Who is Insured Under My Auto Policy?
Your policy contains a separate section of general provisions and exclusions that can affect who is covered

In most cases, any licensed person who has your permission or a reasonable belief that he or she can use your vehicle is covered under your policy. The insured is the person named on the policy and his or her spouse. You would need to look at your particular insurance policy to make sure, since there are exclusions. Remember, everyone in your household must be listed on your insurance policy, once they have a license.

If you lend your car to a friend, she has a minor accident, and both of you have auto insurance, your insurance is going to pay first and you’ll have to pay your deductible. Let’s say the accident your friend causes results in serious bodily injury and property damage to another person. The driver’s policy covers the driver and all passengers in the vehicle for bodily injury. The car owner’s liability covers property damage caused by his or her car.

The first thing to do is to establish what kind of loss you have and the coverage part to which it pertains. An auto insurance policy is made up of several coverage parts. Your policy explains what the coverage includes and who’s covered for each of these coverage parts, and it lists exclusions that pertain only to that particular part. Your policy also contains a separate section of general provisions and exclusions that can affect who is covered.

Auto insurance policies normally provide coverage for your car if it is driven by any of the following people:

§         The named insured (you)

§         Your spouse, as long as he or she lives in your household

§         Other family members who are related to you by blood, marriage or adoption

§         A foster child who lives in your household

§         A child who is away at college but still considers the address listed on your policy as a permanent address

§         Anyone to whom you lend your car

Your policy covers injuries or damages you cause to someone else. Once you meet the official requirements, you should choose other types and amounts of coverage that will adapt your policy to your own needs. Here’s what an auto policy can cover, above and beyond your liability:

§         Your car – your vehicles as listed on the policy, and any other automobiles you buy over the next year

§         Your cars against collisions – no matter who causes the accident, your car is covered against collisions it may have with any other object

§         Your cars against damage from almost anything else – burglary, vandalism, broken glass, storms and falling objects

§         You, your passengers, and your car against uninsured and underinsured motorists – your loss is covered under your auto policy if you’re hit by someone who either doesn’t have insurance, or doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the accident