IN-THE-KNOW

Hey, this is Joe Kennedy with the Kennedy Agency in Gilbert, Arizona, and today I want to talk about a very important car insurance and auto insurance topic: adding vehicles to your car insurance policy and making sure they are insured correctly.

We often see situations where someone adds a vehicle to their auto insurance policy to help out a family member, such as a parent adding a son or daughter's car to their policy. While this may seem like a good idea, it is extremely important to understand that, in most cases, you must be the registered owner of the vehicle in order to insure it properly.

For example, if a mom adds her son's car to her car insurance policy, but the son is the registered owner of the vehicle and he is not listed as a named insured on the policy, there can be serious problems. Even if she is paying the car insurance premium for that vehicle, if her name is not on the title or registration and her son is not listed as a named insured, there is a very strong possibility that an insurance claim could be denied after an accident.

This is why it is critical to make sure that any vehicle on your auto insurance policy is titled or registered in your name. If the vehicle is a lease, the lease should also be in your name. If the vehicle is not leased, then the title or registration must show your name as the owner.

If you are adding a vehicle to your car insurance policy and someone else is on the title or the registration is in someone else's name, and that person lives in your household, you must add them as a named insured, not just as a listed driver. Being a named insured gives them proper coverage rights under the auto insurance policy and helps avoid claim denials.

The key takeaway is this: you can add a vehicle to your car insurance policy and pay premiums on it, but if your name is not on the title or registration and the proper person is not listed as a named insured, there is a very good chance you may not have coverage if there is a claim.

If you have any questions about adding a vehicle to your auto insurance policy, car insurance coverage, named insured requirements, or vehicle ownership and insurance rules, definitely reach out to my agency. These rules are state specific and can vary by location, so if you are not in Arizona, I encourage you to contact your local insurance agent for guidance.

This is Joe Kennedy with the Kennedy Agency in Gilbert, Arizona. We'd be happy to review your car insurance and auto insurance coverage options with you.

Give us a call at (480) 526-8277 or visit https://thekennedyagencyaz.com

to get a free car insurance or auto insurance quote today.

Hope that helps. Have a great day.