Should I make my boyfriend sign an agreement before using my car long-term?

Question

My boyfriend's insurance is currently very high and his car is terrible in winter. So he is planning to uninsure it and use mine during the winter along with myself. It makes me nervous to have anyone else use my vehicle long-term, so I am considering drafting up an agreement for him to sign before he uninsures his car. He has already agreed to pay half my insurance and towards gas. I am thinking of including the following items in the agreement: 1) that he pay half my insurance at it's current rate; 2) that he pay a set amount towards gas; 3) if he gets in an accident which he is at fault for, he must either pay for it OR pay the increase in my insurance rate for a year; 4) any repairs for vehicle due to general wear / tear will be my responsibility; 5) that his use of the vehicle not impede with my ability to get to and from my place of employment or any appointments I make. Even paying half my insurance & gas, his monthly total will be less than what he's paying now.

As to why my boyfriend's insurance rate is currently so high: He drives an exotic car and recently had an accident which he was found to be 50% at fault with. I live in BC, Canada, and with the provincial insurance provider we have you are to pay higher rates with any accident which you are 50% or more responsible for. I was with him at the time of the accident, and feel that he was not at fault, but the insurance company feels differently. He is 22 years old and cannot shop for rates, as private insurance is not available here to people with under 10 years driving experience (or so I have been told).

Answer 1

My question is... why is your b/f insurance so high? There has to be a reason for this? Also, does your insurance cover someone else driving your vehicle?

I do think that you are doing the right thing by drafting up an agreement... I've seen too many cases in The People's Court. However, I don't think that it's a great idea to let your b/f borrow your car to begin with... which falls back on my question as to why is his premium so high.

It's your call on how to handle the situation, and you've only asked for our opinion on drafting something up.... So, to answer your question - I do think that it's a good idea that you're drafting something up. Also, make sure to get it notarized so that it'll hold up in court.

OH WAIT!! How old is your b/f? If he's under 18, he is not able to enter in to a contact, thus anything that you write up that he signs will be null and void.

Answer 2

Generally speaking, if a driver is going to use your car long term, he should be added to the policy. A signed agreement won't help you if he totals your car and doesn't have the money to pay you and it's not covered by your insurance for some reason. You can sue someone til you're blue in the face but if they don't have the money you'll never see it. Besides written agreements aren't always upheld in legal disputes.

My thought on this is that it could be disastrous at worst, annoying and inconvenient at best. Watching Judge Judy has taught me not to do these kind of arrangements. He should take steps to make his driving arrangements more manageable, like sell his car and buy a better one and shop around for insurance. There's a reason his is high.

Answer 3

Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who didn't trust me or know me well enough to trust me. Insisting that I sign the pre-nup would just be a demonstration of the lack of trust. And I sort of disagree that the guy with the high paying salary does more than the woman. I mean, isn't raising responsible, functional adults (the future of the country) more important than bringing home the bacon? Actually, they are kind-of equally important. And I'd hope that this guy would take his role as father seriously, and hopefully the woman at least gets a part time job once the babies don't need her 24-7 (to keep her sanity as much as to help pay the bills). The pre-nup may keep women away who are just after the guy's money, but it doesn't assure that the marriage is strictly for love. Nothing can assure that.

Answer 4

Ask him, how does this arrangement benefit YOU? I can see where he benefits.

Even with your written rules, you are giving him a sweet-heart deal!

Wow, you are being taken advantage! Following your written rules, it would be very, very hard to ever go back to his old car.

At a minimum I would also include:
1. He pays for all the gas 100%.
2. He pays for all the insurance, 100%
3. He pays for all the maintenance, 100%
4. Please set a date when he has to use his own car again, and you get full use of your car again.

You have to have some monetary incentives to be giving him use of your car. As things stand now, he gets all the benefits, and you get nothing in return.

Answer 5

If he wrecked the car your insurance would not cover it because he is not insured on your policy. And if you did put him on there your insurance would be high too.
I assume his is high due to his record... Your insurance company would base your insurance on his record.

And two your agreement is no guarantee he will follow it.

Answer 6

1st make sure you notify your insurance of the 2nd driver. Then have him sign the agreement. If he leaves you and leave a damaged car, you will only have your eyes to cry.

Answer 7

I think thats VERY smart! I think should! Also make sure you have witnesses sign that as well. Preferable one of his family members and one of yours.

Answer 8

Simply put you are an idiot if you do this, and will pay the repercussions of this

Answer 9

i think that it's a good idea. you're only protecting yourself in case something happens to your relationship.

Answer 10

"A sucker is born every minute." P. T. Barnum