US vehicle insurance without car hire?

dw96

I thought I posted to the insurance forum this morning (but went badly wrong). So a second attempt, the PPI forum was clearly wrong but I'm not sure whether this belongs under "Insurance & Life Assurance" or here.




I don't usually hire a car when abroad so from memory, vehicle insurance comes with hiring the car, assuming I add the necessary extra(s). But this time around a friend who lives locally say I can borrow their car if I want to.I have checked my travel insurance and should anything physically happen to me while I am in a car I'm covered. Should I be driving the car and be involved in an accident though, then any vehicle damage, liabilities et cetera will all have to come out of my own wallet.

What's the best way of sorting out vehicle insurance for a driver in my scenario?

Having the option to drive this car would be a nice extra rather than a showstopper. If sorting out insurance is complex/expensive then I'll make do with public transport/cycling instead. If the previous sentence reads as pure madness with regards to the US, I have done this before (I'm not going to NYC) and I'm not (completely) out of my mind.

AdrianC

The easiest way is for your mate to add you to their insurance.

Failing that, you might be able to buy some temporary cover - add-on policies of that type are certainly available here, but I have no idea about the US. I know back in the early '00s, when we borrowed a car from a friend over there, it was not at all easy, and they did end up just adding us to their policy.

iolanthe07

In the US (well, California, anyway, don't know about other States) it is the car that is insured. As long as you have a valid licence you can drive an insured car. I am able to drive my son's Boxster in the US without taking out any extra insurance. Car insurance there tends to be expensive, but it is a lot less hassle.

dw96

Ah, that's interesting. By a valid driver's license, do you know whether that equates to an international driver's license? My friend's American whereas I'm European (with a British license).



I suppose the best way to find out is just for my friend to ask the company that insures their car. Thank you both for help!

mobileron

I Confirm its the car thats insured ,so enjoy the holiday.

Herzlos

mobileron wrote: »

I Confirm its the car thats insured ,so enjoy the holiday.

It depends very much on the insurance. When we did it, anyone authorized by the insured party was covered but that authorization didn't need to be done in writing or with any advance notification. I don't know how that stacks up now.


We were also OK with an English readable license, without needing an international drivers permit.



The best solution is to get your friend to ask their insurance company about adding you to the policy and then re-imbursing them with any difference.

iolanthe07

I've never needed an International Driving Licence in the USA. When I moved there for five years my UK one was fine until I passed the California test.


The best solution is to get your friend to ask their insurance company about adding you to the policy and then re-imbursing them with any difference.


It is the car that is insured, not the driver, so no need to do this. Friends visiting me from the USA are amazed that they cannot drive my car without me adding them to my insurance. In California (and probably elsewhere) anyone with a valid licence can drive, but I would strongly advise a credit card sized photo licence, if you don't already have one. In my experience the old large paper licence without a photograph is not understood in the US.