Do I have to add my roommate on my auto insurance policy?
My roommate and I each have a car but we don’t share the same insurance policy. He has his own and I have mine. I just got auto insurance for my new car and the agent was telling me that I should add people living with me, but his driving record is bad and I don’t want it to raise my premium. The agent said that anyone who doesn’t live with me can drive my car and they’ll be covered, but because my roommate lives with me, he won’t be covered even though he has a different policy.
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February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
I don’t know how the law works in your state, but in VA you’re supposed to list everyone in the household onto your policy, even if they have their own isurance. Like Progressive for example, you can list them and provide proof of their insurance and they will not have to be rated or you charged premium for them. If they drive your car and have an accident without being rated on your policy, some companies have a clause in their policy not to cover them. You would be responsible for the damages. I would see if the company you are with can only LIST him/her in the household with proof of their insurance and not be charged for it. If not, check with Progressive:)
February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
DO NOT add him to your policy. If he has a wreck – YOU (the policy holder) can be sued. However, since he lives w/ you, if you don’t add him to your policy, you will have to EXCLUDE him from your policy. That means DON’T let him drive your car b/c YOUR insurance won’t cover him or it if he wrecks it.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Do not add your roomate to your auto insurance. Besides, why would you lend your car to your roomate if he has his own car and insurance? In doing so, it will raise your premium and definitely will cause problems for your insurance.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Do not add your roommate to your policy. Let NO ONE drive your car. You can always have it noted on your policy that you are the only driver if needed.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
If he lives with you, and EVER drives the car, and you don’t list him, then the problem is "material misrepresentation" – failure on YOUR part to list household members. That means, the insurance company doesn’t have to pay if he cracks up the car. Some companies are super strict about that – like Progressive. They won’t pay for your car, and they won’t pay for any damage he does to anyone else’s car with yours – YOU will, out of pocket.
Other companies are more lenient – that means, they’ll pay, but add him on retroactively to the beginning of the policy, AND his surcharges, and bill you for it. And if you don’t pay, they’ll cancel you and send it through collections.
The problem is, the standard auto policy won’t carry over onto other vehicles IN THE HOUSEHOLD, or AVAILABLE FOR REGULAR USE. So, your agent is right.
Either list him, or NEVER EVER EVER let him drive your car.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
The only thing you can do is submit the person’s name and DL #, along with the name of his insurer and policy number (or better yet, a copy of their policy) and inform the insurer that you do not want to add him as a driver to your policy. If your insurer still insists on adding him then either inform them that you wish to have him excluded from the policy (the insurer may want to do this anyway), or find another insurer who will not add him. There are many insurers out there who will be happy not to add a driver in the household to your policy as long as they have insurance elsewhere (and maintains it), so seek them out. If your current insurer still insists on adding him you could always file a complaint with your local regulatory body, but it may be easier just to find another insurer. Good luck.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:28 am
What is your agent smoking? He’s probably trying to make more money.
Don’t do it.