You may not think you need to bother with car insurance if you only drive rented or borrowed vehicles, but this is not true. If you drive a vehicle that is owned by someone else, you need to have coverage, which usually comes in the form of a non-owners car insurance policy. This is for anyone who does not drive their own vehicle, but rents or borrows cars when they need them.
When you have a non-owners car insurance policy you have the same liability protection that you would have if you had an insurance policy for a vehicle that you own. It will pay for damages caused to the property of others if you cause an accident. One thing you need to remember is that this type of coverage only protects others who have damages as a result of an accident that is your fault. You will have to pay for any of your own expenses, as there is no collision coverage with non-owners car insurance.
Should You Have More?
Many people find that it is sometimes just as easy to carry full coverage auto insurance, even if they don’t have a vehicle of their own to drive. This can be a good idea for a couple of reasons. For one thing, anyone who has full coverage has no need to worry when they are using a borrowed or rented vehicle, and they will be able to take care of any of their own damages, including damages to the vehicle. You will just need to make sure that there is a provision in the policy that ensures your coverage while in vehicles that are not your own.
Another reason to carry insurance is because if do not have coverage of any kind, it makes it more difficult to get the insurance coverage when you do need it. When you are not insured, it will cost you more to get a new policy. If you already have coverage, you may even be entitled to a number of discounts, including customer loyalty discounts.
A Non-Owners Car Insurance Policy Can be Difficult to Get
The biggest problem with a non-owners car insurance policy is that it can be hard to get. Many insurance companies do not offer them at all, and those that do offer very limited coverage. In some cases, they are offered to those who have been convicted of certain driving expenses and need proof of insurance to have their driver’s licenses reinstated. It is also offered by some insurers to customers who live in larger cities, as many do not own cars due to the limited parking available, among other things. Many city dwellers tend to use public transportation for the most part, and borrow or rent a vehicle if they need one.
Renting a Car
If you are renting a car, and you just rent a vehicle whenever you need one, it is wise to have a non-owners car insurance policy. This way, if you do get into an accident and it’s your fault, you will have liability protection. It is less expensive to carry this type of coverage. The only problem with this is that many rental agencies require customers to purchase insurance from them at the time of rental.
Saving Money on a Non-Owners Car Insurance Policy
Even though a non-owners car insurance policy is traditionally less expensive than a regular car insurance policy, you can find ways to save even more money on this coverage. One of the best ways to get good rates on car insurance of any type is to always maintain a clean driver’s abstract. Many insurers will offer safe driver discounts to their customers if they have had a clean record for a certain period of time, and more discounts for every year that they continue to be safe drivers.
Other ways you can save money on a non-owners car insurance policy include:
- Military Discounts – If you are a current or retired member of any branch of the US military you may be eligible for discounts. Many veterans find they get as much as 15% in discounts and can save upwards of $4,000 every year.
- Driver Training Classes – You can take the same Driver’s Ed classes that teens take in high school, and many insurers will offer discounts to those who have this training. This is because you learn many valuable things, including defensive driving and how to be a safe driver, which is what insurers want to see.
- Association/Organization Memberships – Belonging to certain organizations may entitle you to some discounts on insurance, including a non-owners car insurance policy. Some of the organizations that you can get discounts for belonging to include AARP and AAA.
Be Responsible with Borrowed Vehicles
Renting a vehicle is one thing, but if you are borrowing cars from friends and family members, you need to make sure that you have a non-owner’s car insurance policy, for a couple of reasons. For one, you don’t always know what type of coverage the person you borrowed the vehicle from is carrying. In fact, most of us borrow cars without ever thinking to ask about insurance. It may be that the person does have coverage for occasional drivers, but then again, they may not.
Another reason to have a non-owners car insurance policy is because if the owner doesn’t have insurance and you cause an accident, they will have a vehicle that is damaged, and you may not be able to afford to pay to have it fixed or replaced. You want to maintain the trust of your family and friends, so it is important to be responsible when you are using their vehicles.
Getting Insurance Quotes Helps You Save Money
- Another great way to save money on a non-owners car insurance policy is to shop around and get free quotes from a number of insurance companies. That way, you can see what they are all offering, and decide which insurer has the best rates on the coverage you need. We can help. Give us your zip code and we will get you free quotes from national insurers and insurers in your area.
