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What Happens to Your Insurance if Someone Else Crashes Your Car?

Accidents happen—and sometimes, they happen when someone else is driving your car. But what happens to your car insurance when someone else crashes your vehicle? Will your rates go up? Are you covered? What steps do you need to take?

This article covers everything you need to know about insurance coverage when someone else crashes your car, and what to expect from your insurer.

🚗 Who’s Covered When Someone Else Drives Your Car?

Car insurance generally follows the car, not the driver. That means, in most cases, your insurance policy will cover the accident, even if someone else was driving at the time. However, this comes with a few important exceptions and nuances that you should be aware of.

🛡️ How Your Insurance Handles the Accident

1. Liability Insurance (Damage to Others)

If the person driving your car causes an accident and is at fault, your liability coverage will generally pay for the damage they cause to others’ property and medical bills.

• This includes the other driver’s car, passengers in the other car, and any pedestrians or property damaged in the accident.
• Liability insurance is required by law in most states, and it will typically cover damages up to your policy’s limit.

2. Collision Insurance (Damage to Your Car)

Your collision insurance covers damage to your own car regardless of who is at fault. If someone else crashes your car and it’s their fault, your collision coverage will usually pay for the repairs to your car after you meet your deductible.

🛠️ Important: If the person driving your car is at fault, collision coverage is often the best way to cover the repairs.

3. Comprehensive Insurance (Non-Collision Damage)

If the crash involves non-collision incidents (like a car rolling into a tree or damage from an accident with an animal), your comprehensive insurance may also cover those damages, depending on your policy.

💡 Tip: Comprehensive insurance is not always included in a standard policy, so check your policy to see if it’s part of your coverage.

🤔 Will Your Insurance Rates Increase?

This is one of the most common concerns when someone else crashes your car. If your car insurance company has to pay for damages, there’s a chance that your rates could go up at your next renewal.

Here are some factors that affect whether your rates will increase:

1. Who Was at Fault?

• If the person driving your car was at fault: You’re likely to see a rate increase, as the accident will go on your driving record and be factored into your future premiums.
• If the other driver was at fault: Your rates might not go up, since the claim will be made against the other driver’s insurance or your uninsured motorist coverage (if applicable). However, in some cases, your insurer might still raise your rates after processing a claim.

2. The Driver’s Relationship to You

The relationship between you and the driver also matters:

• Close family members (spouse, children, etc.): Your insurer may consider them regular drivers of your vehicle, and their driving record can impact your premium.
• Non-family drivers: If a friend or acquaintance was driving and crashed your car, it may not affect your rates as directly. However, if the driver was negligent or at fault, your rates may still increase.

3. Your Claims History

If you have a history of multiple claims (even if someone else is at fault), your insurer may view you as a higher risk and raise your premiums accordingly.

📝 What You Need to Do After Someone Else Crashes Your Car

Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do if someone else crashes your car:

1. Make Sure Everyone Is Safe

Check for injuries and call 911 if necessary. Ensure that you exchange information with the other party and file a police report if required by your state.

2. Notify Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance company as soon as possible. Even if the other driver was at fault, your insurance needs to know about the accident so they can start processing the claim.

Provide details like:

• The other driver’s name and contact information
• Insurance details
• The police report number (if applicable)
• A description of what happened

3. Determine Fault

• Your insurance company will likely conduct an investigation to determine who was at fault.
• If the other driver is at fault, your insurance company may try to recover costs from their insurer. If they’re uninsured or underinsured, your own insurance may cover the damages under uninsured motorist coverage.

4. Repair Your Vehicle

Once the claim is processed, your insurer will work with you to get your car repaired. If the other driver was at fault and their insurance isn’t involved, your collision coverage will cover the cost of repairs.

5. Check Your Policy for Rental Car Coverage

If you need a rental car while your vehicle is being repaired, check if your policy includes rental reimbursement coverage. If not, you may have to pay for a rental car out of pocket.

⚠️ What Happens If the Driver Isn’t Covered by Insurance?

If the person driving your car doesn’t have their own auto insurance, you may still be covered by your own insurance policy, depending on the situation:

• If the other driver is at fault: You may still be able to file a claim under your collision coverage or your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, if you have it.
• If the driver is uninsured: In some cases, your uninsured motorist coverage will help cover medical expenses or vehicle repairs.

💡 Tip: If you often lend your car to others, make sure they have adequate insurance coverage or consider adding them to your policy to avoid any future complications.

✅ Final Thoughts

While it’s typically the car insurance policy that covers the damage in an accident, the type of coverage you have and who was at fault can impact your claims process and insurance premiums. In general, if someone else crashes your car, your insurance will likely pay for the damages, but you may see an increase in rates, especially if the driver was at fault.

Make sure to notify your insurer as soon as possible, provide all relevant information, and understand how your insurance policy works to avoid surprises.

Need help reviewing your coverage or adding additional drivers to your policy? Our experts are here to answer any questions and help you ensure you have the right protection in place.

Let me know if you’d like any additional tips or resources on this topic!