Hey everyone, I don’t own a car but sometimes I drive my friend’s or family’s cars. I keep hearing about something called operators or non-owners insurance. Are these the same, and if so, how do I go about getting one? Any advice on how it works would be awesome!
Good question! Non-owners insurance is like a backup plan for liability when you’re driving a car you don’t own. For example, if I have my car insured with Allstate, and you borrow it and have an accident, my insurance would cover damages first, but your non-owner’s policy could kick in as secondary protection. This way, you aren’t seen as ‘uninsured’ and might get lower rates over time.
Another good reason to consider non-owner insurance is if you drive occasionally but don’t own a car yourself. Like, say you mostly use public transit but borrow your parents’ car sometimes. In some places, like Michigan, there have been changes to medical coverage, and if you were to get in a serious accident while borrowing their car, the non-owners policy could help bridge the gap, covering things their insurance might not.
Just to add, there are usually three main rules with non-owner policies:
- You can’t own a vehicle.
- You can’t have regular access to a vehicle.
- You can’t live with someone who has a vehicle.
If any of those don’t apply, you’d need to be listed on a household policy instead.
Think of it like liability-only insurance, but without covering any car. So if you cause damage or injury, your non-owners policy steps in. The extra coverages (like rental or towing) might depend on the insurance provider, so it’s good to ask.