Can Someone Drive My Car if they’re Not on My Insurance?

If you’re like most people, at one point or another, you’ve let someone borrow your car who’s not on your insurance. Maybe your neighbor needs to run a few errands. Or, perhaps your brother’s car is in the shop and he has no way to get back and forth to work.

Most of us don’t think twice before letting someone we trust borrow our car. The last thing we think about is what we’ll do if they get into an accident. What are the odds of someone getting into crash on the one day they borrowed your car?

Unfortunately, the odds are better than you may think. People get into car accidents in Texas all the time while driving someone else’s vehicle. It makes sense really. When we drive someone else’s car, we’re not as familiar with how it handles. Nor do we know exactly where all of the controls are. We figure, as long as we can find the turn signals, lights and wipers, we’re okay to drive.

The good news is that, if someone does get into an accident while driving your car, it should be covered by insurance. This is because insurance follows the car, not the driver. Your car accident attorney in Texas knows this. They’ve handled several cases where their client was in someone else’s car at the time of the crash.

Your Insurance Follows the Car – Not the Driver

A lot of people think that insurance follows the driver and not the car. After all, insurance premiums are typically based on a driver’s accident history. But they’re also based on the type of car your drive.

If you finance your car, you need full coverage. Whereas, if your car is paid off, you can choose to carry liability insurance instead of full coverage. If you drive a more expensive car, your insurance will be higher. And, if you drive a convertible, it may be more expensive to find insurance.

Keep in mind, the insurance company expects that you’ll be the one primarily driving your car. They have you list other drivers in your home in case they do use the car from time to time. This is why your insurance goes through the roof when your teenager gets their permit. But this doesn’t mean that your insurance only applies when a named driver is behind the wheel.

Your Texas Car Accident Lawyer Knows That Your Policy Should Cover any Damages

The good news is that your insurance policy should coverage any damages sustained in an accident. This is true regardless of who is driving your car.  Now, there are some exceptions to this general rule.

For example, if someone steals your car or drives it without permission, the insurance company isn’t going to cover any claims. So, if you report your car stolen at 1 pm and someone gets into an accident at 3 pm, it won’t be covered.

The point of having insurance is so that, if anyone gets injured in a crash involving your vehicle, they’ll be covered. Insurance companies understand that, from time to time, we will lend our cars to family and friends. As long as your premiums are paid and you’re up to date on your policy, you should be okay.

What if the Damages Exceed Your Policy’s Limits?

There are times when the injuries sustained in a car accident exceed your policy’s limits. For example, if your brother crashes into a car with four people, their damages may be much higher than your policy limits.

If this happens, any insurance carried by the person driving your car will kick in. This means that, in the example above, if your brother has car insurance, it will help cover any damages. This will at least prevent you from being sued personally for injuries sustained in the crash.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer in Texas

If someone gets into a car crash while driving your car, it can get messy. The insurance company may give you a hard time when it comes to paying out claims. An experienced car accident lawyer can help.

If your friend or family member is injured in the crash, your insurance should cover any medical bills. If they don’t, your attorney can help appeal your claim. And, if necessary, they can file a lawsuit against the other driver.

Call Brent Coon & Associates today and schedule your initial consultation. It’s absolutely free and you pay nothing until your case settles.