Auto Insurance Forum

Can you buy auto insurance that covers the driver in any vehicle he or she drives?

Dear Greg,

Auto insurance policies generally cover the car, not the driver. Most auto insurance policies cover you or whomever you give permission to drive your car. However, insurance policies can differ by company, so the driver should check the policy to determine whether other people would be covered before he or she allows someone else to drive the car.

If you don't own a car, and frequently drive other people's vehicles, you may purchase a nonowners auto insurance policy, which covers you if you do not own a car. This insurance is normally "secondary," meaning that the car owner's insurance kicks in first. For example, if you borrowed your grandmother's car and crashed it, her insurance would pay for the damages until her liability insurance was exhausted. Then your nonowners insurance policy would pay for the remainder of the damages.

Keep in mind that comprehensive, collision, towing reimbursement, and rental reimbursement coverages are not available on nonowners policies. For more on nonowners insurance, read Auto insurance: No car, no problem.

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