If I remember correctly, I put mom's car on my policy and whichever car that was on the road was covered. Never both at once. So,I'd drive to her house and we would take her car places. Talk to your insurance agent. The only other way is to have the title transferred to you. Parent can call it a gift and they'll put a minimum purchase price on it.
My parents wanted to keep their "sweet ride" so I could use it to take them to appointments and such. So off I went and they sold me the car for the lowest BB value there was for it. No problems at all and we just added it to our insurance. And I still have it, and drive it, and it is now "my sweet ride" LOL
I would get insurance and have the ownership changed if necessary. If the car is in his name and it probably is you should call his insurance company and find out what you need to do. They'll need to see the POA document. Read over the POA and see what you are authorized to do.
Depends on the state!! And if the accident is your fault or not. Call THEIR insurance company. In California I was told to be added to their insurance! $$$. Even if I don’t live with them but visit a lot and drive their cars.
Our insurance did not go down until my wife surrendered her license for a non driver identification card. Looks like a driver license and had same legal identity characteristics.
Judy1157: Auto insurance follows the vehicle first., i.e. Bob and Mary both have auto insurance. If Bob borrows Mary's car over the weekend and gets into an accident, the claim would be filed under Mary’s auto policy, not Bob’s.
However, this is not so 'cut and dry' in your case since your father with dementia may not have possessed auto insurance in a while especially since he did not possess a DL.
The main issue is that the Dad who owns the car does NOT have a driver's license and therefore may not be able to get insurance on his own car anymore. The OP (the PoA) needs to find out if their own car insurance would cover him/herself -- assuming s/he has a car and insurance. I'm wondering what this scenario would do to the OP's insurance rate if they need more specific/broad coverage.
Hoping the OP will update this post to let us know what they find out.
Talk with their insurance agent to see what is required for a person to drive their car, also the person who is driving their car may have a clause that they can drive anyone car. Sometimes it the person that is insured and not the vehicle or the other way around.
By chance, I just had a conversation with my parents' insurance agent on this topic. Both have valid driving licenses, but neither one is able to drive at this point. They are named on the insurance policy, but my brother is listed as the primary driver. They actually save money this way because car insurance premiums are significantly higher for senior drivers. Our agent calls it the reverse teenage driver effect, and says the increases start to happen at about age 75.
Yes, anyone with a driver's license can drive the car and be insured. Please call the insurance agent to confirm, but that is how it works with my Mother's policy.
You need to contact your State Department of Motor Vehicle admin as each State law is different. And in theory, you can add you as a driver to his policy as others have noted.
What we did for my BIL he didn't have a license anymore because of health reasons we just added a driver onto his policy so in case of an accident whoever drives the car is covered. Yes it cost more but its worth it.
My insurance company charges a fee for an additional driver. However that other drivers insurance can cover him driving other vehicles. Must check with the insurance provider to find out particulars.
Normally the owner's insurance does cover other drivers. I would check with the insurance.
You as POA are able to CHANGE the insurance, as I am certain you know. You would then pay the added amount to insure other drivers. And you would pay the premium as you pay all your father's bills.
However, this is not so 'cut and dry' in your case since your father with dementia may not have possessed auto insurance in a while especially since he did not possess a DL.
Hoping the OP will update this post to let us know what they find out.
Prayers
"Getting car insurance without a license can be tricky. Prepare to do some digging around and pay higher rates."
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/how-to-get-car-insurance-without-a-license
I would check with the insurance.
You as POA are able to CHANGE the insurance, as I am certain you know. You would then pay the added amount to insure other drivers. And you would pay the premium as you pay all your father's bills.