Beginner motorists and drivers are usually excited to just be on the road with the rest of the civilians commuting from point A to point B carrying out their duties as functioning members of society. Unfortunately, we as a nation do a poor job of explaining the financial intricacies and insurance coverage details/complications that new drivers become responsible for once they’re officially on the road. Matter of fact, some seasoned drivers don’t even fully understand the complexities of auto insurance policies, especially in regards to letting friends and family members operate their vehicles. Hopefully, we here at Absolute Choice Insurance can provide you with the clarification you need to let you know whether or not your auto insurance policy covers other drivers.

Still, don’t hesitate to reach out to your insurance carrier to verify who else in your household or vicinity of companions is covered by your policy.

Different Types Of Auto Insurance

There is a wide variety of automobile insurance options to choose from when initial shopping for coverage plans which can be overwhelming for both new and experienced drivers if they don’t know exactly what they need to provide them with the best coverage options possible. Fortunately, we’ve broken down some of the less complex coverage options that will reveal whether other drivers are covered by specific types of insurance plans.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance is a minimum legal requirement for most motorists across the United States. This type of policy uses the driver as a focal point, which could allow liability insurance holders the ability to be covered under their own insurance policies while driving other people’s vehicles. Let it be known; this doesn’t guarantee coverage across the board for all insurance companies. Be clear to ask your friends and family what kind of insurance policy they hold prior to allowing them to operate your car in order to avoid any future conflicts in case of an accident.

Collision Insurance

Collision insurance uses the actual vehicle as a focal point for this type of automobile coverage and has the ability to cover the damage to your car in case of an accident involving another vehicle. This policy can provide you with the funds and coverage needed to repair or replace the covered vehicle altogether. Unfortunately, collision insurance may not cover additional motorists driving your car unless they are already added drivers on your insurance policy (which requires a routine background driver’s record investigation and could affect the price of your policy).

Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance policies is an extra layer of insurance that utilizes the vehicle as a focal point. This coverage not only covers vehicle-to-vehicle collisions but covers incidents including weather-caused vehicle damage, animal-involved accidents, vandalism, and more. Unfortunately, comprehensive insurance may not cover additional drivers of your vehicle unless they are added motorists to your policy.

These are the three basic insurance coverages known to the general public, but there are specialty coverage plans including gap insurance, classic car insurance, medical payment insurance, and rental reimbursement insurance that cover specific vehicle needs and provide you with specially-crafted services to fit your needs.

Does My Auto Insurance Cover Any Driver?

In most cases, a majority of auto insurance policies will cover any legal motorist that operates your vehicle on the premises that you allowed them to. This applies to coverage policies such as comprehensive and collision IF you allowed the other driver to operate your automobile.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a guarantee and policies vary from insuring company to company. While these stipulations benefit a vehicle owner and all the legal motorists they allow to operate their vehicles, Absolute Choice Insurance recommends you contact your insurance agent before allowing another driver to get behind the wheel of your car to verify the details of your coverage rights.

Does My Insurance Policy Cover Other Drivers In Another State?

Your car insurance will cover a motorist from any state as long as you permitted he/she to operate your automobile. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case as some insurance companies and policies may vary from state to state modifying the conditions and requirements of who is liable in case of an accident involving other drivers or unfortunate circumstances. Once again, it is recommended to verify this information with your insurance agent before allowing additional motorists to drive your vehicle.

Will My Insurance Cover An Accident Involving My Car If I Was Not There?

In order for your insurance company to cover an accident while you were not present would require you to have a comprehensive insurance coverage plan. And if someone else just so happens to be involved in an accident while you aren’t present, there’s a possibility they could be covered, under certain conditions. The driver at the time of the accident would first have to have had your permission to operate your vehicle. Secondly, the driver would need to be a relative of yours. If not, there’s a strong possibility that your claim will be denied [unless your vehicle was stolen].

As previously mentioned, coverage plans and companies vary in regards to their coverage specifications so be sure to ask these questions prior to partnering with an insurance company and make sure that these organizations offer you the services you require to suit your needs. If you have any further questions regarding what your insurance company will and will not cover, feel free to reach out to us at Absolute Choice Insurance, and we’ll do our best to answer any question you have.