topic Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees in Community Chat

Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 23:39:30 GMT

Are there auto insurance companies who will cover a very occasional, unplanned/unforeseen driver (like 1-2 times a year) without them being on the policy? I have always lived alone and insured only myself. I am now living with relatives, either one of whom *might* need to drive my car in an unplanned emergency, maybe once or twice in a year. When you list drivers for insurance quotes, if all drivers have clean histories, is your premium higher than if you just listed one driver? Does this vary from state to state? If I did not have someone listed and they drove my car and were involved in an accident, do ALL insurance companies refuse to pay? It's been a long time since I've had to worry about this - years ago a policy covered whoever drove your car ;-(

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

fthunt — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:07:20 GMT

I'll be interested in seeing other people's opinions - but as I understand it - as long as you only allow people with a valid driver's license and nobody under age - your CAR is insured regardless of who had the accident. I know with triple A (AAA) service - no matter who has a dead battery with your CAR - they will come to help the driver.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Maudelynn — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:28:37 GMT

I believe if the potential driver lives at your address you will need to add that person to your policy. As long as the person has a clean driving record and is only an occasional driver, your premium should not be effected.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:36:28 GMT

@Maudelynn wrote:
I believe if the potential driver lives at your address you will need to add that person to your policy. As long as the person has a clean driving record and is only an occasional driver, your premium should not be effected.

Thank you. I was trying to look this up online myself, and at the same time I was just called by an agent, and you're correct - if you are at the same address, you must list them, but if everyone has a clean driving record it shouldn't affect the premium cost. But occasional drivers who *don't* live at the same address, driving with your permission, *are* covered.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Irshgrl31201 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:46:11 GMT

Even if a driver isn't listed on your insurance your insurance will cover it if they are a licensed driver and had permission. I had a friend visiting from NY and she used my car when she was here. She was hit by an unlicensed driver who in addition to being unlicensed was here illegally and drunk at the time and not insured when he hit her. My insurance paid.

When my daughter got her license, I still wanted her to take private driving license in addition to the ones she was required to take through school. I didn't let her drive until she completed them. I didn't realize that any licensed driver in the home would be added when they got their license even if using the car or not.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:28:36 GMT

What's really interesting to me is that theoretically, since I just moved from a high crime area to a sleepy backwater, my insurance *should* go down quite a bit, according to what "they say" - but it isn't, even when I experiment in the quote with lesser coverage. Sigh. One company is super cheap, but the reviews say "don't do it!" based on non-existent customer service, so I'm afraid to.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

mstyrion 1 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:38:13 GMT

Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

WenGirl42 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:43:22 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
What's really interesting to me is that theoretically, since I just moved from a high crime area to a sleepy backwater, my insurance *should* go down quite a bit, according to what "they say" - but it isn't, even when I experiment in the quote with lesser coverage. Sigh. One company is super cheap, but the reviews say "don't do it!" based on non-existent customer service, so I'm afraid to.

A high crime area really only drives up your comprehensive (theft) coverage, which is a relatively small part of your premium. (And if you're moving to a "sleepy backwater," you're probably trading theft risk for deer risk, also covered under comprehensive). The biggest factor is how the driving conditions are in the area you drive regularly and park overnight. High population density, high traffic, and dangerous conditions increase your liability and uninsured motorists coverages, which are a much larger portion of your overall premium. You might not see much of a difference if the location you're moving from isn't as highly rated as you thought, or if there's something about your new location that makes it more highly rated than you thought.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:43:41 GMT

@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

mstyrion 1 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:49:51 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(

________________________________________________________________

Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:50:18 GMT

@WenGirl42 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
What's really interesting to me is that theoretically, since I just moved from a high crime area to a sleepy backwater, my insurance *should* go down quite a bit, according to what "they say" - but it isn't, even when I experiment in the quote with lesser coverage. Sigh. One company is super cheap, but the reviews say "don't do it!" based on non-existent customer service, so I'm afraid to.
A high crime area really only drives up your comprehensive (theft) coverage, which is a relatively small part of your premium. (And if you're moving to a "sleepy backwater," you're probably trading theft risk for deer risk, also covered under comprehensive). The biggest factor is how the driving conditions are in the area you drive regularly and park overnight. High population density, high traffic, and dangerous conditions increase your liability and uninsured motorists coverages, which are a much larger portion of your overall premium. You might not see much of a difference if the location you're moving from isn't as highly rated as you thought, or if there's something about your new location that makes it more highly rated than you thought.

