Can Someone Drive My Car Without Insurance

What Are Special Reasons For Driving Without Insurance

So-called special reason arguments can sometimes be used to reduce the severity of your punishment.

It could be argued that, while being technically guilty of driving without insurance, there are mitigating circumstances.

Examples of this include :

• An insurance provider cancelling a policy without notifying the holder
• No policy being in force, due to faults on the behalf of the provider
• A person being informed that they can drive the vehicle legally
• A person having a genuine reason to believe they are insured

Does Car Insurance Follow The Car Or The Driver

Its not an uncommon scenario: Your car is at the mechanics shop being repaired and your mother-in-law has offered her car to you until yours is road-ready again. Or youre home from college for a visit and want to meet some friends, but you left your car on campus. In any situation, should you borrow someone elses car or let someone borrow yours? Would you still be covered if you do? What happens if you or they are in an accident? As a driver, there are times when you may find yourself in a position of driving someone elses vehicle or lending your vehicle to someone temporarily. Regardless of the scenario, there are some things you need to know. Are you protected in case of an accident? Does your insurance follow the car or the driver?

Who Can Drive My Car Under My Insurance

Compare car insurance quotes with us to find your best rate today.

Can someone else drive my car under my insurance? The short answer: Yes. Your auto insurance covers your car, not the person driving it. If someone borrows your car and crashes it, your insurance will cover the losses â however, your premiums may increase.

Read Also: How Often Should You Replace Your Car Battery

Is It Always Illegal To Drive Without Car Insurance

Its against the law to drive a vehicle on a public road without at least the most basic level of car insurance .

If the land youre driving on cant be accessed by the public you do not need insurance.

Legally speaking, third party insurance is the bare minimum you need. It will cover you if youre deemed responsible for a road accident that causes injuries to others or damage to their property.

Beyond third party cover, you can choose to add protection against fire and theft, or opt for comprehensive insurance, which includes cover for damage to your own vehicle.

What If The Individual Driving Your Vehicle Has Their Own Auto Insurance Policy

If the individual driving your vehicle has their own car insurance policies, it may serve as a backup to the car owners coverage. However, it is a common misconception about car insurance that the non-owner driver is totally accountable. The owners car insurance continues to be the primary coverage, and their friends insurance might be extra help.

Lets imagine B is driving As vehicle and causes a car accident. As insurance is accountable for the damages because B was at fault in As vehicle. However, As insurance only pays for damages up to a specified financial limit. If the costs of the collision exceed the As policy limit, the insurance of B may cover the remaining costs.

You May Like: Hail Blanket For Cars

You May Like: How To Find Car Insurance

Not Sure If You Have The Right Cover To Drive Somebody Elses Car Don’t Drive

Before you get behind the steering wheel of the car you want to drive, make sure you have DOC cover. Call your provider and ask them, and check your certificate of motor insurance, too.

If you’re pulled over by the police while youre driving another car and it turns out you dont have DOC cover, youll be facing some serious consequences:

Youll get 6-8 points on your driving licence for being convicted of driving without insurance. If youre within your first two years of driving, thats enough to lose your licence even if your previous record was unblemished.

Youll face a fixed-penalty fine of £300, and if it goes to court you could be fined much more.

Itll increase the cost of your car insurance if you can even find an insurance provider to give you a quote in the first place, that is. Many insurers wont cover drivers with this conviction as theyre considered to be too high risk.

When Would I Not Have Coverage In A Borrowed Car

Before asking a friend or family member if you can borrow their car, think about if youâre listed on their auto insurance policy. This may be the case with family members and less with friends. Some insurance companies may let this slide, but others may require you to be officially on the policy.Here are other reasons why you may not be insured while driving a borrowed car:

• No permission – It wouldnât be permissive use if you didnât have permission. When the car owner files a claim, they have to give proof that they lent their car out.
• Excluded driver on policy – This doesnât mean your name isnât on the auto policy. It means that you, specifically, are not supposed to be on the policy at all excluded. This is a rule in the policy and, if broken, can further increase premiums.
• No driverâs license – In addition to the obvious legal consequences of driving without a valid license, insurance will not cover you in someone elseâs car or otherwise.
• Driving under the influence – The damages you cause driving in a borrowed car while under the influence arenât covered by insurance. As you can imagine and are aware of, drinking and driving also warrant heavy legal consequences.

You May Like: Why Am I Getting Car Sick All Of A Sudden

When Your Car Is Between Dealers/held In Stock

If youve ordered a vehicle that youve paid for outright/on finance or youre leasing a car and are still waiting for it to be delivered to you, you wont need to insure it until the delivery date.

