Ohio:
Tldr;
I dirve my mother's car, she is threatening to take me off the car insurance policy that I pay for and I do not have the means to get another car currently. Is it possible to open a new car insurance policy on a car that I do not own? Who would be legally/financially liable if I were to get in an accident while driving her car if uninsured, me or her?
Hello, I live at home with my mother and she has not had a job since I graduated highschool. I work part time while putting myself through college and paying her/our bills. Last month we got in a fight and yesterday she told me she was going to take me off her car insurance policy…that I pay for. I use her car (that she owns) to get to and from work/college and without a car I wouldn't be able to reliably get to either. I'm not sure how serious she is with her threat as we have always had a very unstable relationship and she has done drastic things like this in the past, but is it possible to open a new car insurance policy on a car that I do not own but drive daily? Who would be legally/financially liable if I were to get in an accident while driving her car, me or her? I have already discussed it with my older brother and he is not willing to add me to his insurance policy. I saved a bunch of money when I started working at 16 because I intended on buying my own car for college but I had to burn through like 98% of it trying pay the bills and the mortgage to keep our house from being foreclosed on so I do not currently have the means to buy myself another car without taking on significant debt that I absolutely cannot afford. Any and all advice welcome as I'm still trying to learn how to navigate the adult financial world after being thrown into the deep end without a raft. Much love, thanks!
Can I open a car insurance policy if I don't own the car but live in the same household with the owner?
byu/Potential-Farm-5236 inInsurance
Posted by Potential-Farm-5236
8 Comments
No, the car can’t have two policies especially one issued to someone that doesn’t own the car in this circumstance. Your mother also can’t just remove you without lying to the insurance, though she’s could have you excluded, if allowed by your state and insurance. If excluded you cannot drive the car under any circumstances, it’ll be completely uncovered.
A non owners policy will not work in this situation before anyone suggests that. It’s a household car, which you drive regularly, it won’t be covered.
You could both be liable for an uncovered accident.
No you need to be the registered owner. Insurance won’t pay out if you have a accident and you are not the owner
Ask your mother whether she actually wants to separate your finances.
In most cases, no. You usually cannot insure a car you do not own, especially if you live in the same household as the owner. Most companies want the policy in the owner’s name with all household drivers listed.
If she removes you and you keep driving it anyway, that’s a big risk. If you get in a crash, you can be personally liable, and she can be liable too since she owns the car and gave you permission. And if the insurer finds out you were a regular driver who wasn’t listed, they can deny the claim, which is a nightmare scenario.
Best move is keep the policy in her name and make sure you stay listed as a driver, even if you are the one paying. If she won’t cooperate, the real fix is getting your own cheap car and insuring it in your name, because relying on unstable household politics for transportation is a bad plan.
If she removes the vehicle and excludes you from her policy, it’s possible. You’d have to list her on your policy and the acceptability will vary from carrier to carrier. There are a large number of carriers in OH that permit this.
Was she planning to let you use the car if you got your own? Will she be purchasing her own insurance? P
Call an insurance agent and follow their guidance.
Broadform insurance covers a driver. I had this before I actually owned a car of my own but regularly drove one of my boyfriends cars.