Insurance/tickets question.

[Perfect Balance]

Due to some financial, government aid, disability, and a bunch of other things I have going on at home, my car can't technically be mine right now, or we lose a bunch of help with medical things my family needs, since we're apparently so rich because we have 3 cars listed under our insurance policy, that we can afford the (about) $1,000 shots my Mom needs daily. We don't make 30k a month.

Anyway, I won't get into much detail, but basically, what's happening is that we're "selling" my car to a family friend until next year or so when I can afford to pay my own insurance under my own name, which is going to be like 2.5k a year for liability. I will still be driving it daily though, just very carefully.

Now, to my real question. What happens if I get a ticket ( I've never been pulled over, but I want to be sure ) while driving "his" car?

Will it effect his insurance? From what I've found, it seems as though it won't but I want to be sure.

 

[Joey D]

I'm going to guess it varies by state. In Michigan as far as I know if you get a ticket driving someone else's vehicle it goes on your record, not the owner of the vehicle since they weren't in control of it at the time. However, I do believe if you act recklessly and end up hurting someone they can take legal action against you as well as the vehicles owner. I'm not quite sure how that works though. If you are also caught DUI then the owner of the vehicle can be held someone liable since they should be aware of the condition of those driving the vehicle...but since you are 17 I don't assume you'll be drinking and driving.

I'm just under the impression that this is the way it is since they told us this in drivers training and numerous people have told me the same thing, but since I personally haven't seen anything in writing I can't be 100% certain. Maybe the best thing to do is contact your SOS office and sort of feel around for answers without telling them what you are doing. Also talk to you insurance company and ask about how you are covered while driving someone else's vehicle.

If I'm wrong, someone let me know and show me where it's written down at because I am a bit curious.

 

[///M-Spec]

I concur with what Joey has written above. You should double check this, as it can vary from state to state, but any moving violations (such as speeding, etc.) will be your responsibility. If you do not pay a speeding ticket, they won't go after your friend for it.

A non-moving violation, such as a parking ticket or something that gets your a 'fix it' ticket, will be the responsibility of the vehicle owner. So if you get one, take care of it or your friend will be on the line for it.

Once again, check your state laws, because it may be different in your state.

From an insurance prospective, any increase in premiums as a result of your actions behind the wheel will affect his policy as long as you are on it.

In other words, if you get caught speeding or hit someone, the rates will probably go up. However, once you get your own insurance and he drops you from his policy, his rates should return to their 'original' state --all else being equal.

He should definitely verify this with his insurance company, as they all have their own way of determining rates, and while this may apply to most auto insurance polices, it may not apply to all.

In an extreme situation, he will still have ultimate legal responsibility since he is the owner of the vehicle. For example, if you were to get drunk and injure/kill someone and/or destroy property, your friend could be charged with a crime and/or be liable in criminal and/or civil court for damages. But that would be a worst case scenario. So I would avoid any drive-by shootings, drug runs to Mexico or transporting dead hookers in 'his' vehicle.


M