Does every car on the road in CA need to have insurance or is it every driver needs insurance?

Question

I have 3 cars. I would like coverage so that if I have an out of town guest or whatever, that they can use one of my cars. Why do they ask about other drivers in the household? What does that have to do with it. What if the person who was driving my car was on an extended stay ... (in my household?)

Answer 1

It's the _person_ that is insured as a car cannot have an insurance policy (my car tried to get a policy and no agent would write him). Read the policy and see who's listed as an "insured"... it's not the car. When my car is damaged, they pay _me_... not my car.

If you loan your vehicle to someone to drive, they are considered a permissive user and are afforded 'insured" status under your policy. But as mentioned, some states allow the insurance company to lower the policy limits to the state minimum if the driver is not listed.

If the person driving you car has a drives license... and I'm hoping that they do, then they probably own a vehicle and have their own insurance. Even though yours is primary, their would be excess. That is, yours would address the loss up to your policy limits (protecting you and the driver) and then if additional insurance was needed, the drivers would kick in and protect _their_ interest.

Insurance companies ask about drivers in the household as those people are likely to be using the vehicles on a regular basis. As such, the insurance company needs to know about them as a risk (if they drive your vehicle, as mentioned above, they are an insured under the policy. If a person is not living in your HH, then the insurance application and policy don't require that you add them to your policy.

Answer 2

An out-of-town guest only has to be listed on your policy if he/she is going to be visiting and borrowing your car for an extended stay, usually 30 days.  Your insurance covers such a driver so long as he/she has a valid driver licence.

If I visit you, I am covered, as is your vehicle, if you loan me your car.  If I have an at-fault accident, and your liability isn't enough to cover, my liability coverage from my policy comes into play (I never carry less than $1,000,000).

Answer 3

Call your insurance company and ask them if the visitor would be covered under your policy while driving your car. Keep in mind that YOU are responsible for anything that happens in that car.  Either way, every driver must be insured, as well as every car. The reason they ask about other drivers in the household is because they will include those people on your policy (for instance, I'm included on my mother's policy even though I have my own car and my own policy - both of which are in my name - simply because I live in her house and it's understood that once in a blue moon I might need to drive her car).  I would strongly recommend letting your insurance company know about EVERY person that you will allow to drive your vehicle, and DON'T let an uninsured person drive it.  If they get in a wreck, it won't even matter if it wasn't their fault, your insurance company won't cover it if that person wasn't supposed to be driving.

I should clarify that when I say "every driver must be insured," that doesn't mean you're responsible for that. If they have their own coverage (even with a different company), and they're not an excluded driver under your coverage, they can drive your car with no problem to you.

Answer 4

If you are a driver then you have to have insurance, an uninsured driver crashes your car then you are basically up s**t creek without a paddle

Answer 5

insurance is required on all cars you own if you intend to drive them in california.. other can drive your cars as long as they have valid licenses. you will only be covered for an inncedent at the minimum coverage if you are NOT the driver of YOUR car.. this is true with most insurance companies. IT IS WITH WAWANESA...ANYWAY.. BUT THE LAW SAYS YOU MUST HAVE INSURANCE ON YOUR CAR AT ALL TIMES .there is no grace periods and no mercy in the courts either. your friend will be covered legally if they use your car and they have not been directly excluded from your policy..check with your company and see if they have the same rules ..most do.. if you have a pefect or near perfect record--wawanesa ins is nearly impossible to beat !! not 1 company has ever tried to beat the rates i get !! 1 800 438 4300...   good luck  p.s.  not all licensed drivers have cars... so no they do not need to be insured.. to drive, the car needs to be covered....

Answer 6

talk to your insurance agent about covering others on your policy.  there may be an extra charge.

Answer 7

Every vehicle on the road need to have insurance. The insurance company asks about other drivers in your household because of an insurance law. It states that every licensed driver living in the insureds household MUST be named on the policy. That said, people VISITING and staying in your residence for a short period of time DO NOT need to be named on your policy. If a person is on an extended stay at your residence, there could be a potential problem. By State law, anyone who remains in a State more than 30 days must get a drivers license in that State. So it is in your best interest not to mention "extended stay".

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Every car needs insurance.  Cars are insured, not people.  (with a few exceptions)  Normally  If you have an insured car and you give permission to someone with a valid drivers license to drive that car, they will be covered.  Insurance companies are required to cover anyone living in a household who has a valid license but they want a "list" of those people.  If one or more of them happen to be young, under 25,  (maybe a student) they have the right to boost the rates because of the added risk.  Visitors should be able to drive your insured car, if they have a license and have your permission.  The insurance company does not require you to "list" them because they are visitors and not a residing member of your household