So i dont really know how to put this, but i need some information from anyone that knows car insurance. This morning, my father passed away unexpectedly. Now this is really at the back of my mind at this time, but sence im 18 i have been labled as an occasional driver for my talon which is under his name. I live with my mom, and it would be about 250 a month to insure me, unless i had insurance through my dad. So sence he is gone now, thats really hard to say, and im sure anyone who has gone throught it knows what i mean, i need to know if im still legal to drive with his insurance. I need to drive for work and school, and as bad as it is to think about im going to have to wait to get the car transfered. thanks for any help.

I am not sure but i would count on the answer being no. Since your father passed away, the policy is no longer valid. Since you have the insurance card that claims you have insurance you can at least pass a trafic stop but if you get caught with an accident, your life s going to get a bit tougher. Sorry to hear your father passed, I am sure that is very hard.

Terry

Im sorry to hear about your father.

I used to work for Farmer's Insurance. The policy is written by the underwriters. Im assuming your name is as a secondary driver on the car? All that means is you are allowed to drive that car, based on a rate figured by less milage and usage of the primary driver. In other words you wont be driving it as much. Even though your father has passed...that doesn't mean the policy is instantly invalid. The secondary driver clause that your under still covers you, your name is on the policy also. Yes, a new policy has to be written...but the one you currently have is covering you. If you get pulled over, or in an accident...you still have that policy. It doesn't just quit because he is gone. More than likely there is a timeframe rule that says you have x amount of time to get insurance changed...its probably more like 30 days at least.

For example...if you trade your car in on a sunday...and the insurance company obvoiously isn't open to change your policy to the new car...your still covered by your old policy...actually the best coverage in your household...until you get the policy rewritten. you have 30 days to do that.

Your fine to drive the car. Your policy still exists for your name on that car...even if the primary driver has passed.

Again, im sorry about that.

Wow, really sorry to hear about your loss.

Penguin is right on for the most part. Just check with your state laws to be sure as they all differ. Your fine for now, it is covered in the event of a accident. And you do have a certain amount of days to do the transfer. The other common practice is to change the first named insured on the policy to read "the estate of..." But its not necessary with auto insurance.

Again, take your time with this. You have more important issues to work through at the moment. Hense the reason for this law.

Anything else I can help with just let me know.

Christopher.Nelson.nmcf@StateFarm.com