Car insurance usually follows the car in Pennsylvania. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Pennsylvania are collision, comprehensive, and property damage liability. You're required to carry property damage liability and personal injury protection in Pennsylvania. PIP follows the driver, unlike liability coverage.
If you let someone borrow your car and they cause an accident in Pennsylvania, bodily injury liability insurance pays for injuries to the other driver and their passengers. Property damage liability insurance will pay for damage to the other driver's car. If the person who borrowed your car causes damage that exceeds your coverage limits, their liability policy can act as secondary coverage. But their coverage only kicks in after yours is tapped out.
You won't need to use your PIP or MedPay coverage if someone caused an accident while driving your car because PIP and MedPay follow the driver. You will have to use your collision and comprehensive insurance to pay for damage to your car, though. These optional coverage types pay for your car to be fixed no matter who was driving, but it is a claim on your policy.
It's always a risk to lend your car to someone else, because you could definitely end up filing a claim using your own insurance in Pennsylvania. When someone borrows your car, they also borrow your insurance coverage in most cases.
This answer was first published on 07/10/23 and it was last updated on 10/27/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Car insurance usually follows the car in Pennsylvania. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Pennsylvania are collision, comprehensive, and property damage liability. You're required to carry property damage liability and personal injury protection in Pennsylvania.
What happens if someone who isn t on your insurance crashes your car in pa? ›
Generally, car insurance policies follow the car, not the driver, so in the case of permissive use of your vehicle, your auto insurance policy should cover the damages. If the friend borrowing your car is not responsible for the accident, then the at-fault driver's insurance should cover the damages to your vehicle.
What is the 15 30 5 rule? ›
California's minimum car insurance requirements are $15,000 for bodily injury liability per person, $30,000 for bodily injury liability per accident, and $5,000 for property damage liability per accident or 15/30/5. How do I obtain car insurance in California if I'm a high-risk driver?
Who pays for car damage in Pennsylvania? ›
Pennsylvania is a “choice no-fault" state for car accidents. In most cases, you will file a claim with your own insurance provider no matter who was at fault in the crash. The policy will have “full” or “limited” tort insurance, depending on what you chose to purchase.
What is permissive use in PA? ›
Permissive use means that you “overtly or tacitly” give permission for another person, who is not specifically covered in the insurance policy, as a named insured or household member, to operate your car.
Is the car insured or the driver in PA? ›
Car insurance usually follows the car in Pennsylvania. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Pennsylvania are collision, comprehensive, and property damage liability. You're required to carry property damage liability and personal injury protection in Pennsylvania.
Do you need insurance to drive someone else's car in PA? ›
You must purchase auto insurance to drive legally in Pennsylvania. If you're driving a car that is owned by your parents, you can maintain coverage through their auto insurance policy as long as their home is still your primary residence.
What to do if someone sues you for a car accident in PA? ›
Find a lawyer to defend you if you're sued. Usually, the lawyers who the insurance company hires are highly experienced, highly capable lawyers who represent insurance companies and their insureds in Pennsylvania car accident cases all the time. Pay all of the lawyer's fees and costs.
What makes a car totaled in PA? ›
A vehicle is a total loss when the cost to return it back to the pre-damaged condition is more than the value of the vehicle or the vehicle is damaged too severely for repairs. There are different methods that can be used to calculate the replacement value of your vehicle.
Can you sue for car accident in PA? ›
After a car crash, you can seek compensation for your accident-related damages, which could include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. In certain situations, you could also sue to collect non-monetary damages, like pain and suffering. It is important to note, however, that time is limited to sue.
PIP covers claims by passengers, lost wages, and in the case of a fatality, funeral expenses. Being a no-fault auto insurance state puts limits upon the legal pursuit of damages. PIP takes collections away from the tort system to limit litigation and to reduce the caseload that courts must handle.
Is Pennsylvania a PIP state? ›
Pennsylvania is a “choice no-fault” state that requires drivers to carry first-party benefits coverage, otherwise known as personal injury protection (PIP).
What is the PIP limit in PA? ›
In Pennsylvania, minimum auto insurance PIP coverage is as follows: $5,000 medical benefits; $15,000 per person/$30,000 per accident bodily injury liability; and. $5,000 property damage.
Can you sue an uninsured driver in PA? ›
If you have full tort insurance, you can theoretically file a lawsuit against an uninsured driver without having to prove the severity of your injuries. If you have limited tort insurance, you can only sue for pain and suffering if your injuries meet the serious injury threshold as defined in 75 Pa. C.S. § 102.
What happens if someone hits you and they don t have insurance in Pennsylvania? ›
If the driver who hit you is uninsured, you can potentially still recover compensation for your losses. Under Pennsylvania's no-fault auto insurance system, you can rely on your no-fault policy to cover some of your medical care after an accident.
What happens if I crash my dad's car? ›
Is car insurance attached to the vehicle or to the driver? Car insurance, contrary to common opinion, usually follows the vehicle, not the driver. If you allow somebody else to take your car and they get into an accident, your insurance provider is liable to pay the claim, based on your policy's coverage.
What happens if I'm not on my parents' car insurance? ›
While most insurance policies have this permissive use clause, not all will cover a driver who isn't listed on the policy. If you were to get into an accident and you're not named on your parents' insurance, there's a chance the insurance company will not cover the damages.
