Auto insurance for non-owners
Santander auto insurance for non-owners is secondary coverage, meaning it kicks in after the primary coverage is paid. For example, if you borrow a friend’s car and cause an accident, your friend’s car insurance pays first, up to the policy limits. If policy liability limits are exhausted, your non-owner auto insurance may pay (up to your policy limits).
If you’re a licensed driver who doesn’t own a car, you may still need car insurance. Sound weird? Consider this: If you’re someone who rents cars frequently, you may want liability insurance to help protect your assets from an accident lawsuit, like your home and savings.
That’s where non-owner auto insurance comes in. It’s a good way for drivers who don’t own a car to get liability insurance. Liability coverage pays for damages and injuries to others if you cause a car accident.
There are other reasons why you might want non-owner auto insurance, such as legal requirements to show proof of insurance or to avoid a coverage gap. But not everyone without a vehicle needs one. This is what you need to know.
What does auto insurance cover for non-owners?
If you cause a car accident while driving a rental car, non-owners car insurance covers:
- Damages you cause to others, such as car repair bills or property damage
- Legal defense if you are sued for causing a car accident
- The bodily injury you cause to others, such as medical expenses
Depending on your state and insurer, you may be able to get medical coverage with a non-owners auto insurance policy, such as:
- Medical payments – This coverage pays your medical bills and those of your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident.
- Uninsured motorist coverage – This coverage pays for your medical expenses if someone hits you and you don’t have liability insurance or it isn’t enough. Uninsured motorist coverage may also cover hit-and-run accidents, depending on your state.
What doesn’t auto insurance cover for non-owners?
While non-owner auto insurance is designed to cover the driver’s basic liability insurance needs, there are several common exclusions:
Damage to the car you are driving.
Car insurance for non-owners does not include collision and comprehensive insurance, which covers a wide range of problems such as car theft, fire, flood, hail, riots, vandalism, collisions with animals, and falling objects.
If someone else causes an accident in the car you’re driving, the owner of the vehicle can file a claim under their collision and comprehensive insurance, or against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance.
Injuries you suffer in a car accident.
If your non-owners auto insurance policy only has liability insurance, you won’t be covered for injuries you sustain in a car accident. If you want injury coverage, you may be able to add medical payments coverage.
Other drivers.
Generally, non-owner auto insurance policies only cover you, not your spouse or any other drivers in your household. Some insurance companies will not allow you to have a non-owner auto insurance policy if someone in your household has a personal auto insurance policy.
Personal items.
A non-owners auto insurance policy will not cover your personal belongings that are lost, damaged, or stolen. For example, if someone steals your laptop from a car you’re borrowing, he’s not covered by car insurance. You may have coverage for your personal belongings through your homeowners or renters insurance.
Do I need non-owners’ car insurance?
There are a few reasons why it may be worth getting non-owners car insurance :
Rent cars often. If you frequently rent cars, you may want non-owners’ car insurance so you don’t have to buy liability insurance from a car rental agency.
You don’t want a coverage gap in your auto insurance. Not having auto insurance creates a “coverage gap,” which auto insurance companies see as higher risk and typically translates to higher auto insurance premiums the next time you shop for auto insurance. car. Non-owner auto insurance is a good way to avoid a coverage gap if you find yourself between vehicles.
State law requires you to file an SR-22 (or FR-44) form. Your state might require you to show proof of car insurance if you’ve had problems like DUI convictions, license suspension or revocation, caught driving without insurance, or other types of problems. SR-22 non-owner insurance is a way to get car insurance without owning a car.
