Honestly, I’d rather just add someone if they’re gonna be behind the wheel more than a couple times. I had a buddy borrow my old Impala for a week while his car was in the shop, and even though nothing happened, I was sweating bullets the whole time thinking about insurance technicalities. Permissive use is fine for a quick run to the store or something, but regular use? Not worth the risk or the paperwork nightmare if something goes sideways. Plus, rate hikes are no joke these days...
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think people overestimate how risky permissive use is, especially for just a week or two. If your buddy’s not living with you and it’s not a regular thing, most MN policies are pretty chill about occasional drivers. Sure, if they wreck your car, it’s still your insurance, but the odds of a massive rate hike from one incident (unless it’s a total disaster) aren’t as high as people think. Adding someone temporarily can be a hassle and sometimes even costs more than just rolling the dice on permissive use... depends on your risk tolerance, I guess.
Honestly, I get the appeal of just sticking with permissive use for a short-term thing—less paperwork, less hassle. But I’ve seen claims where the insurance company got picky about what “occasional” actually means, especially if there’s a big accident. Sometimes it’s not just about rate hikes but whether they’ll even cover everything. If it’s truly just a week or two and not a pattern, you’re probably fine... but if your friend’s driving a lot or there’s any gray area, adding them might save headaches later. Just depends on how much risk you’re cool with.
I hear you on the insurance companies getting nitpicky. My cousin ran into something similar a couple years back—his roommate borrowed his car “just for errands” for a few weeks while her own was in the shop. They figured it was all good under permissive use, but then she got rear-ended at a stoplight. The other driver’s insurance tried to push blame, and suddenly my cousin’s insurer started grilling him about how often she’d driven his car, whether she had “regular access,” all that stuff. It turned into a whole mess, and he ended up paying out of pocket for some of it because the company argued she should’ve been listed as a driver.
I get wanting to avoid the paperwork and extra cost, especially if it really is just a one-off. But I’m always wary of those gray areas... insurance companies are happy to take your money but not always so eager to pay out when things get complicated. If it’s just a day or two, maybe no big deal, but once someone’s driving your car more than just occasionally, I’d rather bite the bullet and add them—at least temporarily.
One thing I learned: some insurers let you add someone for just a month or even less, and it’s not as expensive as you’d think (at least with mine). Worth checking before rolling the dice. At the end of the day, I guess it comes down to how much you trust your friend—and your luck. Personally, I’m not that lucky...
insurance companies are happy to take your money but not always so eager to pay out when things get complicated
That hits home. I let a buddy borrow my Audi for a weekend trip once—figured it was no big deal, he’s a careful driver. But even just that short time, I was sweating bullets the whole weekend thinking about what would happen if something went sideways. I agree, those “gray areas” are where insurers love to wiggle out of things. Honestly, peace of mind is worth the extra paperwork for me, especially with a pricier car. You’re not alone in being cautious.
