Will car insurance cover me if an unlicensed driver was driving?

Question

I have a problem. My car was wrecked by an unlicensed driver. I didn't know that person's license was suspended. Will my insurance still cover it? My car is messed up pretty bad. He got a ticket, but I don't think the officer filed a report. Can I call it stolen or say I was driving? Or, would that be fraud? Also, how can I find out if the cop filed a report? Also, my car is not registered to me, but the insurance is in my name. Will the insurance cover me???? Thanks!!!!

don't know the cop's name. I wasn't there and he says he doesn't remember. The police officer didn't give him a copy of the ticket. Strange???

PEOPLE .......... PLEASE READ QUESTIONS ... NO WHERE DOES IT SAY I DO NOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE. OBVIOUSLY, I MUST IF I AM ASKING IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL COVER IT. IT CLEARLY SAID THAT IT WAS LOANED!!! DON'T ANSWER IF YOU ARE STUPID!

Answer 1

For collision coverage the unlicensed driver is not an issue, as a claim adjuster I have paid hundreds of collision claims where an unlicensed person was driving.

However, you may have a problem with the fact that the car is not registered to you. In many states the person the car is registered to is considered the "legal owner". The problem you might have is that if you are not the "legal owner" then you would not have an "insurable interest" in that car. Meaning if you didn't own the car you had no right to put insurance on it.

If the police report lists somebody other than you as the registered owner of the car then you will get a lot of questions about that issue. They may still cover the damages since you paid the premiums or they might deny coverage if you did not divulge that you weren't the registered owner when you bought the policy. That is considered "material misrepresentation" and can be grounds for denying coverage.

DO NOT report the car as stolen or that you were driving. That is insurance fraud and insurance companies hate that and will not hesitate to make an example out of you if you get caught in fraud. Tell them the truth about the unlicensed driver, as that will be a much smaller issue the registered owner stuff will be.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

what do we have here- 10 problems?
Car taken & wrecked by somebody else.
If it were stolen and wrecked by somebody else, you would be covered regardless of whether they had a license.
You didn't report it stolen, so you loaned it out(trusting that that driver would be a good driver). The question is how did the car get wrecked? If he went 4x4 with it, and ripped out the undercarriage.......your loss. No insurance covers deliberate mishandling of your vehicle. If he got into a car accident with another vehicle and it is the other vehicles fault....different kettle of fish.

Question...does your insurance cover you if you decide to drive into a tree? ( Its not the trees fault, it is yours).
So do you have collision, or do you have the cheapest which is third party coverage? In other words, somebody has to hit you and their insurance would cover your damage.
The car is not registered to you? It's not "your car". I am thinking "if you have 'under insured' the car, no right to loan it out and the costs would have to come out of your pocket.

I may be wrong, but I am trying to look at it from the insurance company. Read your policy.
As for reporting it stolen, it is a little late for that and you would need to lay charges against the stealer.

Answer 3

In Texas, the company would be responsible for the claim (although not very happy about it). Don't make any fraudulent statements trying to say it was stolen or pretend you were driving that will only come back to haunt you. And if stolen it might acutally let the company off the hook.
As far as it not being registered to you, again, they won't be happy but will probably make the check out to the owner and/or any lienholders.
I don't suppose there's any chance your unlicensed driver has an insurance policy of their own?

Answer 4

A lot depends on the insurance regulations in your state. You will probably have a big hike in your insurance rates, and they may require a statement indicating your "friend" is never allowed to drive the vehicle again.

I think your insurance will cover you THIS time, but they will NOT be happy with you or with doing so. If you lie to your insurance, you'll hurt yourself even WORSE. Yes, lying to the insurance would be fraud! Don't claim it was stolen as they'll want you to give them a copy of the police report proving it was stolen! If you file a stolen report with the police, your "friend" goes to jail for theft.

Hopefully you know WHERE the accident was. Contact the police and give them as much information as you can: date / time / driver's name. Explain you need the report and a copy of the ticket for your insurance since your "friend" failed to notify you of s/he was driving on a suspended license.

Since the officer ticketed your "friend", he also filed a report. It takes a few days, but he absolutely WILL file a report since the driver was driving illegally on a suspended license, which is driving withOUT a license.

Since you are not the registered owner of the vehicle, you had NO RIGHT to let anyone else drive the car. I'm glad you have insurance in your own name. The owner of the car is another person you have to talk to, and if it's your parent, you're in the dog house.

Bottom line:
1) The insurance may cover you this one time unless it had a restriction against any other people driving the car ever.
2) You need to NOT let any friends drive the car... it's not yours to loan out.
3) if you believe the bull**** that the cop didn't give him a copy of the ticket, I have a bridge to sell you.

Answer 5

No, insurance will not cover the damages, it is invalidated by the suspended license issue. To get a copy of the police report, you contact the police dept and request a copy. There may be a small fee. You do not want to report it as stolen, it would be fraud, no you can't say you were driving, again fraud, plus the police report will show who was driving, and any pertinent information. Who is the car registered to? Generally, you cannot insure a car not registered to you. This will cause a problem for the registered owner, as they are now responsible for any damages caused by the driver, simply because they are shown as the registered/legal owner. If they have filed a Seller's Report of Sale, they will have some protection, but what a hassle for them. Again, the insurance went out of play witht the suspended license, there's no need to try to find another way out, your policy will clearly state that coverage is only for drivers with valid driver licensing privledges, all others coverage would not be in effect.

Answer 6

You can call the Police department to ask for the case number, or, If you know the name of the officer who was on the scene, it will be easier to call and ask that officer about the report. On the insurance, call YOUR insurance agent and ask. They will tell you exactly what is and isn't covered. Do not lie about who was driving. Lies nearly ALWAYS come back to chew on your toenails when dealing with anything involving money.

Answer 7

If you knew the person was unlicensed, they will not cover it.

If you did not know, then they may or may not, depending on their policy.

If you make up stuff, it will be fraud. They will find out the truth sooner or later. Even if the cop didn't file a report, they have ways of knowing.

Answer 8

Don't fake it. If you sincerely thought he was licensed at the time (you didn't ask and he never told you) then you should be okay. If you try to say you were driving or something and someone cross-ref'ed you'll be in bigger trouble. Call your agent and ask a hypothetical question. ;)

Answer 9

ok my son was a baqck seat rider the driver did not own car another person does and total the car we don't no if he took insurance off before or after who is responsible for my son injuries

Answer 10

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