Couldn’t agree more about not just trusting the policy. Insurance companies are pretty much in the business of finding loopholes, and “occasional use” is one of those gray areas they love to exploit. I’ve never had a claim denied for that specifically, but I did have an adjuster try to argue that my kid was using the car “too often” for it to count as occasional. It was a headache, and honestly, it felt like they were just looking for a reason not to pay.
Yeah, the premiums sting, but compared to the stress of fighting with insurance after an accident... not even close. I’d rather pay a bit more upfront than gamble on their definition of “occasional.” You’re doing it right by getting everything in writing and pushing for clear answers. It’s annoying, but it saves you from way bigger problems down the road.