Not so sleepy that deer would be common, though they are not unknown. Low crime in *my* specific area but unfortunately we share (barely) a zip code that has higher crime but still not anywhere near the crime rate where I *was* living. No dangerous conditions. Population density 1/10th of previous address. I suspect it is my $500 deductibles instead of the who-the-heck-can-pay-that "standard" $1000.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

WenGirl42 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:52:58 GMT

In general, listing multiple clean drivers with 1 vehicle shouldn't be too different a premium than 1 driver. Other factors besides driving history can influence rate, though, such as age and credit rating...a typical way to handle this might be to rate the policy as though there were one driver but choose whichever would be rated highest, or to average the rating factors for all drivers over the number of vehicles insured. Unfortunately, when you're talking about auto insurance, it's going to vary state-to-state and often company-to-company, though there are a few states with tighter regulations constraining what and how companies are able to charge...there will be less variation across companies in these states.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 01:55:21 GMT

@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(
________________________________________________________________
Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

WenGirl42 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:00:56 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(
________________________________________________________________
Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

It's a big data thing. The higher-tech companies can now determine your household residents and force that decision right at the time you're obtaining your quote, so they can avoid exactly the scenario mstyrion describes

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

mstyrion 1 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:01:04 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(
________________________________________________________________
Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.

_________________________________________________________

Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users. As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.

Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium. That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:01:19 GMT

@WenGirl42 wrote:
In general, listing multiple clean drivers with 1 vehicle shouldn't be too different a premium than 1 driver. Other factors besides driving history can influence rate, though, such as age and credit rating...a typical way to handle this might be to rate the policy as though there were one driver but choose whichever would be rated highest, or to average the rating factors for all drivers over the number of vehicles insured. Unfortunately, when you're talking about auto insurance, it's going to vary state-to-state and often company-to-company, though there are a few states with tighter regulations constraining what and how companies are able to charge...there will be less variation across companies in these states.

Thanks. I did ask the agent who called me that specific question and she said the same, that if all records & background are clean it shouldn't affect the premium, so I am relieved about that. And because I'm focusing on the "good driver/low premium" companies they are probably stricter. There isn't as much difference between Big Name and Good Drivers Only as I would have thought in most cases, but for a couple, big difference. And all of it more than I want to pay ;-(

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:05:30 GMT

@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(
________________________________________________________________
Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.
_________________________________________________________
Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users. As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.
Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium. That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

Oh yeh, I can see the moving in later bit. But in my case I moved into an established household with drivers of record who have their own insurance. And a quote from their major company was an "I don't THINK so" from me.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

WenGirl42 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:10:48 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(
________________________________________________________________
Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.
_________________________________________________________
Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users. As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.
Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium. That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

Oh yeh, I can see the moving in later bit. But in my case I moved into an established household with drivers of record who have their own insurance. And a quote from their major company was an "I don't THINK so" from me.

I could see that...but if they already have established insurance (and presumably vehicles), you might be better off just going ahead and excluding them. Unless they're interested in re-quoting the whole household with you and possibly getting a lower premium overall?

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

Moonchilde — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 02:21:33 GMT

@WenGirl42 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
@Moonchilde wrote:
@mstyrion 1 wrote:
Most liability insurance policies cover a "permissive user". You don't have to notify the insurance company or your agent when someone is using your car with permission. Liability coverage is intended to protect the driver when he/she is at fault in an accident.

Your physical damage coverages such as comprehensive and collision cover the vehicle no matter who is driving,

In some states, medical, no fault and uninsured motorist coverage still applies to a permissive user although they may not be as broad as for the insured person.

Except those who reside at your address, as I've learned and stated since my OP. Anyone who lives with you must be listed on your policy or be excluded from it. Those who don't live with you but have your permission are covered. It's the "same address" that's the catch :-(
________________________________________________________________
Not quite true in most states. Listing people who live with you on your policy is a rating issue not a coverage issue. The insurance company wants to run a DMV check on anyone living in your household and who might be driving your car often in order to charge the correct premium.

If you failed to list a resident and they were in an accident, there would still be coverage, unless the person was specifically excluded, by name, on the policy. The company would insist you name the person on the policy after the accident, but they would not deny coverage for the accident.

Interesting. So far, every company I've gotten a quote from has automatically listed the other residents when I give my address, and asks "driver or exclude from policy?" right during the quote process without me even needing to enter them. Maybe it's a state thing.
_________________________________________________________
Some of the smaller "high risk" companies will exclude coverage for permissive users. As far as I know all the larger, non high risk carriers allow coverage for permissive users.
Of course they are going to ask you if there are other drivers in the household because they want to rate the policy correctly and charge the correct premium. That doesn't mean they would deny coverage if someone moved in with you later and you allowed them to drive.

Oh yeh, I can see the moving in later bit. But in my case I moved into an established household with drivers of record who have their own insurance. And a quote from their major company was an "I don't THINK so" from me.
I could see that...but if they already have established insurance (and presumably vehicles), you might be better off just going ahead and excluding them. Unless they're interested in re-quoting the whole household with you and possibly getting a lower premium overall?

The agent who called me was quite eager in that regard ;-( but the other occupants are happy with their insurance, so... At least I know now that I'm not getting quoted more $$ for declaring them, so yeh, that's what I'll do. Thanks.

Re: Question for Auto Insurance Agents/Employees

151949 — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 04:38:21 GMT

I always thought that if I borrow a car and have an accident that MY insurance covers it, that it's the driver, not the car that's insured.