3 minute readAuto
In most cases coverage follows the car, so your policy responds first when a permitted driver has an accident — including the deductible and the claim on your record. That is why lending a vehicle is a bigger decision than it feels like.
What you need to know
Permissive use
Occasional borrowing by a licensed friend is typically covered; a regular driver in your household needs to be listed.
Excluded drivers
If a driver was excluded from your policy in writing, there may be no coverage at all.
Their policy may sit above yours
The borrower's own liability coverage can act as excess after your limits are exhausted.
Common mistakes
- Carrying California's minimum limits, which a single injury accident can exhaust.
- Declining or under-buying uninsured motorist coverage.
- Leaving a household driver off the policy.
- Filing small physical-damage claims near the deductible.
- Never updating mileage, garaging address or commute after a change.
When to talk to an agent
Talk to an agent before adding a teen driver, after buying a vehicle, after an accident or ticket, or any time you are not sure whether your liability limits would survive a serious at-fault crash.
Frequently asked
This article is general information, not a policy or a promise of coverage. What your policy pays depends on its specific terms, limits and exclusions. Ask us to review your actual policy before making a decision.