What is the difference between an occasional and secondary driver

This is just as bad, if not worse, than not carrying any insurance in the first place. If someone else is going to be driving your car then pay for the extra coverage. This way you will have peace of mind that your are properly protected should an accident occur. There are discounts to be found for occasional driver insurance. You will receive reduced premiums if an occasional driver is currently going to school full-time at an educational institution in another city.

This is a fairly common discount so ask your insurance agent about your eligibility when you go to renew your coverage. If you need to save money on your coverage then consider naming your children as drivers on only one of your vehicles. They will only be allowed to drive that car but your coverage will be cheaper.

At the end of the day, a clean driving record is the best way to keep your premiums low and your family safe. It is crucial to let your insurance company know who will be driving your vehicle — even if they are only occasional drivers. Otherwise your insurance coverage may be canceled, or worse yet, your claim may be denied.

A sudden check engine light can leave you feeling confused and stressed about the potentially expensive repair. If you want to keep your vehicle as healthy as a horse, you need to ensure the upkeep of its oxygen sensor. People often wonder. Primary and occasional driver insurance are not different policies. Instead, a person is named as either the primary or occasional driver on a policy. The most common example of this is in the case of a family vehicle where one person likely drives the vehicle every day for things like commuting while another person uses the vehicle less frequently for short trips around town.

The commuter would be the primary driver in this case. Whereas occasional driver insurance allows two or more drivers use a vehicle without having to take out multiple policies on the same vehicle.

An example where an insurer would specifically issue an occasional driver policy without a named primary driver is in the case of something like a collectible car that is not used on a daily basis. Occasional driver insurance can get complicated in the case of families that have multiple vehicles. Generally, a family will insure someone such as a teenager or college student on the cheapest car as that is the one they are most likely to insure. Many drivers are looking for ways that they can cut their costs.

Car insurance is expensive across Canada. Some families are restricting themselves to one family car. Rather than having to ensure two cars. When there is more than one driver, they have to decide who is going to be the primary driver. Versus the occasional driver. There can sometimes be confusion about this. The primary driver is the driver who will be driving the vehicle the majority of the time. It is quite often the person who drives the vehicle to work every day.

Also, the one that most times does the driving when it is necessary to take the vehicle out. The primary driver is the one that the insurance company scrutinizes the most. They will use all their metrics in regards to this driver to determine the main cost of the insurance.

Most often the occasional driver is the one at that is only going to be using the car as the name states on occasion. Quite often there is a stay-at-home mom that is only going to be using the car when necessary which overall is not too often. In most cases, the occasional driver insurance works well for the second family member.

The one that is not using the vehicle on a full-time basis. There are different rules for insurance according to the different provinces. It is what can make insurance confusing in Canada. Something else that is going to make a difference is how many vehicles are on the insurance policy.

A decision about which vehicle the occasional driver will use needs doing. The insured will have a choice. They may restrict the occasional driver to the car that is the least expensive. Not everyone who drives your car needs insurance, necessarily. But what if that person borrowing your truck to move gets into an accident? Your insurance policy should cover the costs in the event of an accident if the driver has or complies with the following:.

In fact, if your insurance company is covering the damage, your insurance premium is likely to increase. The reason for this is because you are trusting someone with your car and covering your car with someone else driving it in this scenario. If an accident were to occur, then it would affect your insurance to a degree but not your driving record, which is a separate insurance factor. That way you can you can let family and friends drive your car without causing you stress.

In Ontario, the overarching rule is that insurance claims apply to your vehicle in most cases, not individual drivers although your driving record still counts as a factor for underwriting. That means that anyone with a valid license who drives your car is technically covered by your auto insurance policy. There are several considerations to this that are important to understand, however.

Your insurer will never tell you what to do with your car except to insure it, obviously. It just wants to understand how the car is being used and who usually uses it.

What is an incidental driver? Great question. Some examples include:. Just be aware that incidental drivers do not include relatives or roommates who use your vehicle every once in a while.

Just something to keep in mind when figuring our who can drive your car under your insurance policy. If anyone else drives your car, we suggest you call your insurer.