Home Car insurance Additional driver I let my 18-year-old niece, who doesn’t live with me, drive my car occasionally. Is she covered if she has an accident? I let my 18-year-old niece, who doesn’t live with me, drive my car occasionally. Is she covered if she has an accident? By Penny Gusner Penny Gusner Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s. | Posted on May 29, 2014 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Your niece would likely be covered by your car insurance policy if she were in an accident in your vehicle, but it ultimately depends upon the terms of your specific personal auto insurance policy. Many car insurance policy terms will cover permissive drivers, which is generally defined as individuals who live outside your household and whom you allow to drive your vehicle. However, some auto policies don’t cover permissive drivers; thus, it’s important to read over your policy terms and even call your insurer to verify your coverage before allowing anyone to borrow your vehicle who isn’t listed as a driver. Besides checking that your auto policy covers permissive drivers, also make sure it doesn’t contain step-down provisions that would lower your limits, or exclusions for drivers under a certain age. (See “You might have less car insurance than you think”) Then there is also the issue of how much your niece will drive your vehicle. If she is going to start driving it on a regular basis, then you should inform your car insurance provider to see if she has to be added as an occasional driver to your policy. Rules for occasional drivers vary by insurer, but some say it is someone who operates your vehicle more than once a week on a consistent basis. If you have to add your niece to your car insurance policy, it could affect your car insurance rates. If it makes a negative impact on your annual premiums, but you want her to have use of the vehicle, then compare car insurance quotes to see if you can get cheaper rates elsewhere. Penny GusnerContributor   . .Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s. QuickTake 10 horrible decisions that will mess up your car insurance New driver insurance grace period: What you need to know My wife is a licensed driver but hasn’t driven in over 10 years and doesn’t want to in the future. Do I have to keep her on my household car insurance policy? He'll break your heart -- and your car insurance rates See more > In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2023 Car insurance rates by state: The most expensive and cheapest states for car ins... Full coverage auto insurance: What it costs to get covered A complete guide to car insurance for seniors A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? Buying and insuring a used car: Most and least expensive models to insure in 202... The Best Car Insurance for Bad Credit of 2021 The best car insurance companies for speeding tickets Car insurance after a DUI Guide to Car Insurance Discounts Proper insurance coverage for college-bound children How to read (and actually understand!) your auto insurance policy Car Insurance Companies New driver insurance grace period: What you need to know How much do insurance agents make Autonomous cars: 5 delightful and 5 distressing things Busted! Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1