Honestly, I get the stress, but I’m still rolling the dice with permissive use for now. My friends barely drive my car—mostly because it’s a stick and they’re terrified. If it’s just once or twice, I’d rather risk the paperwork than pay extra every month. Maybe I’ll regret it, but my wallet’s winning for now...
If it’s just once or twice, I’d rather risk the paperwork than pay extra every month.
I get wanting to save cash, but honestly, one accident and you could be looking at way more than just paperwork. Insurance companies love loopholes, and if they find a reason to deny a claim, they will. My cousin let a friend drive his car “just once” and ended up fighting with insurance for months after a fender bender. Not worth the headache in my book.
I hear you on not wanting to pay more, but man, insurance companies are like bloodhounds when it comes to finding reasons not to pay out. My neighbor let his brother borrow his truck for a quick run to Menards—ended up rear-ending someone at a stoplight. The paperwork alone nearly drove him nuts, and the adjuster acted like he was running a chop shop or something. Personally, I’d rather pay a few bucks extra than deal with that circus.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not totally sold on the idea that adding everyone to your policy is always worth it, at least not for short-term stuff. Maybe I’ve just been lucky, but I’ve let friends borrow my Outback for camping trips or errands around the Cities, and knock on wood, never had a claim issue. My insurance guy said as long as they have a valid license and it’s not a regular thing, permissive use should cover it. He even joked that if I started handing out keys like Halloween candy, then yeah, we’d have a problem.
I do get nervous about all the fine print though. Insurance contracts are like reading stereo instructions in another language. But every time I’ve asked about this, they say the policy follows the car first, not the driver (at least in MN). Maybe it’s different if your friend is living with you or borrowing it every weekend, but for a one-off trip to Menards? I dunno. Feels like paying extra just in case seems... overcautious? Especially when premiums are already through the roof.
That said, your neighbor’s story sounds like a nightmare. I’d probably be singing a different tune if I’d gone through that circus. Maybe it comes down to how much risk you’re willing to stomach. For me, unless my friend’s got a history of fender benders or something, I’ll roll the dice and hope the insurance folks don’t go full detective mode.
But yeah—if you’re the type who loses sleep over “what ifs,” maybe those few extra bucks are worth it for peace of mind. Me? I’ll take my chances until something blows up in my face... hopefully not literally.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen the “permissive use” thing get messy, even for one-off situations. A buddy of mine let his cousin borrow his car for a Target run—totally normal, not a regular thing—and the cousin rear-ended someone. Insurance did cover it, but they jacked up my friend’s rates for the next three years. The adjuster said it didn’t matter that it was a one-time favor; the claim still counted against the policyholder.
I’m not saying you need to add every friend who borrows your car once in a blue moon, but I do think people underestimate how much even a small claim can cost you long-term. Those “few extra bucks” for peace of mind might actually save you money if something goes sideways. Plus, if your friend’s got sketchy insurance or none at all, you could end up on the hook for more than you expect.
I get not wanting to overpay—insurance is already brutal—but sometimes rolling the dice isn’t as cheap as it seems. Just my two cents from watching a few folks get burned.
