How can I let my parents drive/insure a car I own in North Carolina?

May 31, 2013 11:52 AM

I'm trying to figure out a way to have a car that I own insured and driven primarily by my parents. I can't transfer the title, as there's still a lien and I will be making payments. However, my parents need a car urgently, so I need to get them to a good, insured state with a reliable automobile. Does anyone have experience with this?
posted by sonic meat machine to Travel & Transportation (11 answers total)

You get an insurance plan with them as drivers on the plan and they pay you back for the payments.
posted by Aizkolari at 11:59 AM on May 31, 2013 [1 favorite]

We just added my bf's brother's car to our insurance when he left it with us. Brother still has the title and everything but the car is insured on our insurance policy so we can drive it whenever we want (which is never because I hate it and I want it out of the driveway and I want to scream every time I see it).
posted by magnetsphere at 12:00 PM on May 31, 2013

It's very common for the owner of a car to have an insurance policy that lists a parent or child (or spouse) as the primary driver. They can pay you back or not as you arrange with them.
posted by tyllwin at 12:03 PM on May 31, 2013

Also you tell the insurance company the car is garaged at your parents home in North Carolina.
posted by mskyle at 12:17 PM on May 31, 2013

I have done this, and never had a problem setting it up. Talk to your insurance provider, it should be easy.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 12:18 PM on May 31, 2013

My dad has insured and driven a car that belonged to me.

I'd add to this, if they insure it on their own plan it will be MUCH cheaper unless you're already fairly old.
posted by emptythought at 12:23 PM on May 31, 2013 [2 favorites]

A friend of mine left the country for a while and in exchange for me storing his car in my driveway I put it on my insurance and drove it every now and again. Insurance company didn't care who owned it -- I just gave them the VIN and it was insured for me to drive.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 2:11 PM on May 31, 2013

I once had a co-worker do something similar; the car was registered to his parents in Virginia but he was living and working in Massachusetts. He had a MA insurance policy but the car had VA plates and VA inspection / county property tax stickers in the windshield (all of which were kept current for several years, at least until I stopped working at that company). I think he paid the insurance, though. I'm not quite sure how this works because usually if your car is registered in State X you are required to have an insurance policy from State X, not State Y.

Of course, this is less of an issue if both you and your parents live in North Carolina. I'd suggest talking to your insurance company or agent and explaining the situation. Keep in mind (if you don't live in NC), your insurance company may not issue policies for NC so you may have to find another.

It may be as simple as you add them as primary drivers on your existing insurance policy, and have them pay you for the policy (or not) as you see fit.
posted by tckma at 2:33 PM on May 31, 2013

It varies by state, but most auto insurers care about who is driving the car, not who owns it.
posted by megatherium at 2:36 PM on May 31, 2013

It really is as easy as calling your car insurance place and adding them as primary drivers and listing their address as where the car is parked overnight, don't stress!
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 4:49 PM on May 31, 2013

One thing to consider. As long as you are the owner of the car, you are at risk of being sued should they be in an accident.
posted by HuronBob at 5:59 PM on May 31, 2013