Our staff enjoys taking complex concepts like insurance and helping consumers better comprehend them. We’re here to explain deductibles, whether you’re new to the concept or an Arizona resident trying to comprehend glass coverage. 

Is it possible to get auto insurance on a vehicle that isn’t registered in your name? is a question that insurance clients often ask. We’ll not keep you waiting; the majority of the time, you cannot get auto insurance on someone else’s vehicle unless you have an insurable interest.

What it really implies is the second, and arguably more significant, issue.

Let’s discuss insurance on a vehicle that isn’t yours, define insurable interest, and discuss who should and shouldn’t be covered by your policy. All set?

The meaning of insurable interest

Although it seems like a difficult crossword puzzle solution, insured interest is really rather simple. When you have a financial position in a car and would suffer a direct loss in its event, you have an insured interest. 

Having a vehicle in your name, such as a car title, is often how an insured interest is confirmed. However, there may be situations where you need a policy to protect an insurable interest you have in a vehicle that is not your own.

Can a vehicle that isn’t registered in your name be insured?

Both yes and no. Since our coverage model stipulates that you must be the registered owner of any vehicle for which you are receiving coverage, we don’t offer it at all. However, depending on your state, you may be able to discover a situation where you may insure a vehicle that isn’t your own if you investigate alternative insurance providers.

Your insurance coverage must, in certain places, match the name on the title and registration of the car. If someone is operating the car but isn’t listed on the title or registration, the insurance firms in those states won’t create a policy for them. 

Conversely, some jurisdictions may not mandate a match between the policyholder’s name and the one on the car. In some areas, an insurance provider may let a driver who does not own the car have a policy in their name; however, the registered owner must be included on the policy as an extra insured or as a co-owner. Perplexing? Here are a few instances:

• If you and your adolescent purchase a car together, the policy may be issued in your teen’s name and include you as an extra insured or as co-owner of the vehicle.  This is how you should write the insurance to represent your insurable interest in the car.
• The insurance may be issued in the relative’s name with you named as an extra insured or co-owner if you assisted them in buying a car and you are the co-owner of that vehicle.  If the relative lives with you, one alternative would be to include the car on your insurance and name the relative as a co-owner or driver.  

Crucially, insurance providers could respond to these circumstances on a case-by-case basis. It would be preferable to speak with your local insurance provider about your situation to determine how to proceed.

Listed drivers and insurance—the best of both worlds

Now for the juicy details: listed drivers. 

The dilemma is, should one list or should one not? We felt it would be helpful to discuss with you the importance of knowing who to put on your auto insurance policy, since having an unidentified driver in the case of an accident or claim might have serious repercussions.

A listed driver is a household member (such as a licensed adolescent or caretaker) who frequently drives the vehicle but does not necessarily have an insurable interest in it (ownership). A member of your family who drives the car has to be named as a driver on the insurance policy; they won’t be included as an owner or an extra insured.

Nowadays, a lot of insurance providers will want the coverage to include a list of every household member who is old enough to drive. For this reason, periodically reviewing your policy might be an excellent approach to updating any drivers that need to be added or deleted.

Your vehicle has an insurable interest in it. Additionally, we have an interest in you as an insurer. We want you to have more clarity and confidence about your coverage and the enjoyable times you have when driving. Let’s get underway if you’re prepared to learn more about the insurance industry or get a quotation.