Hi! What if I let my friend drive my car?

by csabafarago » Sun Nov 02, 2008 03:27 pm

Hi! What if I let my friend drive my car and he cause an accident?Who would pay for the damage?Would I be responsible to pay anything?

Total Comments: 12

Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 03:36 pm Post Subject:

Depends on the state the accident happened in. Most states hold the owner responsible for the accident as well as the driver. Others only hold the driver responsible (but almost all carriers would consider the permissive driver as an insured under the owners policy but these only means the owners carrier might be excess coverage).

Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 09:47 pm Post Subject:

tcope is correct. If your friend is a Household Member and not listed on you policy then the claim could be denied. Other than that, a permissive driver in our State would have coverage if an accident happened.

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 08:16 am Post Subject:

In some states the policy follows the car, in such case your policy will act as the primary policy and the friend's policy will provide the necessary support if required, ie when your policy limit will exceed.

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 08:47 am Post Subject:

Csabafarago, assuming that the friend was driving the car with your permission the insurance company will cover the expenses of the accident. However, if your friend is staying at the same household without being listed in the policy then you may experience trouble in getting the claim honored.

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 09:07 am Post Subject:

Just a note... liability insurance follows the "insured"... nothing else.

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:06 am Post Subject:

T-scope quick question on this one: Does your auto insurance go up with the number of people in your household that can legally drive or does it depend on their driving record? I was thinking that things like new driver, bad driver and stuff like that would make a difference when you listed other people in your household.

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:10 pm Post Subject:

The insurer may take both the factors, the number of the people staying in the household as well as their driving record, into account while deciding the premium of the policy. If you have a high risk driver at the household, including him/her would certainly heighten the premium cost.

~Jeremy

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 01:08 pm Post Subject:

Hi! What if I let my friend drive my car and he cause an accident?

Permissive user...

Who would pay for the damage?Would I be responsible to pay anything?

In my state insurance stays with the car as primary coverage, so if your friend causes an accident your policy will cover it same as if you were driving the car...if you have a deductible on your collision coverage then you or someone would have to pay the deductible, you would also be paying (more than likely) an increase in the premium..

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 02:34 pm Post Subject:

I agree. If you give your friend permission, then there is coverage. Coverage follows the car the the driver.

Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:28 pm Post Subject:

Thanks Jeremy for answering my question.

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