Loaned Vehicles Update
My 21-year-old son has his own insured vehicle, but lives out of town for school, so his legal address isn’t mine. He often drives my spare vehicle, which is fully insured, but recently got into an accident with it. I assumed the car would be covered under the circumstances.
I filed a claim, and their initial response was to send me a form asking if he “may live in the household” and if he “may regularly drive the vehicle.” I learned that their definition of “regular use” is driving it more than once a week. While he does use it occasionally and sometimes leaves his car at my house, it doesn’t fit that definition.
Is there a chance they’ll deny this claim? It’s likely under $5,000, so it’s not the end of the world.
Edit: Coincidentally, I’m also lending him and my daughter another vehicle this week for a trip to Florida. She has her own car and insurance as well, and is also living away at college. None of them have driven this specific vehicle before. Before this situation, I would have thought that was perfectly fine.
It sounds like you’re navigating a tricky situation with your insurance claim. Insurance companies often have specific definitions and stipulations regarding who can be covered under a policy, especially when it comes to household members and regular drivers. Since your son has his own vehicle and insurance, it may complicate the matter if he’s considered a regular driver of your spare vehicle.
Regular Use Definition: Since the insurance company is interpreting “regular use” as more than once a week, if your son is driving the spare vehicle frequently, they may consider him a regular user. This could put the claim in jeopardy, as they might argue that he should be listed on your policy if he’s using it often.
Claim Denial: It’s hard to predict with certainty if they will deny the claim, but if they determine that he is a regular driver in the context of your policy, they could potentially deny it based on that definition. It might be helpful to clarify the frequency of his use to the adjuster to see if you can make a case for him driving it occasionally rather than regularly.
Loaning to Your Daughter: As for loaning the vehicle to your daughter, since she has her own insurance and hasn’t driven that specific vehicle yet, it generally should be fine to let her drive it. However, you might want to inform your insurance provider about the situation to avoid any potential issues.
It’s always best to communicate openly with your insurance company and provide all the necessary information upfront. You may also want to seek advice from an insurance agent who can help clarify your policy’s specifics in relation to your circumstances. Good luck!