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.

My 16-year-old son lives in Cincinnati Ohio with an Ohio license and auto insurance. His dad lives in WV. If he wrecks while driving his dads car in WV who pays the bill? Does my son need 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.