Non-Owner SR-22 vs. Being Added to Someone's Policy
If you live with a car owner, you have two possible ways to meet an SR-22 requirement. Which one fits depends mainly on how often you drive their car.
| Non-owner SR-22 | Added to their policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Best when | You rarely drive any one car | You regularly drive a household car |
| Who pays more | You pay your own premium | The owner's premium rises, often by a lot |
| Risk to the owner | None | Your claims affect their record and their rates |
| Coverage on their car | Secondary liability only | Full coverage on their policy |
The household rule
Insurers ask whether anyone in your household owns a car. If a car is available for your regular use, most carriers will not sell you a non-owner policy, and they will expect you to be listed on the owner's policy. Answer truthfully. A misrepresentation can void coverage after a crash.
Excluding yourself instead
Some owners add a named driver exclusion so that you cannot drive their car at all. That keeps their rate down, and you can then buy a non-owner SR-22 for occasional use elsewhere. The rules differ by state.