Do You Need Insurance to Drive Someone Else’s Car?

Do You Need Insurance to Drive Someone Else’s Car?

If you’ve needed to borrow a friend’s vehicle, you’ve probably wondered if their insurance policy covers you. Depending on your state and the terms of the policy, you could be covered under the car owner’s insurance policy if they have comprehensive insurance. But if you find yourself borrowing a car frequently, you might want to acquire your own policy so you can drive others’ vehicles with confidence.

Does Insurance Follow the Car or the Driver?

Most full coverage auto insurance policies are written to follow the vehicle instead of the driver, so if you’re borrowing someone’s fully insured car, you’ll likely be covered under their insurance. However, what is covered under their policy will vary depending on what type of insurance they have.

If you have insurance on a vehicle of your own and borrow someone else’s vehicle, some elements of your insurance might extend to the borrowed vehicle—check your policy.

 What about Liability Coverage?

If you have car insurance and drive another’s vehicle, it’s common for liability insurance to pay for claims that occur in vehicles you don’t own up to the policy limits. If you have standard insurance, then your liability insurance will usually protect you to a certain extent if you get into an accident in an uninsured borrowed car, or if the driver of the other vehicle attempts to sue you.

If you’re not personally insured and borrow a vehicle that has liability coverage, you might be covered under their policy if you’re temporarily driving the vehicle with permission.