If you have car insurance, you might wonder if someone not listed on your policy can drive your car. The assumption is auto insurance covers you and everyone else listed on your policy, but what if someone needs to borrow your car? A relative could come in from out of town, or your best friend might need your truck to move some furniture. Either way, lending your vehicle to someone else isn’t uncommon.
Will someone else driving your car affect your car insurance policy? Before you hand over your keys, you should understand the possible implications. It’s time to learn more about someone else driving your vehicle and what it means for your insurance policy. Let’s get some answers and hit the road.
Is it legal for someone else to drive my car?
In short, yes. You can let someone else drive your car, and they will be covered under your car insurance policy. However, they must meet the following conditions:
- They’re legally licenced to drive
- They’re not an excluded driver on your insurance policy
- You give them permission
It’s important to note that every situation is different. That’s why lending your car to someone else can be risky. You can’t predict whether or not they will not get into a crash, and even if they are insured, you could be stuck paying for the damages not covered by your policy. There are some additional factors to consider before letting someone else drive your car. Before we discuss them, we will provide some tips about what to do before letting someone borrow your car.
What should you do before letting someone borrow your car?
Other drivers can be unpredictable. That’s why it’s important to know what to expect before lending your car to someone else. In most cases, everything will be fine. However, you should be prepared in the event that something goes wrong. Before you let someone else take the wheel, you should show them our list of safe driving tips and ensure the following:
The person has a valid licence
Driving without a valid licence is illegal. If the person driving your car gets pulled over and doesn’t have a valid licence, they will face a massive fine, and your vehicle could be impounded.
Know about their trip
To protect your vehicle, you should gather all the information you can before they hit the road. Ask where they are going, what your vehicle will be used for and if there will be any passengers.
Check your vehicle
Ensure basic functionality before lending your vehicle to someone else. Your lights, windshield wipers and signals should all be working. If there are any issues, get them fixed before you lend someone your car.
Provide the necessary details
Show the person driving your vehicle where the proof of insurance and registration details are. They will be asked for them if they get pulled over by police and can face fines for not having them. Your pink slip contains the documents you need for car insurance.
Glance at the odometer
Since you know the duration of the other person’s trip, you shouldn’t have to worry about a thing. However, by checking the odometer before they leave, you can know if they took any unexpected detours.
By utilizing this checklist, you can ensure the person driving your car is responsible and knows what to do in a variety of situations. After all, you can’t control what happens when someone borrows your car, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
However, that begs the question: “How often can someone drive your car before they are considered an occasional driver?” We’ll answer this question and many more in the following sections.
How often can someone else drive my car?
Lending your pick-up truck to a friend for a few hours to move a couch is not the same as letting him borrow your car to go to work once a week. If the person is driving your car regularly or lives in the same household, you have to let your insurance company know.
Withholding information about regular drivers is called material misrepresentation. If caught, claims you make can get denied, and sometimes, your policy can be cancelled altogether.
When someone should be added to your auto insurance policy
As mentioned earlier, insurance will cover if you lend your car to a friend for a day or two as long as you have an active insurance policy. You should be renewing your car insurance policy to prevent expiration as required. However, you might wonder how often someone has to drive your car to be added to your policy. When someone borrows your car enough, they are considered an occasional driver. An occasional driver usually meets the following conditions:
- If the person lives in your household and has a valid licence
- If the person drives your vehicle less than 50 percent of the time
Many people can be added as an occasional driver. However, you should be aware that someone who doesn’t have a clean driving record can significantly increase your car insurance premiums. Often, it’s more affordable for new drivers to be added as an occasional driver instead of having their own policy. Consider adding the following people to your policy as required:
- Family members
- Friends, neighbours or roommates
- Your underage children
- Your spouse or partner
While it’s perfectly fine to let someone else drive your vehicle from time to time, it’s not without its limitations. If the person is driving your vehicle once a month at most, you don’t have to worry about adding them to your insurance policy. However, if they drive the car regularly, you should ask your insurance broker if they should be added to your policy to avoid misrepresentation charges. Next, we will explore what happens if the person driving your car crashes.
Are you considering letting a friend or family member borrow your car? Before you hand over the keys, ensure both your car and its temporary driver are fully protected with comprehensive car insurance from BrokerLink.
Our experienced brokers can provide personalized insurance solutions tailored to your needs, ensuring that your vehicle is covered no matter who’s behind the wheel. Don’t leave anything to chance—contact BrokerLink today to discuss your car insurance options and drive with confidence!
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What happens if a friend crashes my car?
When you lend your car, you’re also lending your car insurance. Most people don’t realize if someone gets into an accident while driving their car and gets into an accident, it will count as a claim on their insurance. Even if the other driver has their own insurance, your policy will be first in line to pay the claim.
Car insurance coverage follows the car and not the driver. In other words, if the person driving the car makes a mistake, you will have to pay for it later. In addition to paying the deductible on the claim, you risk your good driving record and claims history. In turn, your car insurance premiums could increase on your next renewal. Always know how to report a car accident just in case.
Before you let someone else drive your car, make sure they understand the impact it could have on your auto insurance. If you have questions, reach out to your insurance broker. Your broker will be happy to answer any questions about letting someone else drive your car. This includes letting you know how much car insurance is per month in Ontario.
