- Honestly, I get the “better safe than paperwork” angle, but sometimes agents give different answers depending on who you talk to. - Has anyone actually had a claim denied because of this?
Yeah, the “quick errand” thing is basically insurance code for “shrug emoji.” I’ve had friends borrow my car for Target runs and never thought twice, but a day trip to Duluth? That feels like it’s pushing into regular use territory. Has anyone ever had an agent actually define what “too frequent” means, or do they just keep it vague on purpose?
I’ve asked agents about this and honestly, it’s always a moving target. One told me “a couple times a month is fine,” another said “if it’s regular, add them.” Super helpful, right? I’ve never heard of a claim denied just for a Target run, but if someone’s using your car every weekend, that’s probably pushing it. Insurance loves their gray areas... keeps us guessing.
Honestly, I get why folks say to add someone if they’re using your car a lot, but I think insurance companies are just as interested in avoiding paperwork as we are. My cousin borrows my car for errands every couple weeks, and my agent told me as long as it’s not “habitual or expected,” it falls under permissive use. Never had a problem with claims, either.
I do think the line gets blurry if it turns into every weekend or they keep a key. That starts to look more like a regular driver situation, which is probably what insurance is trying to avoid. But for the occasional Target run or airport pickup? I wouldn’t stress too much. Just make sure you trust the person and they’ve got a valid license... that’s usually half the battle anyway.
Honestly, you’re spot-on with the “habitual or expected” part. That’s where most people get tripped up—insurance companies aren’t usually hunting you down for a one-off loan to a friend. But if someone’s got a spare key or you’re tossing them the car every Saturday, that’s when you’re basically inviting the company to deny a claim if something goes sideways. I’ve seen folks try to save a few bucks by not adding a regular driver, and it can backfire hard if there’s an accident and the insurer figures out it wasn’t just a “favor” drive.
Permissive use is great for the occasional thing—Target runs, airport pickups, whatever. Just remember, some policies in MN have sneaky exclusions or lower coverage limits for non-listed drivers. It’s worth double-checking your policy language. If you’re on a shoestring budget, you don’t want to find out after the fact that you’re only covered for state minimums if your buddy totals your car. Trust is huge, but reading the fine print is just as important unless you like surprises...
If you’re on a shoestring budget, you don’t want to find out after the fact that you’re only covered for state minimums if your buddy totals your car. Trust is huge, but reading the fine prin...
I get what you’re saying about insurers not really caring about the one-off situations, but I’m not totally convinced it’s as risky as it sounds for people who only lend their car rarely. Like, I just got my first policy and asked my agent about this exact thing because my roommate sometimes needs to borrow my car for grocery runs. She basically said unless it’s a regular thing or they’re living with you, most companies aren’t going to make a huge fuss.
I know you mentioned that “some policies in MN have sneaky exclusions or lower coverage limits for non-listed drivers,” but in my case, the agent walked me through the fine print and I actually felt okay sticking with permissive use. Maybe it’s different if your friend is driving every weekend, but for me, the occasional favor seems pretty safe.
I guess my take is: don’t stress too much if it’s truly occasional. Just double-check your own policy like you said and maybe have a quick chat with your agent. Not every situation is gonna blow up in your face... at least I hope not.
