The general rule in Maryland is that insurance follows the car, not the driver. This means that if someone else drives your vehicle with your permission, even if you have your own insurance, your insurance company is the one that will pay for the accident. Car insurance generally includes cars in Maryland. The types of car insurance that follow the car in Maryland are liability for bodily injuries, liability for personal injuries, protection for uninsured motorists, collision, and all risks.
You are required to assume liability for bodily injury, liability for property damage, the protection of uninsured motorists, and the PIP in Maryland. The PIP follows the driver, unlike liability coverage. Fortunately, insurance follows the car and not the driver. Your vehicle is covered as long as you give that person permission to drive your car.
That's why it can be risky to lend your car to someone who doesn't have their own car insurance. For example, if you rent a car, your car insurance may extend coverage while you are driving the rental vehicle. If someone borrows your car without your permission and causes an accident, they are responsible for the damage, but it can be difficult to prove to the insurance provider that they used it in a non-permissive manner. Yes, it's likely that you'll need to add your teen to your car insurance when they first get their permit and start driving.
Car insurance typically follows the car instead of the driver, so the car owner's insurance will cover the accident, even if someone else is driving. If a friend borrows your car and causes an accident, your car insurance is the primary insurance, but if your friend has their own insurance, it will serve as secondary insurance. However, there are some situations where car insurance follows the driver, such as when car insurance limits are exceeded, in which case driver coverage can be used to cover gaps. In most situations, driver's insurance plays an important role regardless of the car you're driving and who caused the accident.
Even if you've had car insurance for years, determining when you're covered and when it's not covered by your car insurance can be a complicated matter. Your car insurance won't cover drivers who borrow your car for commercial use, for example, if you lend your car to a friend to use when driving with a ride-sharing app or for other business purposes. However, the responsibility may fall on the friend who keeps your car if they have their own car insurance. This means that if you have an accident, your auto insurance liability coverage will cover you the same way it would if you were driving your own car and paying for any damage or injury for which you were responsible.
At the end of the day, one of the best things you can do is consider adding people to your insurance if they use your car regularly. However, not only does medical coverage cover you if you have an accident with your own car, but you can also pay your medical bills if you have a car accident while driving a rented car, or even if you're a pedestrian and you're hit by a car. Call your agent to get reimbursed for the rental of the car you needed while it was being repaired.
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