Yeah, that's pretty spot-on. Insurance language is intentionally vague because it gives companies wiggle room when claims get tricky. Even if your friend has their own policy, your insurance usually kicks in first since it's your car. The friend's insurance typically acts as secondary coverage, stepping in only after yours maxes out or denies the claim. It's frustrating, but that's how most policies are structured.
Also, insurers often use terms like "likely" or "typically" because every claim scenario can differ slightly—so they avoid making absolute promises upfront. Best thing you can do is clarify exactly what's covered beforehand, especially regarding permissive use of your vehicle. Some policies have sneaky exclusions or higher deductibles for non-listed drivers. Learned that the hard way myself...
"Some policies have sneaky exclusions or higher deductibles for non-listed drivers. Learned that the hard way myself..."
Yeah, tell me about it. A couple years back, I lent my old Honda to my roommate for a quick grocery run. He ended up rear-ending someone at a stoplight—nothing major, thankfully—but man, did the insurance headache afterward teach me a lesson. Turns out my policy had this weird clause about "occasional drivers" and slapped me with a higher deductible because he wasn't officially listed. I was already pinching pennies as a student, so that extra cost stung pretty bad.
Ever since then, I've been annoyingly cautious about lending my car out. I even called my insurer to clarify exactly who counts as an "occasional driver," and they gave me the vaguest answer possible (surprise, surprise). Honestly, insurance companies seem to thrive on ambiguity... guess that's how they keep us on our toes (and wallets open).
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, I've had the opposite experience. My classic Mustang is insured under a collector's policy, and surprisingly, they're pretty clear about who can drive it—basically nobody except me unless I specifically add them. It sounds restrictive, but at least there's no ambiguity or hidden clauses. Maybe regular policies are intentionally vague to upsell coverage? Either way, clarity definitely beats surprises when something goes wrong...
