Friend’s Car Insurance Coverage California CA

Reader’s Question:

I share a flat with a friend here in California. He usually borrows my car if his is being repaired. What if he gets involved in a wreck? Will my auto insurance cover it even if he’s not listed in my policy?

Julie

San Francisco, CA

In most accident cases and in most states, (that’s including California) when the person behind the wheel is not the owner of the motor vehicle, it’s the car owner’s insurance provider who usually pays for the losses. These include the cost of hospitalization and medical expenses to treat injuries sustained by the parties involved in the accident, and also include the cost of repair or replacement of the other motorist’s car. To cover repair or replacement costs on your own vehicle, you would need to have collision or comprehensive coverage in your policy. If it so happens that you do not have sufficient liability insurance coverage to cover for the medical and repair costs, your friend’s separate car insurance policy may cover any amount remaining. If on the other hand you do not have any auto insurance coverage, your friend’s insurer may cover all the cost. So, there’s really no need to have your friend listed under your policy. But just to be on the safe side, make sure that your friend does have auto insurance and that you both have collision or comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policies. In an accident, it’s not just the other guy’s car that gets damaged.

Tags: auto insurance coverage, car insurance, collision insurance coverage, comprehensive insurance coverage