Does non owner auto insurance cover car subscription services?

Non owner car insurance does not cover subscription services that let you keep a car for several weeks or more. It can be a good insurance choice for subscriptions that let you use a car for a few hours or a few days.

When does non owner auto insurance cover car subscription services?

Non owner car policies will usually cover you when you use car subscription services that let you use a car for a few hours or a few days. Remember that these policies only cover your liability (your legal responsibility for causing damage to someone else in an accident), not the car you are driving. Make sure the car service company covers damage to the car.

However, these policies usually won't cover you if you're using the car for business, like driving for a car sharing or delivery service. You'll need a policy specifically designed for ridesharing or delivery drivers if you're using a rental or subscription car for these purposes.

Why doesn't a non owned car insurance policy cover all subscription policies?

Non owner auto insurance is designed for people who drive only occasionally. In fact, these policies specifically exclude you from coverage when you have regular access to or regularly drive a specific car. The chance that you'll get in an accident is higher if you use a car regularly vs once in a while, so the insurance you'll need is more expensive than non owner policies typically are.  

What counts as regular use of a vehicle?

For car subscriptions or rental insurance, keeping a car more than a month is usually considered regular use. This is why many car rental companies will make you check your vehicle in and pick up a different car every 28 days for a long term rental.

In addition, living in the same household as someone whose car you occasionally drive can be considered regular access. And using a car repetitively, like driving your mom to work in her car twice a week, even if you don't live with her, is also regular use. In these situations, you'll want to be listed on the same auto insurance policy as the car.  

Shouldn't a non owner insurance policy cover me whenever I drive a car I don't own?

Well, no. "Non owner auto insurance" is a nickname for a car insurance policy with a named non owner endorsement. The purpose of this kind of policy is to cover your liability when you occasionally drive cars you don't own for personal use. A specific car you regularly drive or have access to is different - then you need a car insurance policy that lists both you and the car.

There's a similar commercial auto policy for businesses called "hired non owned" coverage. And, just like a personal policy, it's intended for employees who occasionally drive a vehicle the business doesn't own. Any auto that's regularly driven by employees needs to be listed on the policy.  

If you'd like to read more about non owned car insurance, check out our guide to everything you need to know about non owner auto insurance.