Will My Car Insurance Cover Me If I Get into an Accident in Someone Else’s Car?
Whether or not your car insurance covers you in someone else’s car can vary by state. Although this is true, there are typical rules that apply to accidents that take place when the original owner of a vehicle is not the one driving.
The general rule is that your car insurance will cover your vehicle on a primary basis, and you on a secondary basis. This means that if you get into an accident in a vehicle that is not yours, the owner’s insurance will take care of it. Whatever their car insurance does not cover, your insurance coverage will pick up. On the other hand, if someone who does not own your car gets into an accident, your insurance will pay and their policy will fill in the gaps.
You will want to consider the fact that your car insurance rates may go up if someone has an accident driving your car. This will be the case if the person is found to be at fault. You need to be careful in deciding who is responsible enough to drive your car, and practice extreme caution while driving someone else’s car as well.
Depending on your coverage and the state that you live in, there are exceptions to these rules. One issue that most people are unaware of is a common vehicle that you have access to on a regular basis. If you live with someone and are not on his or her insurance policy, your car insurance may not cover you. This often applies to vehicles that you have access to driving frequently or on a daily basis. In order to be covered, you must have been given permission to use a person’s vehicle and be able to provide adequate information if pulled over by the police.
Just to make one common mistake very clear, the type of car insurance coverage that you have does make a difference. Some people have the misconception that if they have comprehensive car insurance, this will make a difference. However, comprehensive car insurance only pertains to the physical damage to the vehicle and does not affect the chances of someone being covered when driving a vehicle that they do not own. You may also be affected if you have a bad driving record. This is generally a sign of irresponsibility in the world of car insurance.
The best thing to do before driving another person’s vehicle is to check with your insurance agent to see what your car insurance policy covers. This would also present an ideal opportunity for you to discuss whether or not your rates will be affected in the event of an accident.
