Reader’s Question:

I’m single parent from Ohio. There are three people who normally drive my car; these are my two kids and my best friend who help me out a lot with errands and stuff. Would they be automatically covered by my auto insurance policy? Or is there such a thing as insurance for non-owners?

Martha

Columbus, OH

Yes, as long as you inform the auto insurance provider that they will be driving your car. Insurers will ask for the list of people living in your home. How old are your children? The bad news is their inexperience in driving will reflect on your premiums. Statistically, younger drivers have shown greater tendency to get into accidents.

If you are worried about the cost, try to compare the rates offered by several car insurance providers there in Ohio to see who gives you the best value for your money. You may also get a higher deductible to lower the cost further. Having a cheaper yet safer car is another way. But please don’t think about keeping any information from your car insurance company. Doing so would mean greater problems for you in the future.

Does your friend live in the same house? If she doesn’t, and you want to make sure that she is covered, you might want to look into these options. First, you may ask her to get a non-owner auto insurance policy although this might be quite costly. So better yet, list her as an occasional driver within your car insurance coverage. An occasional driver is someone whom you allow to use your car often enough. At the end of the day though, this person must return the car to you or park it at your own garage.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance, non owners insurance

Reader’s Question:

My 16-year-old son lives in Cincinnati Ohio with an Ohio license and insurance. His dad lives in WV. If he wrecks while driving his dads car in WV who pays the bill?Does my son needs WV insurance or is he already covered on our policy?

Jamie,

Cincinnati, OH

You and your husband should discuss this matter to your insurance company. In an accident where the driver is using someone else’s car, the insurance of the owner’s vehicle would be primarily used. Any excess on that policy limits to be paid, the driver’s coverage in the insurance policy is secondary. Insurance companies typically follow vehicle first and driver second.

It seems your son spends a period of time with his father in West Virginia. In this case, his father will have to check with his insurance company if he needs to add his son in the policy as an occasional driver for his visitation period. Otherwise, his son might not be covered, depending on how the policy is stated and any exclusions that may be indicated , if a car accident occurred.

If his father’s insurance company does not require him to add his son on the policy, I still recommend that you check with your insurance company to ensure that your son is covered while driving in WV with his father’s car under your current Ohio policy.

Tags: auto insurance, Student car insurance, teen insurance, Young driver car insurance

Reader’s Question:

What happens when someone was gets cited for driving without car insurance and then the vehicle they were driving is no longer drivable? Does he still need to have insurance in Hamilton, Ohio since they do not have a car to insure?

Jen

Hamilton, OH

If the state mandates you to be financially responsible by carrying car insurance, typically through getting and maintaining an SR-22 insurance, then you will need to do so whether you have a vehicle to insure or not.

If your car is inoperable and you have taken off its registration and you have no other car in which to insure then you would still need to carry the mandated insurance, SR-22 insurance, and can do so with a non-owners insurance policy in Hamilton, Ohio.

Generally a non-owners SR-22 permits the named insure to drive any car that they are given permission to drive by the car owner, unless the car is owned by a household member. The difference between a normal SR-22 insurance and a Non-Owners SR-22 insurance is that with a Non-Owners SR-22 policy you do not own a car to directly insure. While with a SR-22 policy you own a car in which the insurance is place on.

Tags: auto insurance, non owners insurance, sr22 insurance

Reader’s Question:

I borrowed my boyfriend’s car and just ran out of luck. I crashed his Chevy down the road in Akron, Ohio. How will that position us with her car insurance policy?

Arnie

Akron, OH

So who will foot the bill now? If you’re not sure of any or all of these questions, then you’re like the vast majority of car insurance policyholders who would have this as a scary thought.

Most people frequently let others borrow our cars without considering the insurance ramifications. Lucky you, for I can give you some answers right now, which you might want to tell you aunt and friends.
If you borrowed your boyfriend’s car with permission, your boyfriend is taking on what is known in insurance-speak as “vicarious liability”. This means that your boyfriend will be responsible for both property damage and bodily injury, and his insurance will have to cover the damages. You are off scott-free, although you might get a cold shoulder or never get to drive your boyfriend’s car ever again.

The “insured” does not have to own the auto involved in an accident in order for liability coverage to apply, and the “insured” is defined not only as the named “insured” and his or spouse, but also any child (including foster child) or anyone related to the named “insured” by blood, marriage or adoption who is a resident of the named “insured’s” household in Akron, Ohio OH. It is very important to understand just who and what is covered by your car insurance in Akron, Ohio.

Tags: non-owner auto insurance, auto insurance, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I would like to know what a non owners bond is? Am I required to have an insurance even if I do not own a vehicle. Can I drive my someone else’s car? What coverage can I get from non owners bond?

Leslie

Good question Leslie.

It is illegal in Ohio if you drive any vehicle without any car insurance or other financial responsibility (FR) proof. It is also against the law if a vehicle owner permits anyone else to drive their own vehicle with Financial Responsibility certificate. If you apply for a driver’s license or wants renew of such license, applicants in Ohio signs a statement stating that they have sr22 and will maintain Financial Responsibility (sr22) or will not drive a car in Ohio. This is the reason why you still need an sr22 even if you dont own a vehicle.

Non-owners sr22 is a car insurance that you may purchase if they do not own a car but will be driving other motor vehicles and is required to have a liability insurance. Typically, the non owners sr22 does not provide collision or comprehensive coverage on the motor vehicle.

A bond insurance is also another term for a SR-22. If you fail to show proof of financial responsibility in Ohio, it will result in violation of the Financial Reasponsibility law. You will be required to file with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) in Ohio a SR22 or bond. So you will need to continue maintaining sr22 for three to five years.

If you are being required to get an SR-22 and you do not own a car you can get a non-owner SR-22. You can fulfill the required liability insurance coverage by the Ohio BMV while driving vehicles.

Not all insurance companies offer sr-22. You may shop around or get quotes from individual insurance company websites to check which can give you the cheapest coverage in Ohio.

Goodluck!

MariCAR