So I Borrowed My Buddy’s Truck… and Learned a $4,000 Lesson

It all started with a text.

“Hey man, mind if I borrow your truck real quick? Just need to grab a couch off Marketplace.”

Famous last words.

Meet Ryan, a good guy, decent driver, and apparently an overconfident furniture mover. His buddy Derek tossed him the keys without hesitation. “Sure,” he said. “Just be careful with the tailgate, it sticks a little.”

An hour later, Derek’s truck was fine. The couch? Not so much. And the parked Subaru behind it? Let’s just say it didn’t survive the “extraction.”

That’s when the big question hit:

“Wait... whose insurance covers this?”

Here’s how it usually shakes out:

1. Insurance follows the car, not the driver.
   Since it was Derek’s truck, Derek’s insurance would be the first to step in. That means his policy covers the Subaru (and maybe the couch, though that’s a gray area…literally, in this case).
2. Permission matters.
   Because Ryan had permission to borrow the truck, Derek’s insurance applies. If he’d taken it without asking, totally different story.
3. Secondary coverage might kick in.
   If the damage was big enough to max out Derek’s coverage, Ryan’s own auto policy could help pay the rest. Kind of like insurance teamwork.

So yes, when you borrow someone’s car, you’re probably covered… but it’s not an open invitation to launch couches or test how fast your friend’s truck can go.

The rule of thumb:
If you borrow a car, ask first and drive like it’s made of glass.
If you lend your car, make sure your insurance can handle your friends’ “quick errands.”

Because no one wants to explain to their agent why there’s a loveseat halfway through a Subaru.`

Need help figuring out what’s actually covered if someone borrows your car (or you borrow theirs)?

Talk with one of our local advisors. We’ll help you sort through the “what ifs” before they turn into “oh nos.”

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