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Rachel Bodine
Rachel Bodine graduated from college with a BA in English. She has since worked as a Feature Writer in the insurance industry and gained a deep knowledge of state and countrywide insurance laws and rates. Her research and writing focus on helping readers understand their insurance coverage and how to find savings. Her expert advice on insurance has been featured on sites like PhotoEnforced, All.
Written by Rachel BodineBrandon Frady
Licensed Insurance Producer
Brandon Frady has been a licensed insurance agent and insurance office manager since 2018. He has experience in ventures from retail to finance, working positions from cashier to management, but it wasn’t until Brandon started working in the insurance industry that he truly felt at home in his career. In his day-to-day interactions, he aims to live out his business philosophy in how he treats hi.
Reviewed by Brandon FradyLicensed Insurance Producer
UPDATED: Jul 12, 2024
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UPDATED: Jul 12, 2024
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
If you lend your car to a relative or friend, you may wonder what will happen if they’re in an accident. In most cases, the insurance you have on your vehicle will cover an accident, but there are some exceptions.
Insurance typically follows the vehicle, so your coverage will probably cover an incident. However, if the person driving your car has insurance, that coverage can function as secondary or supplemental insurance when necessary.
In some instances, like if someone routinely borrows your vehicle, your insurance may not cover the individual driving. If that’s the case, the person driving may need to purchase a non-owner car insurance policy to ensure they have coverage in the event of an accident.
In most instances, the car insurance you have on your vehicle will cover someone else driving your car. This is because car insurance typically follows the vehicle, which means anyone driving your car should have coverage under your auto insurance policy.
Read More: What Is Covered by Auto InsuranceIf someone else is driving your car and gets into an accident, your insurance coverage could help in multiple ways:
While your insurance covers other drivers in most cases, you should familiarize yourself with any exceptions to this rule.
Depending on your specific car insurance policy, you may find that not everyone is covered under your insurance if they are driving your vehicle.
Many insurance companies require people living in the home with you to be added to your auto insurance policy if they plan to drive your vehicle. So, if you have a roommate or family member who lives in your home and drives your vehicle regularly, that person may not be covered if they’re in an accident.
Anyone who constantly drives your vehicle for any reason must either add themselves to your policy or purchase a non-owner car insurance option. Non-owner coverage is often cheaper than an auto policy on a specific vehicle. This coverage can help if the person is in an accident while driving your vehicle.
If someone is driving your car and is in an accident, but the accident is another driver’s fault, your insurance may not come into play. In this scenario, the at-fault party is responsible for paying for repairs to your vehicle. Find out more about who is covered under your auto insurance .
Remember, too, that laws for car insurance vary depending on where you live. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s laws concerning auto insurance coverage to ensure you aren’t surprised in the future.
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Auto insurance typically follows the vehicle first, but policies technically follow both the car and the driver.
If you are driving someone else’s vehicle, that person’s insurance coverage will help first if you’re in a car accident and cause damage to someone else or their vehicle. But, if you also have an auto insurance policy on your vehicle, that policy can help as a secondary option if the first auto insurance policy’s limits are not enough to pay for everything.
The most common types of auto insurance that transfer into an auto insurance policy are liability coverage, collision coverage, and medical payments or personal injury protection.
The first policy to work if someone else is driving your vehicle and gets into an accident is yours. Next, that individual’s auto insurance will kick in as a secondary policy. Lastly, if the driver is on another relative’s auto insurance policy, that policy can help in some scenarios when necessary.
Most auto insurance policies will pay out up to their limit before using a secondary policy. So, if your insurance has $20,000 in bodily injury liability but you need $23,000, the remaining $3,000 could come from the driver’s policy once yours paid what it could.
In most cases, all of your auto insurance coverage will transfer to another person driving your vehicle. If you have a full coverage policy, your full coverage covers another driver. Because your car insurance covers other drivers, whatever coverage you have on your policy has the potential to help.
Liability, collision, and PIP or MedPay are the most common coverages that transfer, but you may find that other coverages help in different scenarios, such as:
It’s important to note that PIP and MedPay coverage laws typically vary by state. So if you and your friend both carry PIP or MedPay coverage and your friend wrecks your vehicle, it may depend on where you live as to whose coverage helps first.
Full coverage auto insurance typically includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages. It’s designed to provide a broad level of protection for various scenarios, including instances where someone else might be driving your vehicle.
Full coverage is not a specific policy type but a term commonly used to describe a combination of the following coverages:
Permissive Use:
Exceptions and Limitations:
If someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident, am I covered?
