Letting a close friend or family member drive your car may be fairly routine, but the situation can quickly become complicated if they’re involved in an accident. You may be wondering whether your car insurance will cover the claim if someone else was driving or if you’ll have to pay for damages yourself. Responsibility for damages in these instances often depends on whether the driver has an insurance policy and what types of coverage you carry.

Who’s Responsible for Damages if Someone Else Drives Your Car?

What Your Car Insurance Covers

In most states, your own auto insurance policy will extend to cover anyone driving your vehicle, even if they aren’t named on the policy. However, these clauses can vary significantly from one insurer to the next, and some carry significant limitations. For instance, your policy may only cover specifically named drivers or may lower the coverage limits if someone else was driving.

When the Driver’s Car Insurance May Be Required

If the damages resulting from the accident exceed the limits of your policy, the driver’s car insurance company may cover the rest. Depending on your carrier’s specific policies, the injured parties may have to file a second claim, or the insurance companies may work it out themselves.

What About Damage to Your Vehicle?

Liability coverage will pay the cost of anyone else injured in an accident, but what about the damage to your own car? If your policy includes collision coverage, your insurer will likely pay to cover the cost even if someone else was driving. If not, you may have to pay for repairs out of your own pocket or work out a private agreement with the person who was driving.

Car insurance can be confusing, but the experienced agents at Lafever Insurance Agency pride themselves on walking you through the process and choosing policies tailored to your needs. They specialize in providing affordable coverage options to high-risk motorists throughout Cookeville, TN, who might have trouble getting coverage elsewhere. To speak with an agent and request a free auto quote today, call their offices at (931) 526-3377.