Adding someone to your auto insurance policy...what do they do?

[AdventurerKat]

We have my BIL staying with us for a while and want to add him to our auto policy so he can "legally" drive our car. He is covered under a policy in NJ and has a good driving record.

Will it cost us money to do this or is it just a matter of adding a name to the policy? If it does cost to do it, anyone have a guess as to how much it might be?

 

[kc73]

This is right up my alley. I worked in auto insurance for 11 years before quitting a couple of years ago. Unless things have changed, it would not cost anything to add him to your policy, provided he has no tickets and no accidents in the last 3 years and if he over 25 yrs of age. At least, that's how it works in TX. Hope it all works out for you..

 

[AdventurerKat]

Thank you for the help! Nope, no accidents and no tickets!

 

[golfgal]

This is right up my alley. I worked in auto insurance for 11 years before quitting a couple of years ago. Unless things have changed, it would not cost anything to add him to your policy, provided he has no tickets and no accidents in the last 3 years and if he over 25 yrs of age. At least, that's how it works in TX. Hope it all works out for you..

Then why does it cost so dang much to add kids to a policy???? I thought that if he was covered under another policy and he had your permission to drive the car, he would still be covered, correct?

 

[LindaR]

Golfgal, I have my own policy but drive my boss' cars when needed. If something happened, their car policy would cover me. I am NOT an additional driver on their policy.

To the OP, I would give serious thought to adding him.............worst case scenario........he is involved in an accident (or causes one).........YOU can be sued and liable for the maximum amount.

 

[kc73]

Then why does it cost so dang much to add kids to a policy???? I thought that if he was covered under another policy and he had your permission to drive the car, he would still be covered, correct?

It's the "Kids" part that makes it so expensive. Unmarried female drivers under age 21 and unmarried male drivers under age 25 have astronomical insurance rates. It's cheaper to add them to a parent or guardian's policy than for them to get their own, but it's still very expensive. Just the price to let them drive. You could maybe have an arranged marriage in the near future?

If someone that is older than these ages & they have their own policy & are driving with the permission of the policy holder, the insurance company would more than likely pay a claim if they are a reputable company. But, in my experience, companies that have poor ratings are more likely to fight paying a claim. Where I used to work, we had claims that weren't paid because of such a thing. I guess it's a risk that you take.

 

[MandM-Mom]

Shouldn't his policy carry over to any car he is driving....this is why I don't buy the rental car insurance because mine covers me that way. At least I thought it does.

 

[msdznyduck]

Anything that happens that has to do with a car needs to go through your auto insurance, so I was told when I called the Dr to make an appt for my DH, who, while opening the door to his car, pulled a ligament in his finger. I was told, both my drs office, and my health insurance that it needed to go through my auto insurance....is that nutty, or what? He wasn't driving the car, wasn't even sitting in it, was just going to throw a few books for his class in it and shut the door. Yikes, I asked them, if I tripped and hit my shoulder on my car while walking past it, would I need to use auto insurance, and they both replied "yes, any injury that has anything to do with a car, needs to go through car insurance"

Be careful

 

[twojo21]

depends on your insurance carrier, some its free others will charge acouple bucks. they will need his full name, date of birth, drivers license number & social security number to add him to the policy. one thing to watch for though is his tickets & accidents will count on your policy so they can increase your premium, etc long after hes off your policy & back home.

as for just giving permission & being automatically covered this varies on your insurance company some standard companies like allstate will cover a claim if you gave the driver permission while other nonstandard companies like illinois founders cover only the name insured & drivers listed on the policy so if your friend borrowed it & had an accident your s.o.l.

as for young drivers (under 21) they are high risk & on average have an accident or ticket within the first year of driving, so your premium is higher & rightfully so.

also very important fact for everyone insurance follows the car not the driver.

i work in p&c insurance.