Is it legal for someone to put a friend’s car on their auto insurance when they do not own the vehicle and it does not reside at their house? My cousin is doing this in Muncie, Indiana and I think its a bad idea.

Don

Muncie, IN

Yes you are right. It is a bad idea a lot of reasons. If the insurance carrier is not notified of who the real vehicle owner and main driver is, presumably the friend, then the person obtaining an insurance policy in this manner could in fact be illegal. Without your cousin having insurable interest in the car it may difficult for your cousin to insure the friend’s vehicle anyway.

In many states, such as Indiana, putting a vehicle on your insurance policy in order to save money in this manner could be considered insurance fraud. It would be misrepresenting the information to say that the vehicle was his and residing at his house if it really is his friends and is garaged at his friend’s house. His friend’s driving history should be part of the rating process since he is the owner of the car and driver in Muncie, IN.