Ask Anne Marie: Can I Get an Insurance Policy for a Car I Don’t Own?

We occasionally highlight questions sent to our resident insurance expert, Anne Marie Thomas.

This week’s question comes from Tammy, who asks whether the existing car insurance policy she has on the vehicle she drives but does not own, is valid.

Tammy asks:

“The vehicle my former husband purchased for me is in his name. The car is insured, and I am the primary driver.  Am I able to keep this insurance policy and continue to drive the car?”

Whether you are buying or selling a new or used vehicle or driving a car purchased for you by someone else, you need to have the ownership of the vehicle registered in your name to get a car insurance policy for it.

Anne Marie explains:

“To have an auto insurance policy in your name, you will have to have the car’s ownership changed from your former husband’s name to yours. Auto insurance policies are issued only in the name of the registered owner of the vehicle. 

“In the meantime, you are still able to drive the car as long as it remains registered and insured in your husband’s name. To have control over the auto insurance policy, have the vehicle ownership changed to your name as soon as possible. You can then rest assured that the vehicle is properly insured.”