Who knows the answer to this question:?

Question

I have a policy with 21st Century Insurance. I also have a teenage son in my house who uses my car to go to school everyday. He is not on my auto insurance policy and he caused an accident yesterday.

Will my insurance company pay for the damages even though the company had no knowledge of him driving?

Thanks for all answers...

Answer 1

Your agent knows the answer to that question.

And the answer is going to depend, heavily, on several other things:

1. Is he an excluded operator? If so, they won't pay a dime for sure, and YOU will be out both the damages to YOUR car, AND you will have to pay the damages and bodily injury to the other party.

2. Why is he not listed? Some policies have wording built in, to automatically not cover household members who aren't listed, or people with regular access to the car. Which is him. OTHER policies will cover the claim, but add him back RETROACTIVE TO THE DATE HE GOT HIS LICENSE, and bill you for the past 5? years of insurance that they are entitled to.

No one here can answer that question. What you did is quasi-insurance fraud. How the company responds to it will depend on how their policy is worded.

Either way, it's going to cost you A LOT.

Answer 2

It depends on the language in your policy. Generally, a resident relative is covered. However, there could be an exclusion that addresses this situation.

One thing that will happen for sure, the claims department will alert underwriting that you have a licensed driver in the household who was not listed on your policy. At the least, they will make you add him and could cancel your policy.

Next time - list all licensed drivers in the household on your policy. Deliberately not doing so could be considered insurance fraud.

If you did not tell your agent about your son because you were concerned about your premium going up- then have your son get a job and contribute to the price of the insurance. That way, you will have proper coverage and your son gets a good lesson in responsibility and bill paying.

Answer 3

If you'll notice on the 21st Insurance ads how they say that they'll extend insurance coverage to any FRIEND you allow to drive your car?

Well, what they're really saying is that you're REQUIRED to list any member of your family/household on your policy. They are well within their rights to decline coverage for your son. They may not do so, particularly if you have been with them for awhile, but they're going to require that you list him on the policy from this point forward regardless. (Incidentally, that's going to be required no matter what insurance company you go to -- and now, with a claim showing up in the industry-wide database associated with a VIN for a vehicle you own, there won't be any way to get away from it.)

Answer 4

I believe the answer is no. It's my understanding that all licensed drivers in your house have to be reported to your auto insurance company, and you will pay premiums for them to be covered, and then they'll be insured.

If your son is driving, why had you not added him to your coverage? I hope it wasn't to save money, because it's going to cost you a lot more now. If he damaged property or caused injury to someone, you're likely to get sued and end up having to pay all of those bills.

Answer 5

Unfortunately the insurance company won't pay for the damages if you say that your son was driving because he isn't covered. But if they had no knowledge that he was the one driving the car then yes they would pay for the damages....

Answer 6

this would be calssed as fraud as if they do pay out it would legally be classed as witholding legal information from an insural company pay-out. also the police would get involved so its best you inform them of the driver and sort it that way.

Answer 7

VERY doubtful. If he's using your car all the time, why wouldn't you list him?? Technically, that could be considered fraud.

Answer 8

No, not unless he has his own policy that covers him.

Answer 9

Yes, then cancel your ins.