Does full coverage cover someone else driving my car?
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Sometimes, your car insurance will not cover someone else driving your vehicle. The most common scenario in which someone would not have coverage under your auto insurance policy is if they are a “named excluded” driver. For example, if a named excluded driver is driving your car and gets into an accident, your insurance policy will not help pay for the damages.
A “named excluded” driver is someone you’ve said cannot drive your vehicle. You will often exclude someone by name on your policy if they live with you but are considered a high-risk driver. Adding this person to your policy could increase your rates, so you may want to exclude them altogether.
If you exclude a person from your policy and that individual drives your vehicle, they are driving without your permission. Anyone who gets into an accident in this scenario would be responsible for paying for damages to your vehicle or someone else’s out of their pocket.
Some states do not allow you to exclude a person from your auto insurance policy. These states include:
If you live in one of the states listed above, your rules on policy exclusions may differ. Speak with a company representative to learn more.
Your insurance company should tell you if they exclude specific people from your policy, but you may have to know where to find it.
Some insurance companies require adding people under the same roof to your auto insurance. Those people may automatically be excluded from your policy if you choose not to. You can check your policy to see if it has specific exclusions.
Permissive use is the use of your vehicle based on your permission. Most car insurance companies will cover any permissive use of your vehicle. Non-permissive use occurs when someone drives your vehicle without your consent.
If a friend borrows your vehicle without asking, or if someone steals your car, your insurance will likely not cover any accidents. Still, you may have to file a claim with your insurance company if you need your collision coverage to pay for repairs to your vehicle. Find out whether you can drive a car if your name is not on the insurance .
If you do not have insurance, you can borrow someone’s car if that policy offers you coverage as a permissive driver. However, if you are excluded from someone’s car insurance policy but decide to drive their vehicle and end up in an accident, you could be personally liable for any damages.
Anyone who regularly borrows someone else’s vehicle should invest in a non-owner car insurance policy. Non-owner insurance typically provides liability coverage if you’re in an accident while driving someone’s vehicle. Find out if you need car insurance to drive someone else’s car .
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Yes, another driver’s car insurance can be involved if they get in an accident in your vehicle. The most common scenario would be if your insurance did not cover the extent of the damages or if the driver was excluded from your policy.
If someone steals your vehicle and then damages it, the damage will be covered if you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle.
Comprehensive coverage helps with things like theft, vandalism, inclement weather, and wild animals. If you do not have comprehensive coverage, you may have to pay for damage to your car out of pocket.
Most car insurance policies follow the vehicle. So, if someone borrows your car and is in an accident, your auto insurance may be the primary policy for paying for repairs and medical bills.
Still, state laws vary regarding how auto insurance works when someone borrows your car. Therefore, you should check your insurance policy before letting anyone borrow your vehicle and purchase non-owner auto insurance coverage if you regularly borrow someone else’s car.
As you search for proper coverage, compare quotes from multiple companies in your area. Doing so will help you avoid paying too much for car insurance.
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Yes, in most cases, if they are driving with your permission and are not excluded by your policy.
If you live in a no-fault state and the person driving your vehicle is a permissive driver, your coverage will work to the limits of your policy. If an excluded driver was driving when the accident occurred, however, you and the driver may both be liable for damages.
Your car insurance coverage likely covers other drivers as long as you have not excluded them from your policy. You can check the details of your auto insurance to be sure.
Your insurance will likely be the first policy used if someone else drives your car and gets into an accident. Your liability, collision, and MedPay or PIP coverage will help cover damages up to the limits of your policy. The driver’s insurance policy may be a secondary policy if yours does not offer enough coverage.
If you borrow someone else’s vehicle regularly, you’ll need non-owner coverage. However, if you plan to borrow a vehicle once, you should be covered under the vehicle owner’s insurance policy.
In most cases, your insurance should cover that individual when they drive your car.
Your liability coverage follows your vehicle, so it should cover anyone driving it. However, liability coverage does not help with damage to your vehicle.
Yes, as long as they have your permission and meet the criteria set out by your insurer for permissive use.
Florida is a no-fault state, meaning each party’s insurance covers their own injuries or damages regardless of who is at fault. However, your full coverage would handle damages to your vehicle, and your liability coverage could be involved if damages exceed the other driver’s policy limits.
It covers most drivers operating your vehicle with permission, but specific exclusions and limitations depend on your individual policy and state regulations.
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