I hear you—it’s a headache dealing with insurance after something like that. I’ve always wondered, though, if adding someone temporarily is even worth the hassle for just a weekend trip. Has anyone actually seen a big difference in premiums from doing that? Or is it more peace of mind than anything?
Honestly, I get the worry—insurance stuff always feels like a maze. When my buddy borrowed my car for a weekend trip, I just relied on permissive use. Didn’t see any change in my premiums afterward, and it was way less hassle than calling up the company to add him for two days. For me, it was more about trusting him and knowing we’d be covered if anything weird happened. Sometimes peace of mind is worth more than a few bucks, but I wouldn’t stress over short trips.
Honestly, I get the worry—insurance stuff always feels like a maze. When my buddy borrowed my car for a weekend trip, I just relied on permissive use.
I get where you’re coming from, but I tend to err on the side of caution. With classic cars, I’m a bit more protective—permissive use is fine for a quick run to the store, but for longer trips, I usually call my agent. It’s not just about premiums; some policies have weird exclusions or lower coverage for non-listed drivers. Not worth risking it if something goes sideways.
I’ve always been a little paranoid about this, honestly. My brother borrowed my car for a camping trip last year and I just kept picturing some weird scenario where insurance wouldn’t cover it. Permissive use sounds simple, but when you actually read the fine print, there’s always some random clause or exception that makes me second-guess.
I called my agent before he left, just to double-check, and turns out my policy would’ve only covered state minimums if he’d gotten into an accident. That’s way less than what I usually carry. Not saying everyone needs to add their friends for a quick errand, but for longer trips or anything overnight, I’d rather be safe than sorry. Insurance companies love finding loopholes...
I get where you're coming from. The whole “permissive use” thing sounds straightforward until you actually need it, then suddenly there’s a bunch of fine print. I’ve had similar worries—my cousin borrowed my car for a weekend road trip and I spent half the time wondering if I’d missed some weird exclusion in my policy.
You mentioned,
That’s the part that always gets me. State minimums in MN aren’t exactly generous, and if something major happens, you could be on the hook for a lot more than you expect.“my policy would’ve only covered state minimums if he’d gotten into an accident.”
Here’s how I usually handle it:
1. Double-check with my agent (like you did).
2. Ask specifically about coverage limits for non-listed drivers.
3. If it’s more than just a quick errand—like an overnight or out-of-state trip—I’ll add them as a temporary driver, even if it costs a bit extra.
I’m curious—has anyone actually had to file a claim where permissive use was involved? Did the insurance company try to wriggle out of it, or was it pretty straightforward?
