Car insurance question

knitdan

I added my stepdad's car to my insurance so I can drive it if I need to.

Everything went fine with my insurance company, but they suggested adding him to my insurance as a secondary driver.

There's no reason to do that, right? He's got his own insurance, and theres no scenario where he'd be driving my car.

bowen

It might lower your rates.

But I think liability coverage on your own policy covers you on other people's vehicles. (in almost every state)

You might want to double check that with the agent and save yourself some money.

knitdan

It's my understanding that allowing DOC is no longer a standard practice.

I appreciate the thought but for the distances I'd be driving I figured it's safer just to make sure I'm covered.

(Also I don't really have an agent, I do it all online through Progressive)

LostNinja

The best solution would probably be either for you to have the car on your policy and your stepdad listed as a secondary driver, or have you listed as a secondary on his policy (depending on who will be driving it more and which policy offers better coverage). The car itself doesn't really need to be listed on two separate policies when one could cover both of you and most likely for significantly cheaper than two separate policies.

Does Progressive have a way for you to speak with an agent or submit a question, or does your stepdad have an agent with his policy? This really is something you will want to speak with them about as they will be more familiar with the specific policy each of you have in place and who is covered when.



This article may be useful in explaining general auto policy coverage. It makes Bowen's point about liability coverage typically following the driver, but points out that a car available to you for regular use (which sounds like the case with your stepdad's car) usually being excluded from this type of transferable protection (meaning you would want to be listed as a secondary driver of the vehicle on his policy rather than trusting your own policy to cover you without the vehicle being listed).

Again, best advice is to speak with an agent if at all possible.

bowen

I think only 2-3 states don't use DOC on the liability coverage. You might live in one of those not sure!

But yeah you're right, might be better with the peace of mind, but if your stepdad has a good driving record and good credit score it might lower your rates substantially.

knitdan

Ok, thanks everyone for your responses.

This can probably be closed.

brainstorm21

Hello from 2019. I know that I write too late, but my friend had the same situation when he was learning driving with his father. His father had Motor Trade Insurance, and when he was stopped by cops, this insurance company did everything to escape the responsibility. I know the single thing, that this company really cares about its clients, and I really want to use their services when I will buy my own car...