What does non-owners car insurance cover?

To some, it might seem as if you only really need auto insurance when you title and register a car, but that’s not always the case.

Just like people who don’t own a home need property insurance, drivers who don’t own a car need car insurance.

Every time that you get behind the wheel of a car, you’re at risk of having a loss.

This is why all drivers, even those with a driving privilege that they might not always exercise, need their own protection that’s afforded by auto insurance.

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Who does non-owners car insurance cover?

Before you can learn what this specialty type of insurance covers, you’ll need to learn who it covers.

Not just anyone can call up an insurance carrier and request a non-owners policy.

You’ll need to meet specific underwriting criteria before a carrier will even accept your application.

Here are some of the most common requirements that you’ll need to satisfy before you’ll be able to have a policy issued:

• You don’t own a vehicle registered in your own name
• You don’t live in a home where you have regular access to non-owned cars
• You do have a valid U.S. driver license
• You don’t have more than 6 points on your driving record
• You are at least 25 years old with driving experience

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What types of vehicles does non-owner car insurance provide coverage for?

A specialty policy doesn’t cover every type of vehicle.

If you plan on renting a rare luxury car that has a six-figure price tag, you’ll probably want to buy coverage through the rental agency rather than relying on a policy that won’t pay.

Make sure you always read the contract of the policy closely to make sure you are not left without coverage.

For your non-owners plan to pay in the event of a claim, you must have been driving a private passenger vehicle that would normally qualify as a covered auto under a Personal Automobile Policy.

This includes private passenger cars, trucks, and vans that don’t exceed a stated Gross Vehicle Weight.

Just remember that coverage is not afforded for large moving trucks and other larger passenger vans.

Reasons You Might Need Non-owners Insurance

There’s a host of different reasons why you might need to buy your own personal coverage without having your own personal car.

Here are some of the most common reasons why people choose to take on the expense of car insurance even though they’re not legally required to do so:

You Rent Cars on a Regular Basis

The cost of liability coverage through a rental agency can average around $10 to $12 per day.

If you’re renting a car for a days or weeks, these daily costs can add up quick.

In fact, the insurance could wind up costing you more than the daily cost of the rental if you find a deal.

With non-owners insurance, you’ll pay a fixed monthly or annual rate for coverage that will extend to that rental for a much lower overall cost.

– You Borrow Cars Often

Another reason you might need this coverage is when you borrow cars from friends or relatives often.

You might have heard that the owner’s car insurance will cover you as a permissive user, and in most cases this is true.

What you might not know is that there are instances where you won’t be covered and that some vehicle owners don’t carry high enough limits to protect your assets in the event of a loss.

By having your own protection, you don’t have to worry about the car’s insurance extending or being adequate.

–You Need Coverage to Keep Your Driving Privilege

If you have a problematic driving record, some states require you to file an SR-22 as proof that you’re insured.

Many use their personal auto insurance to satisfy these requirements, but if you aren’t a car owner, the answer is to buy a nonowner’s policy from a carrier that’ll file an SR-22 for you.

–You’re Part of a Car Sharing Service

Car sharing through providers like Zipcar is becoming the new trend, but drivers. need to have adequate coverage

If you participate to keep transportation costs down, you can buy nonowners insurance to protect your assets from potential lawsuits that could be filed after a crash.

Having the right type of protection will save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Types of Coverage Afforded Under a Non-owners Policy

Non-owners insurance isn’t like just any old personal auto insurance policy.

Since you don’t own the vehicles that you’ll be covered driving, you can’t buy physical damage coverage that’ll pay if you damage the car.

You do, however, have an insured interest in protecting your finances and your assets.

Here’s a list of coverages that most providers offer when you’re buying this specialty plan:

–Third-Party Liability Insurance

The standard non-owners policy will provide coverage that’ll pay for the third-party damages that you cause.

This includes Bodily Injury Liability, which pays for the medical bills of other parties, and Property Damage, which pays for the damage you cause to that party’s vehicle.

You’ll be able to select limits up to $1,000,000. Just remember that damage to the car you’re driving isn’t covered.

–Uninsured Motorist

In most states, you’ll be able to purchase uninsured motorist in addition to liability.

These limits will help pay for your own medical bills if you’re in an accident and someone doesn’t have coverage to pay for your medical costs. It is always to have more coverage than not enough.

–Medical Payments

Medical payments pay for your medical bills regardless of fault allocation.

While it’s not always offered, you may be able to find a policy where you can add this coverage on.

If you’re about to borrow or rent, it’s time to price the cost of non-owners insurance.

The premiums are generally affordable compared to standard auto rates.

Before making any final decisions on your insurance company, it is important to learn as much as you can about your local insurance providers, and the coverages they offer. Call your local insurance agent to clear up any questions that you might have. Questions to consider asking include, “What is the best coverage plan for me/my family/my situation?” “What are the minimum coverage requirements in my state and what form of coverage do you recommend?” “Do you guys offer any bundle discounts if I take out both my auto insurance and home insurance with you?” and “What is the average rate of insurance quotes you guys offer?”

Before making any big insurance decisions, use our free tool to compare insurance quotes near you. It’s simple, just plug in your zip code and we’ll do the rest!

Use an online comparison tool, and find out which carriers offer coverage and how much they’ll charge you. Enter your zip code below to get started now!

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