What auto insurance covers in an accident
If the person driving your car crashes, your car insurance policy will cover the same things it would if you were driving. As long as you have an active policy, you will not have to pay for all the damages out of pocket. When someone gets into an accident when driving your vehicle, the insurance company will cover the following:
Liability
If the person driving your car injures someone or damages their vehicle, your auto insurance will help pay for the damages. However, collision insurance is required to repair your vehicle.
Accident benefits and bodily harm
This type of coverage is mandatory when purchasing car insurance in Canada. It helps pay for medical expenses if the person driving your car gets injured.
Your car insurance policy will help pay for what you have coverage for. Liability car insurance coverage is mandatory, but it does not pay for damages to your vehicle. That’s why you opt into certain types of optional insurance coverage if you frequently lend your vehicle to other people. Now you understand what happens if a person gets into an accident in your vehicle. Next, we will learn about what happens if someone gets a ticket while driving your vehicle.
What if someone gets a ticket while driving my car?
If the police pull someone over while driving your car, you might wonder who’s responsible if they get a ticket. Traffic violations tell insurance companies that a driver is considered a higher risk. This can increase their auto insurance premiums. If your friend has a history of traffic violations, you might want to reconsider lending them your vehicle.
Unlike car insurance, traffic violations follow the driver rather than the vehicle itself. For example, if someone else gets a speeding ticket or is caught running a red light while driving your vehicle, it goes on their driving record. Even though they were not driving their vehicle when they got the ticket, their insurance rates will increase, and yours will remain the same.
Car insurance premiums are based on risk levels. Traffic violations make you a higher-risk driver, but the blame doesn’t fall on you if someone gets a ticket while driving your vehicle. However, your premiums can increase if an occasional driver gets a ticket. This might lead you to wonder if you can drive someone else’s car without insurance. Let’s dive in shortly.
Can someone else drive my car if they don’t have their own car insurance?
Yes, your auto insurance policy is in effect when someone else is driving your vehicle. Just ensure they meet the previously mentioned criteria. Additionally, the same policy limits and conditions apply.
Can I drive someone else’s car without insurance?
Yes, you can. If you have a valid driver’s licence and the other person gives you permission to drive their car, you will be covered under their insurance policy. Confirm the car is insured before you start driving. If it isn’t, you could face the consequences if caught driving without insurance. This includes licence suspension and fines up to $50,000, even if it is not your vehicle. Here's how you can safeguard yourself when driving someone else's car:
Getting non-owner driver insurance
You can modify an existing policy to protect drivers when they drive other cars, such as borrowed or rented vehicles. This is known as non-owner coverage. In British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, this is its own policy. In contrast, Ontario and a few other provinces allow you to add this to your existing auto insurance policy.
Let’s review an example. If your friend visits you from Ontario and you live in British Columbia, and your friend gets into an accident, you will be held responsible for the damages. It’s important to note that you will only have to pay for what’s not covered by the limits of their auto insurance policy. That’s where non-owner coverage can help you out. It will assist with paying for the damages.
When you won’t be covered under someone else’s car insurance policy
Assuming the person you borrow the car from has an active auto insurance policy, you should be covered. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. These include:
Driving under the influence
If you are caught driving impaired, your friend’s insurance policy will not cover any damages you cause.
Driving as an excluded driver
If the vehicle owner added you as an excluded driver and you drive anyway, the insurance company will not provide coverage.
Driving without permission
If you did not get permission from the vehicle owner to drive it, you will be held responsible if you get into an accident.
Driving without a licence
It’s illegal to drive without a valid licence. If you are caught, you will be charged with a criminal offence and have to pay for any damages you cause.
You don’t have to have your own insurance policy to drive someone’s vehicle. However, they have to have their own insurance policy. Depending on the coverage, only certain aspects that may be covered if you get into an at-fault accident.
Get the person you’re borrowing the vehicle from to ask their insurance provider about the terms and conditions of their policy. Next, we will talk about what happens if you get into an accident while driving someone else’s vehicle.
What happens if you get into an accident while driving someone else’s car?
If you are borrowing another person’s vehicle and get into an accident, you might worry because you aren’t listed on their insurance policy. Luckily, as long as you have permission to drive the vehicle, you can use the other person’s car insurance policy to help pay for damages. However, the two of you will need to have a discussion about who pays the deductible.
Since you were driving the vehicle and were directly involved in the accident, it will go on your driving record. Unfortunately, if you commit any traffic violations, your insurance premiums will likely increase alongside the person from whom you borrowed the car. This is because an insurance claim has to be made to pay for the damages.
Some people don’t have their own car insurance policies because they don’t own a vehicle. This doesn’t stop them from driving other people’s vehicles if they get permission, assuming the other person’s vehicle is insured. It’s in your best interest to ask the person you’re borrowing the vehicle from if they have insurance. This is also the case if someone is borrowing your vehicle.
Questions about car insurance? Contact BrokerLink!
In summary, if you let a friend or neighbour borrow your car, you don’t need a new policy. However, you should be aware of the potential repercussions if they get into an accident while driving your vehicle. Even when driving someone else’s car, no one is above the law and must follow the rules of the road.
If you are driving regularly, you’ll need a good car insurance policy. With that said, there are many types of auto insurance coverage available. Some are optional, while others are mandatory and include the following:
Letting someone drive your car is not a decision you should take lightly. Before you hand over the keys, remember that any claims will go on your auto insurance policy. If something goes wrong, you will be held responsible. Do you have a question about your car insurance policy? Call one of our local branches.
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