If a father asks his son who is 17 years old to watch his car for several months while he goes away and gives him the keys and knows his son will be driving the car occasionally, not all the time because he has his own car. Is the son responsible for getting his own coverage ? This is in the state of Florida.
Who Is Responsible For Getting Auto Coverage If Someone Occasionally Drives Another’s Car?
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The rate charged for the automobile insurance depends, in part, on the drivers who reside where the vehicle is registered. These drivers are considered the household of the vehicle. Their claims history and motor vehicle report will be scrutinized by the insurance company’s underwriters.
If a driver in the household is considered to be an unsuitable risk, the insurance company may offer coverage for the car only if the unsuitable driver is excluded from the policy. Under these circumstances the owner of the vehicle has relinquished the right for that excluded driver to operate the vehicle. That driver cannot “borrow the car” without loss of all coverage.
The vehicle is insured to the limits stated in the policy. Automobile insurers provide a range of insurance limits. This fact, alone, should alert vehicle owners to the fact that sometimes a claim can exceed the limits of the policy. A recent example is a car was struck by another driver who then caromed into a third car which rolled forward and struck another car, which then rolled forward and ran over a motorcycle operator. Two people left the scene by emergency vehicles. The chances are quite good that this accident will exhaust the limits of most insurance policies. The responsible operator is liable for damages beyond the limits of the policy.
If you are the casual driver of a car owned by someone else you need to understand that the coverage available is set out in the insurance policy for the automobile you are borrowing. If you are involved in an accident and the damages exceed the limit of the policy for the automobile concerned, your own insurance policy on your own automobile may provide coverage in excess of the coverage from the damaged vehicle’s insurance. This combination of coverages means that there is probably more coverage when you, the occasional operator, are driving then otherwise.
This doesn’t relieve the occasional operator from any responsibility. It would be wise to make sure that there is adequate insurance on the vehicle you are borrowing. Sometimes there is an expectation that the occasional operator is providing insurance. Worse would be the situation where you damaged the vehicle and there wasn’t any physical damage coverage and the owner expects you to repair the vehicle. This could be the case if the deductible was out of reach for you.
It is probably wise to discuss this with the owner of the vehicle before you borrow the car. This would be particularly true if you planned to borrow the car often or even periodically. Relationships can be damaged severely by an automobile accident. These expectations can work both ways and the occasional operator can expect that certain coverages are in place, such as medical payments, that may not be on the policy.