So, if someone else driving your car is at fault for the accident , here's how your policy's coverage may help:. It's also a good idea to understand a few exceptions regarding how your insurance may work. First, you shouldn't just assume your insurance will cover the accident and any damage.
For example, some policies don't even cover relatives living in your home, unless they are specifically named on your policy. Other policies may provide coverage, but on a more limited basis. Second, if the driver of your car isn't found at fault for the accident, you may not need to worry about your insurance taking a hit. This is because the at-fault driver's insurance may pay for your friend's injuries and repairs to your car.
Keep in mind that laws vary by state, so it's important to read your policy documents carefully to understand what's covered. If you have questions about your coverage and how it helps protect another driver, ask your agent to help clarify. Whether your insurance will kick in when another person gets in an accident in your car may depend on if you gave them permission to borrow it.
This is referred to as "permissive" or "non-permissive" use. Permissive Use Most car insurance policies will cover drivers you've listed on the policy, or anyone whom you give permission to drive your car, says Nolo. This means your insurance will likely cover another driver in the event of an accident, as long as they had your permission to drive your vehicle.
Remember though, some states may provide reduced coverage when other people drive your vehicle. If a friend or family member takes your car without your consent, you may not be held accountable for damage if an accident occurs. For example, if a friend borrows your car without your permission and causes an accident, your friend's insurance may be considered primary coverage.
However, if your friend doesn't have insurance, you may still have to file a claim with your own insurance company to help cover the accident. Or, if a thief takes your car for a joyride and crashes into another vehicle, you likely won't be liable for damage and repairs to the other vehicle.
But, you may have to file a claim with your insurer to cover your vehicle's repairs. Be sure to read your policy's terms and conditions, or talk to your agent, so you understand what's covered in your state.
You may also want to talk to your agent about whether you can exclude drivers from your policy. As we have seen, this is usually not the right question to ask. If anyone who has your permission drives the car , that person is probably covered by virtue of the fact that the car is covered. There are qualifications for the drivers covered. Other types of coverage such as collision or comprehensive insurance will usually follow the car. Insurance that follows the driver will usually be limited to some form of liability coverage.
Therefore, a very basic and often incorrect answer to the wrong question is that auto liability coverage generally follows the driver, while auto physical damage coverage generally follows the vehicle. However, more often than not, you will be asking the wrong question. However, exceptions do exist. Thank you! Please tell us what you liked about it. We have updated our privacy policy to be more clear and meet the new requirements of the GDPR.
By continuing to use our site, you accept our revised Privacy Policy. Article 97 Comments There are a few questions in life that are more confusing than their answers. He is the author of several subrogation books and legal treatises and is a national and international speaker and lecturer on subrogation and motivational topics. He can be reached at gwickert mwl-law.
More from Gary Wickert. Was this article valuable? You can compare policies side by side at sites such as InsuranceQuotes , Esurance and Insurance. For those who already have auto insurance, Consumer Reports suggests doing a rate check every two or three years.
You should also shop the market whenever your personal circumstances change, such as getting married, divorced or moving to a different house or apartment. Want more tips like these? Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Share this —. Collision insurance may cover damage to your car after an accident involving another vehicle and may help to repair or replace a covered vehicle.
Comprehensive insurance can provide an extra level of coverage in the instance of an accident involving another vehicle. It may help pay for damage to your car due to incidents besides collisions, including vandalism, certain weather events and accidents with animals. Uninsured motorist insurance can protect you and your car against uninsured drivers and hit-and-run accidents. This coverage is often paired with underinsured motorist insurance. Many drivers choose to carry the minimum in liability coverage to save money, but this might not provide enough coverage.
Underinsured motorist insurance can protect you in the event of an accident with a driver whose insurance is not enough to cover the costs. Medical costs following an accident can be very expensive. Medical payments coverage can help pay medical costs related to a covered accident, regardless of who is at fault. Personal injury protection insurance may cover certain medical expenses and loss of income resulting from a covered accident.
Car value can depreciate quickly, so an auto insurance settlement might not be enough to cover the cost of a loan. Gap insurance may help certain drivers cover the amount owed on a car loan after a total loss or theft.
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