How Do I Insure a Car I Don't Plan On Driving?

Typically you insure a vehicle that you and the other members of your household will be driving. There may be a few instances in which you have a vehicle that you don't intend to drive but you still need insurance on it. You may be wondering, “How do I insure that?”

The few scenarios listed below are not typical and insurers may not have anything set up in their standard policies to cover these, but most insurers will work with existing clients in order to accommodate these unique circumstances. Please remember that insuring in these situations will vary from state to state, from one insurance company to the next, by policy and even by the individual customer.

Let's take a look at three different scenarios and how insurance plays out in each.

1.You are an unlicensed driver but you maintain a vehicle for another individual to drive.

This situation may occur if you don't have a driver's license due to a disability, illness or old age and maintain a car so that someone else can take you to your appointments. Insurers will look at situations like this on case-by-case basis and typically are more accommodating if you are a long standing customer and have a good track record with their auto insurance.

If you are excluded from your own insurance policy, it is typical that the insurance company will require a licensed driver listed on the policy, such as a family member that lives in the home.

The insurance policy premium will be based on the information tied to the licensed driver, such as age, gender, driving record and other pertinent information.

2. You plan on leaving the country for a year and someone will be driving your car while you are away.

If the person driving the car in your absence will be using it on a regular basis, you can simply add that individual to your policy while maintaining yourself as the registered owner.

It's always important to make sure the driver and the insurance company know how to contact you in case of an accident or any other incidents that occur to your vehicle.

If no one is using the vehicle on a regular basis in your absence, you generally won't need to add an additional driver to your policy.

There are some circumstances in which the insurance company will allow a driver to insure a vehicle they don't own. For example, if your brother will be driving your vehicle while you are away, instead of adding your brother to your policy, he may be able to add your car to his policy even though he doesn't own it.

It's always important to discuss any special circumstances with your insurance agent to find out the best solution. It's never a good thing to leave the insurance company in the dark.

3.You have a extra vehicle or seasonal vehicle that no one will drive for months at a time.

You may own an extra car or a classic car that you store away during the winter months. In this case it is a good idea to keep your vehicle insured. You may still need to keep liability insurance on the vehicle depending on what state you live in. In California, a car must have insurance in order to be registered. If you cancel your insurance coverage, you will in effect also cancel your registration.

The easiest and most cost effective way to insure a garaged car is to drop any optional coverages, like collision, which covers damages to your vehicle from a car accident. It best to maintain comprehensive coverage to protect your vehicle from theft, vandalism and natural disasters. This coverage is inexpensive. Set a calendar reminder or leave a note on your garaged car's front seat to remind yourself to add collision back onto your policy when you are ready to start driving that vehicle again.

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