If you are loaning out your car in Hope Hills, NC, you may think it’s no big deal. However, there are certain insurance aspects you should know about first.

Car insurance will cover the vehicle, not the individual driver, so if you lend your car to your friend and he or she gets into an accident, then your liability coverage pays for the damages. You are also responsible for filing the claim, paying the deductible, and suffering any rate hikes. The only exception is if you never gave permission to your friend. Express permission is important. If a friend takes your car without permission, then their insurance could be used first and yours second.

You should check to see if your friend is insured before handing over the keys. Your insurance is going to be the primary coverage if an accident occurs, but if your policy maxes out, your friend’s insurance could supplement and be the secondary coverage.

You should ask what your friend is planning to do with your car, because it could invalidate your insurance coverage. For example, if your friend is planning on driving with Uber or another ride sharing service while their car is in the shop, your policy likely won’t cover an accident because the car was being used for commercial purposes.

If you are going to be frequently lending out your car to a certain friend, it may be worth it to add them to your own policy. Adding new drivers can affect your rate, depending on their driving record. Those with bad records might hurt your rates, but a good driver could actually help. Speak with an agent at Cross Creek Insurance about adding new drivers to see how it affects your rates.

Contact an agent at Cross Creek Insurance serving Hope Hills, NC to get a quote on auto insurance.