What to do if Another Driver Crashes Your Car

Oct 01

What to do if Another Driver Crashes Your Car

My boyfriend crashed my car after I let him borrow it for the weekend. Will my insurance cover the repair costs in this situation?

At one time or another, most people will allow someone else to drive their car. Sometimes drivers are traveling together and switch off drivers. Other times, someone might loan their car to their friend when their car breaks down. At many nice restaurants and hotels, people hand their car keys to valet drivers. Most of the time, these arrangements work out well. Occasionally, an accident occurs while someone else is driving someone else’s car. If someone else is driving your car and crashes it, you need to know your rights and responsibilities, especially when it comes to car insurance.

Are You Covered?

Most of the time, car insurance covers the car, not the driver. When someone else drives your car, you are responsible for the actions of the driver, with a few exceptions. Your insurance will be the primary coverage for the vehicle. The other driver’s car insurance will kick in if the damage that is caused exceeds your coverage amount. If another driver gets into an accident while using your vehicle, you will have to notify your insurance company.

Not all insurance companies will cover you when someone else is driving your car. There also may be exclusions to your coverage. For example, some insurance companies will not cover drivers that are under the age of 18, unless they are specifically added to your policy. To be on the safe side, make sure that your car insurance will cover you, before you lend out your car. It is also important to note, that if you do not have collision coverage and someone else wrecks your vehicle, your insurance will not cover you, and you may have to sue the driver in order to recover damages.

What Happens to Your Insurance Coverage?

Unfortunately, if you lend your vehicle to a friend and they crash it, your insurance company will probably raise your rates. You are responsible for your vehicle, even when you give someone else permission to drive it. If your friend was not at fault, the other driver’s car insurance company will pay for damages, and it probably won’t have a large impact on your rates. Because a crash can negatively impact your rates, even if you are not the person driving the car, it makes sense to be careful about who you let drive your vehicle.

Joyriders and Thieves

If your neighbor’s teen borrows your car keys and takes your car out for a joy ride without your permission, or if a thief steals your car and crashes it, you will not be responsible for any damage that they cause. You are only financially responsible for paying for car accidents caused by people who have permission to drive your vehicle. When you discover that your vehicle has been stolen, you do need to make a report to the police.

Valet Drivers

If you visit an establishment that has valet parking, you are not responsible if the valet crashes your vehicle. The valet parking company will be responsible. If your car returns from the valet and it is damaged, the first thing that you need to do is get as much information as you can. Try to get the driver’s personal insurance information and driver’s license, if possible. Get the name of the valet company and their insurance information. Ask for the insurance information from the hotel or restaurant as well. Turn all of this information over to your insurance company. They will contact the other insurance companies and will sort out who pays what. Your insurance rates are unlikely to go up in this instance.

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