Expert: Bennie719 - 2/28/2008

Question
My 16 year old just got her drivers license...  I put her on my insurance because she lives with me however she will be driving her dad's vehicle ... he does not live with me.  If she has an accident how do we make a claim on my insurance or his?

Answer
Hi Tonia,
Insurance follows the vehicle.  Any accident in her dad's car would necessitate filing a claim with his insurance company.

It is extremely important that both your policy and her dad's policy be properly rated.
If her father is allowing her to use one of his vehicles 50% or more of the time and possibly keep it at your residence, then he needs to add her to his policy as a principal driver and inform the insurance company of the garaging address at your home.  If that is the case, you should also be added to his policy in the event an emergency causes you to drive the car.
This will allow you to inform your insurance company that she is insured under her fathers policy which will enable you to have the charges removed from your policy, but your daughter still listed as a driver in the household.
If your daughter will only be using her dad's car during her regular visitation visits, he needs to add her to his policy as a driver with the explanation that she is insured and paying a premium under your policy.
There should never be a charge on each of your policies, but it is extremely important that the charge be made on the proper policy and both insurance companies are aware of the situation.
Failure to have his policy properly rated will result in his insurance company DENYING to cover any accident that your daughter might have and the claim can't be filed under your policy.
If you are the person that signed the financial responsibility documents to allow an underage driver to secure a license, then when a claim is denied the state will expect you to pay it 'out of pocket'.

I hope this information has been of help.
Your feedback by rating my answer will be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Bennie
San Francisco Bay Area