# Auto insurance question (CA)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-insurance-question-ca/392138>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-insurance-question-ca/392138 "2007-02-14T03:48:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-insurance-question-ca/392138/1 "2007-02-14T03:48:22Z")

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This is in California.

If an uninsured driver is involved in an accident while driving a car owned by another person, who is ultimately responsible? The owner has insurance, but possibly did not name the driver on the insurance policy. The owner was not present during the accident. Should I be making a claim with the insurance company?

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**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-insurance-question-ca/392138/2 "2007-02-14T12:34:14Z")

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If the driver had the owner’s permission to drive the vehicle, the insurance company will cover the driver. The only exceptions would be if the driver was specifically excluded by the policy or was not a licensed driver.

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**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-insurance-question-ca/392138/3 "2007-02-14T14:05:54Z")

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[QUOTE=thelurkinghorror]  
This is in California.

If an uninsured driver is involved in an accident while driving a car owned by another person, who is ultimately responsible? The owner has insurance, but possibly did not name the driver on the insurance policy. The owner was not present during the accident. Should I be making a claim with the insurance company?  
[/QUOTE]

Permissive drivers are usually covered under a policy. There are potential exclusions. By all means, contact the insurance company of the owner of the car. Expect potential problems, the world being real. 😉