Dear Liz: You recently answered a question from someone who lent a van to a friend for more than a year. You mentioned the borrower “may have benefited from free insurance coverage if you continued to pay those premiums.” Some insurance companies limit the time they extend coverage when a car is driven by someone other than the owner or immediate family. Our insurance has a four-month limit.
Answer: That’s a good point. Insurers often require that anyone who regularly uses a vehicle be added to the insurance policy as a driver. In addition, someone who borrows a vehicle and who is otherwise uninsured might want to consider getting a non-owner insurance policy. This wouldn’t cover damage to the vehicle but would provide liability coverage in case of an accident.