Expert: Richard Hixenbaugh - 2/25/2009

Question
Ex and I have joint custody.  Dad put 16 y.o. on his policy.  (Teen does NOT
have his own car.) I told teen he couldn't drive my car without proof of
insurance.  Dad won't give him proof of insurance - thinks teen needs to have
separate coverage at moms house also.  Dad doesn't want risk that might
come with teen having an accident in moms car.  My agent thinks this is
duplicate coverage and completely unnecessary.  
1) If teen is covered by dads policy (and not moms also) and has an accident
in moms car - who pays?
2) If teen is covered by dads policy (and not moms also) and has an accident
in moms car - will dads insurance premiums go up?

Thanks in advance.

Answer
Hi Lisa,

Auto insurance follows the vehicle and not the driver. If your sons time is shared equally, in order for your son to be covered no matter whos car he drives, he needs to be listed on both your and your ex-husbands policies. If the son is involved in an accident that is his fault then it would be the insurance that is on the car he was driving that would pay the claim. This also may affect the premiums on both policies since it is based on the sons driving record. When the other insurance company learns of the accident they will rase the rates of that persons policy as well.

I hope this helps
Richard Hixenbaugh