Will Progressive Insure a Car That’s Not In My Name?
Last Updated on September 15, 2023
Progressive, like most insurers, will typically only insure a car that’s registered in your name.
If the car is not registered in your name, then you cannot generally buy insurance for that vehicle. However, you can buy non-owner car insurance or ask the owner to add you to the insurance policy.
Keep reading to discover how Progressive’s non-owner car insurance works and whether or not it’s the right choice for you.
Key Takeaways:
- Progressive primarily insures vehicles registered in the policyholder’s name due to insurable interest concerns.
- To insure a car not in your name, you can be added to the owner’s policy, co-title the car, or explore state-specific options.
- Progressive’s non-owner insurance provides liability coverage for those without a vehicle, ideal for frequent borrowers or renters of cars.
Progressive Will Not Typically Insure a Vehicle Not In Your Name
In most cases, Progressive will not insure a vehicle if that vehicle is not in your name.
Most insurers do not allow you to insure a vehicle that is not in your name. Some states also prevent you from insuring a vehicle unless that vehicle is in your name.
To insure a vehicle, Progressive requires you to have an insurable interest in that vehicle. If you’re the owner of the vehicle, your insurable interest is obvious: you would lose money if you lost the vehicle. If you’re not the owner of the vehicle, then it’s difficult to prove insurable interest, and it’s difficult to buy car insurance.
How to Get Insurance for a Vehicle Not in Your Name
If you want insurance on a vehicle that’s not in your name, then you have some options. You can buy non-owner car insurance, adjust the title of the vehicle, co-title the vehicle, or ask the owner of the vehicle to add you to the insurance policy.
Whether you’re working with Progressive or any other insurer, options include:
Get Added to the Owner’s Insurance Policy: The best way to get insurance for a vehicle not in your name is to ask the owner to buy insurance, then get added to the insurance policy as a named driver. This is ideal if you drive the car regularly. Ask the owner of the vehicle to contact Progressive and buy a new policy or update their existing policy. In fact, if you live in the same household as the owner or drive the owner’s car frequently, then you may need to be listed on the insurance policy.
Transfer or Co-Title the Car Registration: If you really want to insure the specific vehicle, then you can transfer the car registration or use a co-title. With a co-title, both you and the owner can be listed as the registered owners of the vehicle, allowing you to buy insurance for that vehicle. Typically, you can only co-title a vehicle that is fully paid off. You could also pay higher insurance premiums for a co-titled vehicle.
Add the Car Owner & Vehicle to Your Own Insurance Policy: In some cases, you can add the car owner and the vehicle to your own insurance policy, extending coverage to the vehicle and the owner. You will not be able to add the vehicle to your policy directly, but you may be able to add the owner of the vehicle and their vehicle to your policy. Contact Progressive to determine if this is an option in your state.
How Progressive Non-Owner Car Insurance Works
Alternatively, you can buy non-owner car insurance through Progressive. Progressive, like most insurers, allows you to buy car insurance even if you don’t own a vehicle.
Here’s how Progressive’s non-owner car insurance works:
- Progressive offers non-owner car insurance to anyone with a valid driver’s license who does not own a vehicle.
- Non-owner car insurance policies are cheaper than a standard car insurance policy. They also cover less, and they typically only include liability coverage (like bodily injury and property damage liability coverage).
- Non-owner car insurance policies act as secondary coverage on top of the vehicle’s existing primary coverage. They provide you with additional protection for any damages you cause while driving the vehicle. However, there’s no coverage for the vehicle itself (instead, all damage to the vehicle itself falls under primary coverage, or the vehicle’s own insurance policy).
Depending on your state, non-owner car insurance could include medical payments coverage, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and other items.
Ultimately, non-owner car insurance follows the driver – not the vehicle. A standard car insurance policy follows the car.
Who Should Buy Non-Owner Car Insurance?
Non-owner car insurance is ideal for those in certain situations but not others.
Some of the people who could benefit from buying non-owner car insurance through Progressive include:
Anyone who borrows cars frequently. If you borrow cars from friends or family members regularly, then you may want to buy non-owner car insurance even if you don’t own a vehicle yourself. Non-owner car insurance provides additional protection after an accident. However, it’s not ideal if you’re driving a specific car occasionally – say, if you drive your roommate’s car three or four times a week.
Anyone who rents cars regularly. If you rent cars often, then you should buy a non-owner car insurance policy. Otherwise, you may need to buy insurance from the rental car agency. All rental car companies have insurance on all vehicles, but using this insurance can be expensive – especially if you don’t have coverage of your own. If you rent cars often, then consider a non-owner car insurance policy.
Someone who uses a car-sharing service. If you live in a city with a car-sharing service, then you may need non-owner car insurance to drive those vehicles legally. Most car-sharing services require you to have your own insurance policy.
Someone who wants to maintain continuous insurance coverage between vehicles or during a license suspension. If you just sold your car and are planning to buy a new one, for example, and don’t want to lose your continuous coverage discount, then you may want to carry non-owner car insurance for a few months.
Ultimately, non-owner car insurance is the right choice for some drivers but not others. Contact Progressive to determine if the company’s non-owner car insurance is right for you.
Final Word
Progressive will not insure a car that’s not in your name, nor will most other insurers. Some states forbid you from insuring a car that’s not in your name. Even if a state allows it, it’s difficult to prove you have an insurable interest in a vehicle if you don’t own the vehicle.
To insure a vehicle that’s not in your name, you could adjust the registration or co-title it, ask the owner to add you as a named insured, or buy non-owner car insurance.
To learn more about Progressive’s non-owner car insurance and how it works or to request a quote today, contact Progressive.
