Insurance if someone else driving?

[ZionsWrath]

I'm in the US [New York] if it matters.

Just wanted to know if anyone knew the legality and issues related to having someone else driving your car?

I like to drink when I go out but am scared about what would happen if someone else drove my car home and had an accident.

Please reassure me

[ayau]

Should be fine. I believe it's called Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist. Although, if your friend has insurance, if possible, it would be better to claim it under his policy instead of yours since your rates will more than likely go up even though you weren't driving.

[fourvalleys]

Here's a pretty good summary:

http://www.esurance.com/insurance-re...ws-driver-myth

Highlight:

If you give any non-excluded driver (that is, someone you don't explicitly exclude on your policy) permission to take the wheel, your car insurance takes primary coverage status, which means that your car insurance would be primarily liable if something happens. The permitted driver's own insurance would serve as secondary coverage. So, for instance, if you loan your car to your best friend Drew and he causes an accident, you'll have to file a claim with your insurer, pay the deductible, and possibly expect a rate increase.