Insurance assurances
April 10, 2013 10:11 PM Subscribe
I have insurance coverage from Geico for my car in IL. Am I covered while driving my dad's car in CA?
I can't get a straight answer from customer support. My dad's policy has liability coverage (but not collision), but I won't be listed as a driver. Am I still covered? I'm interested primarily in liability coverage (i.e. bodily injury and property damage to others). Some more info:
-I don't live with him
-The insurance policy they sent seems to say that I'm covered when driving someone else's car even out of state, but I don't really trust my ability to parse the legalese.
I guess I'm mostly looking for confirmation/negation from someone who's had to put this to the test.
I can't get a straight answer from customer support. My dad's policy has liability coverage (but not collision), but I won't be listed as a driver. Am I still covered? I'm interested primarily in liability coverage (i.e. bodily injury and property damage to others). Some more info:
-I don't live with him
-The insurance policy they sent seems to say that I'm covered when driving someone else's car even out of state, but I don't really trust my ability to parse the legalese.
I guess I'm mostly looking for confirmation/negation from someone who's had to put this to the test.
myth: car insurance follows the driver from esurance.com
posted by ancient star at 10:19 PM on April 10, 2013
posted by ancient star at 10:19 PM on April 10, 2013
I don't understand why you wouldn't call your dad's insurance company and add yourself as a driver. It seems like a straightforward thing to do.
I live in California and am from Illinois.
posted by phaedon at 12:10 AM on April 11, 2013
I live in California and am from Illinois.
posted by phaedon at 12:10 AM on April 11, 2013
It's been a few years, but I used to work for Progressive, and I would believe you'd be covered by his policy as an "occasional driver". You on average drive his vehicle less than once a month and don't live with him. You should be fine.
posted by efalk at 3:05 AM on April 11, 2013
posted by efalk at 3:05 AM on April 11, 2013
Best answer: SpacemanStix has it, but here's why. This. . .
myth: car insurance follows the driver from esurance.com
. . . is kind of misleading. It is definitely correct to say that insurance follows the car. When your dad insured his vehicle, the company agreed to provide the same coverage for both him, the members of his household, and anyone who drive it with his permission. That includes you. It would also include his neighbor, his buddy from work, and whoever else he gave permission to drive his vehicle, provided it wasn't a regular thing.
But car insurance does follow drivers as well. So when you insured your vehicle, your company agreed to cover the vehicle, and anyone driving it, but they also agreed to cover you for any other vehicle you drive.*
The result is that if you drive your dad's car, both his policy and your policy are implicated. The interaction of two concurrently applicable insurance policies is called "coordination of benefits," and the way it generally works is that the policy that covers the vehicle pays out first, and any policies that cover the driver pay out second.** So if you're driving your dad's car and you get in an accident, the most likely outcome is that your dad's insurance company will step in and provide primary coverage and defense in the case. If your liability exceeds the available limits on your dad's policy, then your policy kicks in.
I don't understand why you wouldn't call your dad's insurance company and add yourself as a driver.
Because most personal lines companies will not permit a person to be added as a driver unless that person lives in the household. There are underwriting reasons for this, but they're too complicated to get into here.
*Other than most driving in an employment context. That's mostly excluded, even if it's car you own. Commercial and personal lines are sharply divided.
**Things get a bit more complicated if your dad has an excess/umbrella policy, but let's keep it simple.
posted by valkyryn at 4:37 AM on April 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
myth: car insurance follows the driver from esurance.com
. . . is kind of misleading. It is definitely correct to say that insurance follows the car. When your dad insured his vehicle, the company agreed to provide the same coverage for both him, the members of his household, and anyone who drive it with his permission. That includes you. It would also include his neighbor, his buddy from work, and whoever else he gave permission to drive his vehicle, provided it wasn't a regular thing.
But car insurance does follow drivers as well. So when you insured your vehicle, your company agreed to cover the vehicle, and anyone driving it, but they also agreed to cover you for any other vehicle you drive.*
The result is that if you drive your dad's car, both his policy and your policy are implicated. The interaction of two concurrently applicable insurance policies is called "coordination of benefits," and the way it generally works is that the policy that covers the vehicle pays out first, and any policies that cover the driver pay out second.** So if you're driving your dad's car and you get in an accident, the most likely outcome is that your dad's insurance company will step in and provide primary coverage and defense in the case. If your liability exceeds the available limits on your dad's policy, then your policy kicks in.
I don't understand why you wouldn't call your dad's insurance company and add yourself as a driver.
Because most personal lines companies will not permit a person to be added as a driver unless that person lives in the household. There are underwriting reasons for this, but they're too complicated to get into here.
*Other than most driving in an employment context. That's mostly excluded, even if it's car you own. Commercial and personal lines are sharply divided.
**Things get a bit more complicated if your dad has an excess/umbrella policy, but let's keep it simple.
posted by valkyryn at 4:37 AM on April 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Valkyryn, this is when reading the link helps. If you do this, you will see that it explains that, yes, car insurance does sometimes follow the driver as well:
So, for instance, if you loan your car to your best friend Drew and he causes an accident, you'll have to file a claim with your insurer, pay the deductible, and possibly expect a rate increase.
If Drew has car insurance, he might be responsible for any personal liability and medical expenses. Additionally, his coverage might have to step in if the limits of your policy have already been reached.
---
If your car's taken without your consent, you won't be held accountable for any damages. For instance, if a thief takes your car for a joyride and crashes it into a parked BMW 740i, you won't be liable for any damage to the BMW. However, you'll most likely have to use your insurance to cover any damages to your vehicle.
On the other hand, if a friend borrows your car without your permission and causes an accident, your friend's insurance will probably be considered primary coverage and yours secondary.
posted by ancient star at 4:10 PM on April 11, 2013
So, for instance, if you loan your car to your best friend Drew and he causes an accident, you'll have to file a claim with your insurer, pay the deductible, and possibly expect a rate increase.
If Drew has car insurance, he might be responsible for any personal liability and medical expenses. Additionally, his coverage might have to step in if the limits of your policy have already been reached.
---
If your car's taken without your consent, you won't be held accountable for any damages. For instance, if a thief takes your car for a joyride and crashes it into a parked BMW 740i, you won't be liable for any damage to the BMW. However, you'll most likely have to use your insurance to cover any damages to your vehicle.
On the other hand, if a friend borrows your car without your permission and causes an accident, your friend's insurance will probably be considered primary coverage and yours secondary.
posted by ancient star at 4:10 PM on April 11, 2013
this is when reading the link helps
I read it the first time around. The title was misleading then, and it's misleading now.
posted by valkyryn at 5:54 PM on April 11, 2013
I read it the first time around. The title was misleading then, and it's misleading now.
posted by valkyryn at 5:54 PM on April 11, 2013
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posted by SpacemanStix at 10:15 PM on April 10, 2013