However, you can arrange for insurance to start from a date in the future. So its worthwhile shopping around for cover in the weeks before your new motor is delivered in order to get the best deal.

Remember:check if your lease car needs insurance becauseif youre leasing a car that comes with complete care or total care, insurance may come inclusive with the deal.

What Is Driving Other Cars Insurance

Driving other cars cover allows you to drive other insured cars without being a named driver or buying temporary cover. The car you want to drive must be covered by an existing insurance policy and you must have permission to drive it.

Driving other cars cover is usually only available on a comprehensive car insurance policy, so if you have third party cover, you wont be covered to drive any other cars. It’s not automatically included on every comprehensive policy so check first.

Unfortunately, driving other cars cover is not available to everyone.

Insurers will typically exclude DOC cover from your insurance policy if you are under 25, as youre seen as a higher risk to insurers. Those with criminal convictions or who have made an insurance claim on their own policy may not be able to get DOC cover either.

Don’t Miss: How Do I Get Another Title For My Car

Does My Job Impact My Insurance

Some occupations may be excluded. Those in the motor trade, for example, are likely to drive their customers cars regularly, so insurers may take the view that youre more likely to be involved in an accident. If you drive your customers cars, your company should have its own insurance in place for those circumstances.

Remember:

• Its important to realise that driving other cars cover should not be seen as a substitute for a full car insurance policy

• If you get into an accident while driving someone elses car, you could end up paying a hefty repair bill

• Driving other cars insurance is only ever third party only insurance, so it will not pay for any damage your do to the car you have borrowed. You would need to pay for that out of your own pocket

Can Someone Not On Your Insurance Drive Your Car

Some insurance coverage types follow the car while others follow the driver. However, there are still some variables and specifics of a claim that will vary depending upon the insurance laws of the state, the policy, and the amount of coverage the policyholder has on their vehicle.

We’ve all been there. A friend calls or shows up asking to borrow our car because theirs has broken down, someone else is using theirs, or they just don’t have a car of their own. Or, we have been that person asking to borrow a car. We lend it to them, but we often ask ourselves what would happen if they got into an accident while driving our car and if they are allowed to drive our car when they aren’t even on the insurance policy. So, can someone not on your insurance drive your car?

Also Check: What Car Saves The Most Gas

Will Your Rates Increase If Someone Else Gets Into An Accident In Your Car

The short answer is yes, probably. Since your car insurance works much the same way when you lend it to someone and when youâre 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.

If youâre particularly worried about accidents, you can look into adding accident forgiveness to your policy. Accident forgiveness is a feature that some providers offer that can help keep your rates from going up after an accident. Itâs usually offered as an add-on to your normal plan, sometimes only to drivers whoâve had a certain number of years of accident-free driving. There are also some ways to lower your rates again if theyâve gone up after a claim, including:

• Bundling your home and auto insurance

• Taking advantage of available car insurance discounts

• Changing your coverage limits or deductibles

• Shopping around for new car insurance

You should also keep in mind that, depending on your policy and where you live, people driving your car with your permission might have reduced coverage while driving your car. A Policygenius expert can help you find insurance options that might make more sense for you if you anticipate lending out your car frequently.

What Happens If The Insured Is Driving Someone Else’s Vehicle

When driving a vehicle they do not own, American Family Insurance says that the driver’s personal coverage should apply in most cases, including any medical portions of the policy and uninsured motorist coverage. Property damage coverage might be carried over too. However, that depends on the limits, language of the policy, and the facts. The facts include if the person has permission, if the driver is covered, and whether the vehicle is a loaner from a dealership or a rental. Comprehensive and collision do not apply to borrowed vehicles.

You May Like: Which Credit Cards Offer Primary Rental Car Insurance

If You Are An Undocumented Immigrant

If you are in the country without proper documentation, then you most likely do not have a valid driver’s license, making it impossible to get insurance. If you were to be caught driving in this case, you would face not only penalties and fines but also potential deportation. Luckily, 12 states and Washington, D.C., have introduced programs for undocumented immigrants to get legitimate driver’s licenses. Obtaining a legitimate card with driving privileges is the first step in obtaining insurance.

What Happens If Someone Else Is Driving My Car And Gets In An Accident

When the car owner is behind the wheel and crashes the vehicle, their insurance can cover the damages.

But what if someone else drives your car and gets in an accident? Are you responsible? Knowing where responsibilities lie in this situation can help you avoid legal issues and insurance battles in the future.

