Is My Step Son Covered On My Auto Insurance Policy

Reader’s Question:

I recently got married. I have a 16-year old step son with my new husband. He is from Ohio with an Ohio auto insurance. His dad and I live in West Virginia. We have auto insurance policy on all of our vehicles. If he comes here and drives our car and gets in an accident will he be covered by our auto insurance policy in Huntington, West Virginia?

Thalia

Huntington, WV

Best wishes!

In general, car insurance companies follow the vehicle-first and driver-second policy. Let’s take this scenario as an example. Your step-son is using your husband’s car and a vehicular accident happened. The insurance that would cover the damages incurred from said accident would be the car insurance policy on the vehicle being used at that time. Whatever damages that exceeded the policy limits on the vehicle will be covered by the insurance company that the driver has. But, I want to inform you though this is the general practice. You still need to talk to your car insurance agent in Huntington, West Virginia to clarify this matter.

It seems to me that your teen step-son frequently visits your husband. If that is the scenario, then it would be best if you would add him under your auto insurance policy. Because, depending on your auto insurance company’s guidelines, there is still a possibility that your step son will not be covered by your car insurance if he is involved in a car accident. It’s always best to be ready of whatever might happen while he’s driving your car.