If you want or need to, in an emergency grant someone permission to drive your motor vehicle it is generally not the state, but the insurance company requiring this information. While some insurance companies do not care if someone drives your vehicle insured through them, other insurance companies may consider your insurance null and void if someone else drives your vehicle and they are responsible for personal and property damages.
To be on the safe side of the law and insurance policy requirements it is best that an authorization for that person is signed by you and kept in the car at all times. If the borrower is stopped by a law enforcement officer the officer always checks the name on the driver’s, driver’s license with the name on the insurance papers and owner of the license plate, everything has to match. If the borrower can produce a lawful authorization paper explaining why the names do not match the driver is completely covered.
The practical advice related to filling out the correct information in these situations includes the following steps,
1. As owner of the vehicle you must state this fact on the authorization form, along with your address, landline phone number and cell phone number.
2. This authorization needs to include basic information about your vehicle such as, the year, the make and the model of the vehicle, the license plate number and what state your vehicle is registered, including the vehicle bin number found on a small plate at the drivers front window. You can look from the outside at the bottom of the windshield to find the number and copy onto the authorization form. If the vehicle happens to become involved in an accident, the insurance agent will refer to the BIN number for identification purposes of the vehicle when he or she is notified of a needed claim form.
3. Make sure you include on this authorization form the name of your insurance company and possibly your agent with a contact phone number. Include your insurance policy number for easy access to your policy by the insurance agent.
4. You must state in writing upon this authorization a state such as, “I am the lawful owner of the vehicle as described above and I hereby gave my permission and authorization for (name) as borrower to use this vehicle. You must include the dates that the borrower will drive your vehicle, the area they intend on driving the vehicle and if you place any restrictions or added conditions of the borrower while they drive your vehicle.
5. You must make a statement to the fact that all the information you wrote on this authorization form is all true and correct. A statement to the fact, says, “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of (the state where your vehicle is registered) that the above information is true and correct.” You must sign the form at the bottom and enter the date you signed.
As owner of a vehicle that you intend on lending to anyone, keep yourself and the borrower of your vehicle safe regardless if the insurance requires this form or not.