You’re heading out of town, and your cousin needs to use your car. Or maybe your partner has started driving your car more often than you do. But what happens if they crash it? Are you still covered?
Short answer: Maybe.
Longer answer: It depends entirely on your policy and what you’ve told your insurer. If you’re not sure, now’s the time to check. Because if someone else is behind the wheel and your insurer doesn’t know about it, your claim could be rejected.
Let’s unpack the details.
Let’s talk about the regular driver on your car insurance policy
In insurance terms, a regular driver is the person who drives the car most often during any given month. This person is also noted as the regular driver on your policy schedule.
The regular driver might not be listed as the policyholder, especially in families or households that share cars. So, what this translates to is if your child takes the car to university every day or your partner drives it to work more often than you do, they should be listed as the regular driver.
It’s a problem if something happens and they haven’t been officially listed on your policy as the regular driver. A big problem. As in, you probably won’t be covered. That kind of problem.
There’s a regular driver, and there’s borrowing
If someone else drives your car occasionally, like a once-off favour, they’re generally still covered under your policy. In this case, what’ll happen is that we’ll look closer at your claim to determine if your friend qualifies as a regular driver or not.
What you need to be on the lookout for is if anyone in your household is a regular driver. Got any of those living with you? Then it’s time to disclose this info to us. We’re less concerned with someone who only occasionally uses your car once in a while, maybe once a month or so.
What car insurers really want to know
We aren’t nosy, but we do need to understand the risk we’re covering, and we want to make sure that the premium you’re paying matches how the car is being used. If there’s a mismatch between your policy info and real life, your claim might not be approved.
Here’s what we look at (among other things):
- Who drives the car most often?
- Where is the car parked at night and during the day?
- Whether the car is used for personal or business use.
Lastly, we urge you to be honest. Non-disclosure can void your cover. It’s that serious.
What’s not covered?
Even if the correct regular driver is listed, there are still situations where your claim could be rejected… Like, if the driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if they don’t have a valid driver’s licence, or if the car is used for racing or illegal activities. You also wouldn’t be covered if your car is being used for business, which hasn’t been declared or noted on your policy schedule.
The king has your back
Whether it’s your sibling, your spouse, or your neighbour using your car more often than you do, it’s your responsibility to keep your policy accurate and up to date. The good news? We make it easy with our royal app and online portal. You can even WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50
Click here for a commitment-free quote or policy update.
Frequently asked questions
1. Will my insurance cover someone else driving my car?
Most likely, as long as they’re an occasional driver and you’ve disclosed all regular drivers on your policy.
2. What if I forgot to list the regular driver?
If the actual driver isn’t listed and is considered a regular driver, your claim may be rejected.
3. Can I add multiple drivers to my car insurance policy?
Absolutely. You can list all regular drivers and update your policy at any time.
4. Does my policy cover drivers with a learner’s licence?
Yes, but only if a fully licensed driver is in the car with them and your policy allows it. Check your policy or contact us.
5. What happens if a listed driver crashes the car while drunk?
The claim will likely be rejected. No cover applies if the driver is under the influence.