Can someone drive my car and be covered on my insurance?According to Virginia law, the car owners insurance covers accident-related expenses even if someone else is behind the wheel. But only if the person has the owners permission to drive. This information is mentioned in Virginia Code § 38.2-2204.

The law requires the insurance policy to cover any person using the vehicle with expressed or implied consent of the named insured. In case the person who borrowed your car has their own insurance, that policy would provide coverage on top of your own. That comes in handy when damages exceed your policys limits.

Accordingly, an uninsured person driving an insured vehicle is covered by the car owners policy. However, the coverage only works if the owner gives his or her permission to the driver.

What happens if the driver goes beyond the permitted area?What happens if someone drives your car and gets in an accident beyond the permitted driving area?

When you permit someone to drive your vehicle, you automatically allow them to transfer it to others. Your insurance covers losses stemming from the accident as long as you give the initial permission.

Read Also: When Not To Trade In Your Car

Hire A Maryland Traffic Defense Attorney Today

If you are facing a traffic violation in Maryland, contact The Law Office of Hillel Traub today. Attorney Traub will bring a unique perspective and valuable insight to your case. He may also be able to assist with criminal charges. Call 589-2794 or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

When Do I Need My Own Insurance To Drive Someone Elses Car

Car insurance companies know that people borrow each others car, which is why permissive use is built into your car insurance coverage. If you dont own a car but borrow other peoples frequently, you might want to think about buying non-owner car insurance or consider adding yourself to someone elses car insurance policy if you frequently borrow their car .

Read Also: What To Do When Your Car Overheats

Can My Child Drive My Car Without Insurance

If theyre living at home, you should be sure to include them as a driver on your policy because if they are not, and they get into an accident, you run the risk of them not being covered.

Your agent can add your teen driver to your existing policy so you wont have to worry about whether your teen is covered or not. Even though insurance follows the car, household members who are regular drivers should always be listed on the policy to ensure optimal coverage.

If you have the MyAmFam app, you can easily add or remove a driver from your policy to ensure your teen is covered under your insurance. Download the MyAmFam app today.

Car Insurance Generally Follows The Car Not The Driver

Lets say you dont have auto insurance but want to borrow your friend Jessicas car, which is insured in her name, to run a few errands. Jessica gives you permission to borrow her car. As long as youve got Jessicas permission, its usually legal to get behind the wheel of her car, even though youre not insured.Why? Because auto insurance generally follows the car, not the driver.

However, the more important issue is whether Jessicas insurance would provide coverage if you, for instance, crash her car. Theres no clear answer in this case.

According to Claims Journal, the issue of whether damage or injuries sustained while you were driving Jessicas car depends on the details of her policy, the place where the accident happened , and the facts surrounding the incident.

Typically, your use of Jessicas car would be covered by the liability portion of her policy, Claims Journal says. Yet thats not always the way it works.

Some car insurance companies and policies wont cover a driver whos not named in Jessicas policy, according to Claims Journal. In fact, if you, the uninsured driver, are living temporarily with Jessica and are regularly driving her car, then her insurance company will expect you to be added to her policy, the journal says.

Also Check: How To Repaint A Car

Can Someone Drive My Car With My Insurance If They Drive My Car Regularly

If your roommate frequently takes your car for errands every week, or your child just got their license and wants to take your car out every weekend, youre going to need to add them to your insurance policy. If someone is only borrowing your car once or twice a month, it is unlikely that they should be added on your policy but speak with your insurance provider to make sure. Depending on your provider, they could refuse to cover damage that happens to your vehicle at the fault of someone not listed on your policy. Their personal information and driving history will be considered by your insurance company and this could increase your premium if they think there is an increased risk.

What Kind Of Car Insurance Do I Need To Let Someone Borrow My Car

This is entirely up to you. Some drivers only choose to insure their car according to the state minimum insurance requirements. If you plan to let people borrow your car often, it may be better to increase your insurance limits. At the very least, you should consider having the following forms of coverage:

• Liability Insurance: The most basic type of car insurance, liability insurance pays for injuries in an accident where you are at fault. It also covers the cost of property damage.
• Collision Insurance: Collision coverage protects your car when its damaged after a collision with another vehicle. This covers anything from the borrower hitting another car to them driving your car off a cliff.
• Comprehensive Insurance: Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle from any damage caused by something other than a collision. It covers theft, vandalism, fire or explosion, animal damage, or falling branches.

You May Like: How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Key