It’s a common situation: Someone needs to borrow your car (or you need to borrow theirs) but you’re not sure whether your auto insurance will cover you if something goes wrong.
Maybe a relative is visiting from out of town and you want to lend them your car for the week. Maybe the babysitter needs to drive your child to the dentist. Maybe a friend wants you to drive their car home from the bar the next morning. Whatever the reason, it's important to make sure you've both got the coverage you need before handing over the keys.
Generally, in most states and with most insurers, your auto insurance will cover your vehicle (one described on your policy) if someone else is driving it as long as the following conditions are met:
- They have your permission
- They don't drive the car on a regular basis
- They're not excluded from your policy by name
- The type of use is not excluded