Will an insured vehicle be covered if the driver isn't?
July 10, 2006 1:31 PM Subscribe
What happens if a licensed driver gets into an accident in someone else's vehicle when they don't have an insurance policy themselves? (Long story inside)
To make a very long story as short as possible: I was pulled over for a double whammy of a licensed suspension and expired registration. I was living at college, was pulled over on a Friday, and the notification had only been mailed to my parents home (hours away) on the Wednesday two days before. The registration was some glitch in the system... The car was transferred in my name and I got the registration renewed but for some reason they claim they wanted to keep it on the same renewal schedule as my old truck, therefore it expired only 2 months later.
Anyhoo, after going to court, my violation was changed to a non-moving violation (not driving while suspended, I don't know the exact offense off the top of my head) and no points went on my license. My license was immediately renewed and all seemed well. Except... I was given 10 insurance points even though my violation was a non-moving.
I hired a lawyer who talked to the judge and said nothing could be done. I got the feeling the lawyer didn't try very hard (I got a refund, though). Luckily, our insurance agent is a good friend of ours and told us that as long as my address registered with the DMV was not the same as my mother's, that I could transfer the car in her name and she could add it as a second car *without* me being listed on the policy as a driver. I've been driving this way for 2 years now, and have not had an accident or a speeding ticket (nor have I ever). Our agent friend claimed that the car would still be covered if I were in an accident.
I've finally decided to buy a new car, and recent quotes (even 2 years later) seem to be the same and just won't be affordable to me. My first instinct is obviously to do this same thing again... have the car registered to my mother and have her insure it as her second car and I just pay her the money. Before I do this with a brand new car that I'll actually care about, instead of my 91 Buick that I could care less about, I want to make sure that the car will be covered as normal even if I'm the driver and don't have my own policy. This is for the state of NJ.
The reason I assume it actually will be covered is because of our agent friend: she's no dummy, and god-forbid anything actually did happen she could get in just as much trouble as we'd be in for suggesting we do it. Seems not worth it for her to do it unless it were true. Any insight greatly appreciated!
To make a very long story as short as possible: I was pulled over for a double whammy of a licensed suspension and expired registration. I was living at college, was pulled over on a Friday, and the notification had only been mailed to my parents home (hours away) on the Wednesday two days before. The registration was some glitch in the system... The car was transferred in my name and I got the registration renewed but for some reason they claim they wanted to keep it on the same renewal schedule as my old truck, therefore it expired only 2 months later.
Anyhoo, after going to court, my violation was changed to a non-moving violation (not driving while suspended, I don't know the exact offense off the top of my head) and no points went on my license. My license was immediately renewed and all seemed well. Except... I was given 10 insurance points even though my violation was a non-moving.
I hired a lawyer who talked to the judge and said nothing could be done. I got the feeling the lawyer didn't try very hard (I got a refund, though). Luckily, our insurance agent is a good friend of ours and told us that as long as my address registered with the DMV was not the same as my mother's, that I could transfer the car in her name and she could add it as a second car *without* me being listed on the policy as a driver. I've been driving this way for 2 years now, and have not had an accident or a speeding ticket (nor have I ever). Our agent friend claimed that the car would still be covered if I were in an accident.
I've finally decided to buy a new car, and recent quotes (even 2 years later) seem to be the same and just won't be affordable to me. My first instinct is obviously to do this same thing again... have the car registered to my mother and have her insure it as her second car and I just pay her the money. Before I do this with a brand new car that I'll actually care about, instead of my 91 Buick that I could care less about, I want to make sure that the car will be covered as normal even if I'm the driver and don't have my own policy. This is for the state of NJ.
The reason I assume it actually will be covered is because of our agent friend: she's no dummy, and god-forbid anything actually did happen she could get in just as much trouble as we'd be in for suggesting we do it. Seems not worth it for her to do it unless it were true. Any insight greatly appreciated!
This post was deleted for the following reason: asked previously
Your insurance is supposed to be in your name.
If you're the primary driver and have a truly expensive accident, I bet you'll be out in the cold if it's alleged to be dear old mom's car.
Borrowing a car for a day isn't the same as driving it daily.
posted by Tacos Are Pretty Great at 1:53 PM on July 10, 2006
If you're the primary driver and have a truly expensive accident, I bet you'll be out in the cold if it's alleged to be dear old mom's car.
Borrowing a car for a day isn't the same as driving it daily.
posted by Tacos Are Pretty Great at 1:53 PM on July 10, 2006
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posted by SpecialK at 1:42 PM on July 10, 2006