Complicated Joint Car Insurance Dilemma
I’m facing a somewhat tricky situation with registering and insuring two cars under a joint policy, as they’ll be driven by two individuals residing at different addresses in Massachusetts. To clarify, I’ll refer to my car and address as Item A and my partner’s car and address as Item B.
Both my partner and I are buying new cars this week. Car A will mostly be parked at address A, as it isn’t used daily. I want to be the sole owner on the title, loan, and registration for this vehicle.
On the other hand, Car B will primarily be located at address B, and my partner wants to be the sole owner on the title, loan, and registration for their vehicle.
It seems logical to register each car at the address where it will be most frequently kept. However, I spend a considerable amount of time—about 30-40%—at address B, and I’ll be using Car B for commuting to work. We intend to share Car B, with my partner using it around 60-70% of the time and me about 30-40%.
How do we manage a joint insurance policy in this scenario? I want both of us to be able to drive both cars, but I feel that having two separate policies isn’t practical given that both of us will be named drivers on both vehicles.
I recently set up a policy through Progressive with myself as the policyholder and my partner listed on the policy. Car A is the primary vehicle on the policy, and I added Car B afterward, noting that Car B has a different garage address than the one associated with the policy.
Now, my concerns are: Will the bank and dealership accept this as proof of insurance for Car B? The proof of insurance shows address A for some reason and doesn’t indicate the garage address. Will Progressive be able to provide proof of insurance that includes the garage address? Or will the bank financing the loan for Car B and the dealership selling it accept the discrepancy between the policyholder’s address and the registration/title address?
It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into your car insurance situation, and navigating joint policies can definitely be a bit tricky, especially with two different addresses involved. Here are some insights that might help clarify things for you:
Joint Policy Structure: Since you and your partner will both be driving both cars, having a joint policy makes sense. Insurers generally allow for multiple drivers and vehicles to be listed, even if they’re registered at different addresses.
Registration and Address: Typically, the vehicle should be registered at the address where it will primarily be parked. In your case, since car A will be primarily at address A and car B at address B, it seems correct to register them accordingly.
Proof of Insurance: When it comes to proof of insurance, many banks and dealerships require that the vehicle title and insurance policy match in terms of the address. Since you mentioned that the insurance is under your address (address A), this might raise questions. It’s best to check with Progressive to clarify their policy on how addresses are displayed on proof of insurance.
Garage Address: You can ask Progressive if they can provide documentation that lists the garage address for each vehicle, or at least notes that car B is primarily garaged at address B. This added clarity could help satisfy any requirements from your bank or dealership.
Communication with the Bank/Dealership: When it comes to the bank and dealership, it can be incredibly helpful to communicate openly about the situation. Let them know that you will be co-driving the vehicle and clarify the addresses involved. They may have specific requirements or solutions for situations like yours.
Consider Local Regulations: Since you’re in Massachusetts, it might also be wise to check if there are any state-specific regulations regarding auto insurance and registration that might influence your situation.
In summary, it’s important to get in touch with Progressive for clarification and to consider communicating your situation to the bank and dealership for transparency. Best of luck with your new cars!