver that is, someone you dont explicitly exclude on your policy permission to take the wheel, your car insurance takes primary coverage status, which means that your car insurance would be primarily liable if something happens. This often occurs when the vehicles owner is not its primary driver and does not wish to pay for insurance coverage on it. What if i own a car, but somebody else drives it for me can that. Nov 17, 2018 your car is usually covered by your insurance if the person who borrows it does so with your permission. Whenever someone else is driving your car with your permission, yours is the primary car insurance. The term named insured is frequently used in insurance paperwork. A statemandated liability car insurance policy linked to the vehicle ensures that there is always a way to pay if any driver of the car.
It can be confusing to understand who is covered to drive your vehicle. Oct 23, 2014 does car insurance follow the car or the driver. Does an insurance policy automatically covers everyone who lives in the owners household. The miidb program is defined by colorado statutes in crs 427601. Can i keep my insurance from covering risky drivers who happen to live with me. The other driver will typically be covered by liability insurance, youll have your own. Car insurance can cover both the driver and the car, but further explanation is required to understand the differences that do exist. Does automobile insurance follow the car or the driver. But excluding and removing mean different things to an insurance company. Lending your car to an uninsured driver can be problematic.
The state of colorado, department of revenuedivision of motor vehicles dmv is responsible for the administration of colorado s motorist insurance identification database miidb program. Jan 10, 2019 a common question involving car insurance is this. Learn more about how your car insurance may help cover other drivers. Penalties for driving without insurance auto insurance. However, insurance companies recognize certain types. If he has his own car, insured in the uk on a uk policy, he might be covered to drive other vehicles with the. This fact has ramifications for you as the owner of the insured car. However, rarely will insurance cover a driver operating a vehicle without the owners permission. She presented a card to a canceled policy to avoid a ticket, and im now told that my. But what happens if the other driver doesnt have insurance. May 10, 2015 if your adult child, or anyone else for that matter, drives your car, the driver is covered by your auto insurance policy. The answer to whether insurance follows the car or driver depends on many variables, most notably the kind of insurance coverage being referred to.
If you friend is not insured to drive your car, he cannot lawfully drive it in the uk. If the policy doesnt include collision coverage, then insurance wont cover damages to the car. The named insured purchases the insurance policy is responsible for making any changes or handling any issues directly with the insurance company on behalf of any drivers covered by the policy, and is, of course, protected by the car insurance. It is important to know who is insured to drive your car. Read on to learn all of the nitty gritty details for this car insurance faq and then also make sure that you enter in your zip code above to get your free car insurance comparison today. That means that if your friend, cousin, neighbor, coworker or other type of pal is driving your car and gets in an accident, your car insurance will cover the damage in much the same way as if you were driving. Parents have a lot of questions about insuring their teen driver s car. The reason is that car insurance follows the car, not the motorist. Do i need to purchase extra coverage for friends who plan to drive my vehicle. Your car should not be registered in one state and insured in another. Multiple drivers in the same house are usually covered under the same car insurance policy. Can my friend drive my car in the uk if im in the passenger. Auto liability coverage is a type of car insurance that pays for damage you cause to other people in accidents that are your fault.
If the car is covered then you have insurance if it depends on the driver that may change. That event was bad enough but after making sure everyone is okay and getting home safely its now time to get busy making a claim for your damages. The kentucky uninsured driver loophole desmond law offices. This scenario may not be a problem for your insurance company and they may provide coverage. Mar 19, 2020 a named insured has all the control of the insurance policy whereas anyone listed as a driver or not listed on the policy does not. Mar 02, 2020 can i drive an uninsured car on my insurance policy. If you the driver are covered by your insurance then often this can be used to cover rental cars.
Does my car insurance cover other drivers who hit me. Your drivers license, registration, and car insurance need to match. Who is my case against the other driver, their insurance. Under texas law, will your injuries be covered by an insurance policy. One common question that tends to come up is whether your auto insurance covers you, the driver, no matter what vehicle youre driving, or whether it sticks with the car or cars listed on the policy, even when someone else is driving them. This may include your spouse or significant other, your parents, your siblings or your children. My car was totaled by an uninsured driver and i only have. Can multiple drivers be on the same insurance policy. What to do if youve been hit by an uninsured motorist. If you are ever in doubt, ask your insurance agent before you let someone drive your car. If you are a new driver, or the parent of a new driver, the process of obtaining the right car insurance for teens can be confusing. Apr 19, 2020 does car insurance coverage cover the driver of the vehicle, or the vehicle itself. There are millions of drivers on the road without insurance coverage.
Depending on the insurer and situation, you may be covered if you give an uninsured driver permission to drive your car and they cause an accident. Does your car insurance and registration have to be under the. Once your teen is licensed, you need to contact your insurance company and let it know that your child needs coverage, and have the teen added to your policy. In most instances, car insurance follows the car first and the driver second. Jul 31, 2017 the section of who is an insured in a car insurance policy must be examined to determine who is covered. Can i register and insure my car in different states. Can an uninsured driver hit by an insured driver file a claim. What to do after a car accident thats not your fault. Dec 16, 20 typically, car insurance providers require that to be listed on a policy that the person lives in your residence and that the car being insured is parked at your address at the end of the day. It is important to really understand your coverages and how car insurance works if another driver crashes your car. One example is if a friend borrows your car to run to the store. If youve been reading our blog for some time, youve probably had the opportunity to learn a great deal about auto insurance. Do i have to tell my insurance company if i get in an accident while driving for a.