I’m borrowing my friend’s car … am I covered?
Most people have an idea of what’s covered and not covered under their various insurance policies. But at Goodrich & Watson Insurers, we get a lot of questions about borrowing or loaning a car in Newport News, VA.
Maybe you are looking to borrow your neighbor’s truck in Williamsburg for a home-improvement project or for a quick day trip to Virginia Beach. Regardless, we thought it was a great time to provide a little more information.
Generally, insurance coverage follows the vehicle rather than the driver. So in most instances, as long as the owner of the car has auto insurance, it’s covered even if someone other than the owner is driving it — as long as they have the owner’s permission.
The borrower’s insurance is considered secondary, meaning that in the event of an accident, it could apply if the owner’s insurance is insufficient to fully cover the damage.
It’s important to note that there are some exceptions to what is called “permissive use” coverage. For example, permission must be given by the owner, unless the borrower has a reasonable belief that they are allowed to use the car. However, the borrower cannot give permission to someone else. So if your teenager allows one of his or her friends to drive your car to Patrick Henry Mall, your coverage likely won’t apply.
Coverage might also be denied if the borrower operates the vehicle in a negligent or criminal manner. And if the borrower is using your car for business purposes, your personal auto policy likely won’t cover that. For example, if the borrower is using your truck for their contracting company in Hampton, VA, your vehicle would need business auto insurance.
If you have a regular long-term arrangement to either borrow or lend a car, the borrower should probably be added to the owner’s personal auto policy. Those who don’t own a car, but often borrow one, might also consider “named non-owner coverage,” an endorsement that provides bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorists coverage and more.
Ultimately, it’s usually safe to loan your friend your car for occasional errands or projects. And the same goes for borrowing a car. Just make sure it’s for “normal” use. You’ll want to confirm that the car has coverage and that your insurance, whether you’re the owner or borrower, will apply.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions — after all, you don’t want to wait until after an accident to get answers!
