This question is a common one. Some people own cars their parents or friends have given them. This will depend on your Insurance Company. According to my knowledge, most insurance companies won’t allow you to insure a vehicle you don’t own. Every insurance company has their own rules, so make sure to ask around and see if you are allowed. It was permitted in certain cases at the previous company I worked for. It was permitted with an “Owned by Endorsement.”
What is an Owned by Endorsement? An owned by endorsement can be added to your insurance policy to cover the vehicle even if it’s not in your name. In order to insure a vehicle, you will need to have an insurable interest. Insurable interest is when you could suffer a financial loss should something happen to the property you are insuring, such as a home or car. An endorsement that states the owner of the vehicle is owned by you adds them to your policy. They will be listed as the vehicle’s owner and would receive any compensation for any claims. You wouldn’t get anything if your vehicle was involved in an accident or totaled. The owner would, however, be the vehicle’s owner.
They will also run the owner’s information when you add an owned-by endorsement to your policy. They must also be eligible for insurance. If they don’t have a good driving record or aren’t eligible for insurance, then you won’t be able get insurance on your vehicle. Why? They can drive it whenever they like, if they have it. They can also be a liability risk. Although you might be the insured driver and pay the premiums, it could actually be your vehicle.
Can my parents insure me?
This is something everyone knows. Your parents live with you and your insurance policy is in their name. Sometimes, it can even be your parent’s because it’s cheaper. It’s not necessary that it is allowed every day. You should have insurance if you are the owner of the vehicle and the driver. You might be away at college, and don’t have the vehicle. In this case, you let your parents drive it and make sure it is insured. If you are eligible, they should be able add an owned-by endorsement to your policy. Keep in mind that they can do whatever with the vehicle, but you are responsible for it.
Can I drive my parent’s vehicle?
It’s not usually a problem if you live with your parents and are covered by their insurance. While it is important to ensure that you are the rated driver on the policy for your vehicle, the fact that it is in your name won’t usually matter. However, they are responsible for any actions you take in the vehicle.
Insurance companies often have to deal with this issue if you aren’t living with your parents. The policy covers you and any resident relatives who live with you. It doesn’t matter who your insurance policy covers if you live with mom or dad. If you don’t live with them, you may not be considered a “resident relative”, and some parts of your policy might not apply to you. It is a good idea to check with your insurance company to ensure you are fully covered. It would be a shame to find out after an accident that your medical coverage doesn’t cover you because you aren’t a “resident relative”. It’s best to be 100% certain!
Is it cheaper to be on my parents insurance?
It all depends on the driving records of the people involved. It can sometimes be cheaper to keep your parents’ insurance. They might get a multiple-line discount if they have their own cars and homes insured. Sometimes, it is cheaper to transfer their policy to yours. While I saw many scenarios in my time working in the Insurance Industry I found this one to be the most common.
If your driving record is clean but your mom has been in an accident or dad has received a few tickets, you might end up paying more for insurance than you would if you had your own policy. It is a good idea to have them give you a quote. They can quickly quote you your policy in a matter of minutes. The company I worked for was able to transfer my “longevity discount” with me. The Longevity discount can be called many things but it is essentially a discount that an insurance company gives you for being with them for a long time and for being accident-free. They were known as Accident Free Discounts at the company I worked at. These discounts were available for 3 years, 6 years and 10 years. You were a company member for at least 3 years without an accident. If your insurance was between 6-9 and 9 years, you would receive a 10% discount. If it was 6-9 years, you would get a 15% discount. 10 years or more you would receive a 20% discount.
Parents could also transfer an AFD (Accident Free Discount), that they had accumulated to their policy. If your parents were insured for five years and then you get your own policy after 5 years, you could transfer that 10-year AFD to your policy. This is a great way to lower your premium if you are a young driver.
When discussing the insurance of a vehicle not titled in your name, there are many What If’s and other scenarios. As I said, every insurance company has their own rules and endorsements. There are many of them, some that I haven’t even mentioned. UNOC (Use of Non-Owned Car), for example. Talking to an agent can help you decide the right type of coverage you need. It’s not a good idea to file a claim only to find out you “Should have Carried” something you don’t.
There are many questions about these topics. Please let me know if you have any questions. I will do my best to answer them.
