my dad has a different insurance company then me, can i still drive his car and be covered?

Question

im 16 and dont have my car right now. would i still be covered under my dad's insurance policy, even though he has a different company.

Answer 1

It depends. Are you a household member? Are you a listed operator? Do you have access to his car more than 6 days a year? And what company is he with?

Some companies, like Progressive, absolutely will NOT cover a family member who isn't listed on the policy, period, no matter what.

If you have your OWN policy, check with your agent, and ask if the policy covers you if you drive another car. If you are the NAMED INSURED, usually it will carry over to another vehicle, on a secondary basis. If you are NOT the named insured, but only a listed operator, then it won't necessarily carry over.

Answer 2

You didn't mention this, but I'm assuming you live with your father. An insurance policy has certain conditions that have to be met before they will cover an automobile claim involving a driver who is not named on the policy itself as either a policyholder or a listed driver. The conditions that would be the same for every policy include: driver must have the owner's permission; they must have the correct class of licence to drive the vehicle; the licence must be valid; all licence conditions must be met. There are several other conditions that must be met, and they vary by jurisdiction, but the more common ones include: the person cannot be engaged in a race or speed test; the person cannot be using the automobile for any illicit or prohibited trade or transportation; the person cannot be impaired by drugs or alcohol. As I said the conditions vary, and the conditions may not be applicable to all coverages (especially in jurisdictions with Absolute Liability laws), so check your policy to confirm them.
For underwriting purposes, every application of automobile insurance will ask the question "Are there any other persons living in the household with a valid licence to drive?" (or something similar). Every company that I have encountered will want to know where the other people are insured, and if they are not insured, they will want them to be listed as a driver under your policy. This may or may not affect your premium. Every company that I have encountered, however, will not require that that person be listed as a driver if they can prove they are insured under another policy. This is because that policy will respond first in the event of a claim to cover the driver (the owner's policy will respond to cover the owner). Any company that requires everyone to be listed regardless of whether they are insured elsewhere is ignoring a competitve edge that other insurers who do not require this have. However if you are adamant that that person, even though they are not insured elsewhere, will not drive your vehicle, the insurer may agree to exclude that person from your policy as an operator, however they are not required to. They may decide not to insure you at all.
Just to get clarification, you state you don't have your car right now. Do you mean that you car is in the shop and you will be getting it back, or do you mean that you have sold or disposed of the vehicle (i.e. you no longer own the vehicle)? If it is the latter, may I recommend you cancel your policy and become insured under your father's policy. I recommend this for two reasons: 1) Technically your policy terminates the day when you no longer become the owner of the vehicle (ownership is transferred) with no intention of purchasing a replacement vehicle. This is because in order for their to be a valid insurance contract there has to be something real that is insured AND you have to show that you have an insurable interest in the item insured (you have to show that you would suffer financially from a loss relating to the item insured). When the item ceases to exist (with no intention of repair or replacement) or you cease having an insurable interest, there is no valid contract, and the policy terminates. This may be grounds for your insurer to deny a claim. The second reason is that, at your age, it may be cheaper to be an occasional driver under your father's policy than to carry on being a principal operator under your own. This may or may not apply to your situation.
If there is another licenced person in the household, and you answer no to the above question (trying to avoid an increase in premium), you are now guilty of misrepresentation, and the policy now becomes voidable at the option of the insurer, therefore always be honest when filling out an application. Also if the situation changes (a person who had a policy of their own cancels their policy or is cancelled), you are required to inform your insurer. Failure to do so is failing to report a material change in the risk, and can be the basis to cancel your policy or deny a claim.

Answer 3

It depends on the State. The State I am says the policy has to cover you while driving your father's car with his permission (even if you are not a listed driver - even Progressive has to do that here!). You said you do not have your car "right now". If you mean it is in the shop being repaired and you still carry your own policy, there should be no problem borrowing your father's vehicle. But, to be safe, it is best to have him call his insurance company or agent.

Answer 4

It all depends on the type of coverage your dad and you have. Some insurance companies will cover the car, no matter who is driving, others do not. A simple phone call to your insurance agent will tell you the answer.

Answer 5

Actually, it depends on the insurance company. Some cover only the drivers listed on the policy, some cover any driver who has permission from the owner to drive it.

The only way to know is to ask him to call his insurance company and ask what their rules are.

Answer 6

If you live in the United state.. then, Yes, you have coverage. Auto insurance covers anyone that is using the car with the owners permission. If you plan on using his car regularly, you should be listed as an operator. Even if your not listed as an operator though, you will still be covered (assuming you have a drivers license)

Answer 7

To be sure you would need to check with his agent. Your insurance would only pay AFTER your father's, if it would be covered at all.

Answer 8

If you don't have a car, kid, why would YOU have insurance? That doesn't make sense. I would check with Dad, but of course if you do that, the jig is up, isn't it?! Rhetorical.

Answer 9

if his insurance covers your age group, yes, it doesn't matter what company it is, or even whether you have your own insurance.

Answer 10

i don think so