Yeah, insurance companies love their loopholes. I’ve heard too many stories where someone thought “permissive use” covered them, but then the insurer found some technicality to deny a claim. Honestly, it’s just not worth the gamble for me. If someone’s gonna drive my car more than once, I’d rather just add them and skip the stress.
I get what you’re saying, but I’m still a little torn. I’ve let my brother borrow my car a couple times, and the “permissive use” thing seemed fine—never had to file a claim, though, so maybe I just got lucky. The idea of adding every possible driver feels like overkill, especially if it’s just a quick errand or something. But yeah, the horror stories about denied claims make me nervous too.
Has anyone actually had an insurer deny coverage in MN because of some weird technicality? Like, is this more of a “it could happen” thing or do people actually run into it? I’m not trying to be cheap, just wondering if the risk is as big as it sounds.
I get where you’re coming from—honestly, I’ve had the same debate in my head a bunch of times. I’m not about to add every cousin or neighbor who might need a ride to my policy either. Feels like overkill, and the insurance companies would love it if we all did that, right? But at the same time, those “permissive use” rules aren’t always as clear-cut as they sound.
I haven’t personally had a claim denied in MN, but I do know someone who ran into trouble when their kid’s friend borrowed the car and got into a fender bender. The insurer covered it, but only after a lot of back-and-forth because they argued it wasn’t “occasional use.” Apparently if someone borrows your car more than just once in a blue moon, or if they live with you (even part-time), insurers can get picky about whether they should’ve been listed. It’s not super common, but it does happen.
Honestly, for me it comes down to how often someone’s driving my car. If it’s just once in a while for something quick, I don’t stress about adding them. But if it starts turning into a regular thing—even just weekends or whatever—I’d rather play it safe and call the insurance company. Not worth risking a denied claim over saving a few bucks.
One thing I do is keep texts or something showing I gave permission, just in case there’s ever any question about whether it was authorized. Maybe that’s overthinking it, but after hearing some stories... better safe than sorry.
Anyway, I wouldn’t say you’re being cheap at all—just practical. Insurance is already expensive enough without adding extra drivers for no reason. Just gotta find that balance between covering your bases and not going overboard.
Honestly, if you’ve got a car worth more than most people’s annual salary, why risk it? I don’t care what “permissive use” says—if someone’s driving my car more than once, they’re getting added or they’re not driving. Insurance companies will look for any excuse to deny a claim, especially with high-value vehicles. Not worth the headache or the potential bill if something goes sideways.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve let my brother borrow my car a few times without adding him. Never had an issue, but it always made me a little nervous. Insurance fine print is no joke... one accident and you could be out a ton.
