Car Insurance?

First, a driver who has permission to use a car has liability coverage up to the limits of the policy on the car. But let's say the owner of that car purchased the state minimum (in our state $15,000), and the person hit has no or minimal coverage and the damages caused exceed available limits (broken legs or documented and real back injury typically result in verdicts > $50,000), then the driver that caused the accident can be subject to wage garnishment until the judgment is paid off. So just saying look to the car owner of the car your cadet is driving is not the answer unless you know the owner has a decent policy.

Second, you can get a "non-owner liability policy" that will provide liability and uninsured and underinsured coverage in the limits you select for your cadet to protect him or her if the policy of the car they are in or are operating is insufficient to cover either their own liability (or, if they are a passenger, their own injuries). USAA provides this coverage (one carrier, there are others). Until he owned a car, my son had a non-owner liability policy with decent limits with uninsured and underinsured coverage - and it was much cheaper than keeping him on our policy.
 
Also - while the owner may have liability IF they loaned the car to an idiot with a bad driving record, the Owner has NO direct liability for an accident - the policy covering the car is the first to pay, then the policy covering the driver (if any), but the owner has no direct liability unless they entrusted the vehicle to a known drunk or known bad driver.
 
Thank you another13mom,

I tried unsuccessfully to make this same argument about policy limits, but your explanation is so well stated.
 
As an update (I was the OP), our son reports to USMAPS on Tuesday. Yesterday, I called our insurance guy, explained the situation, and dropped our son from the car insurance. No problem and are realizing a BIG reduction in the premium. :thumb:
 
When my parents first added my in high school, USAA bill went up by $1500, when I left for the Academy the $1500 went down to around $200.
 
Just to clarify - I can still drive when I come home, jsut cant have a car at school.
 
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