Claims can get denied if it looks like you’re dodging extra premium.
That’s the kicker, right there. I had a client once who thought “permissive use” would cover his roommate borrowing the car every other weekend. Spoiler: it didn’t. The claim got messy, and he ended up paying out of pocket for repairs. Honestly, it’s like paying for guac at Chipotle—annoying, but way better than regretting it later.
Adding someone to your policy is a pain, but honestly, it’s way less painful than fighting with insurance when they decide “permissive use” doesn’t apply. I’ve seen people try to get clever—“Oh, my buddy only drives it once in a while, it’s fine”—but if there’s any pattern at all, insurers will sniff it out. They’re not dumb. If your roommate or friend is behind the wheel every other weekend, that’s not occasional use in their eyes.
I get wanting to save a few bucks, but is it worth risking thousands if something goes sideways? Insurance companies are looking for reasons not to pay out. If you’re sharing your car regularly, just bite the bullet and add them. It stings up front, but you’ll sleep better. And yeah, paying extra sucks... but paying for a whole new bumper (or worse) out of pocket is brutal.
Honestly, I’d rather skip a couple lattes a month than gamble with my bank account over this stuff.
