This space recently wrote about tough economic times increasing the need and valueof uninsured/underinsured motorists (UM/UIM) coverage for people on their own cars.
It is becoming increasingly evident that a potentially huge gap in this coverage is being created for people who are driving employer-owned vehicles.
If you carry UM/UIM coverage yourself, it will cover you for any injuries you sustain in any car you own that is insured under the policy, or any other car that you may occupy as long as that car is not furnished or available for your regular use. This regular use exclusion, present in virtually all personal auto policies, will exclude you from UM/UIM coverage if you are driving a vehicle furnished by your employer for your regular useon the job, or otherwise. So, if your employer doesn’t carry UM/UIM coverage on the vehicle and increasing numbers of employers don’t because insurance companies no longer have to offer it you have no UM/UIM protection out on the roads, occupied by increasing numbers of uninsured or underinsured drivers.
Can you do anything to protect yourself? Yes. Talk to your insurance agent about purchasing a non-owned car UM/UIM endorsement that can be added to your policy. It will protect you in situations where you’re driving your employer’s vehicle, or any other vehicle you don’t own, even if it’s available for your regular use. State Farm offers this endorsement; it’s a decent likelihood that other major insurers offer such coverage, too, but you’re going to have to ask for it specifically to get it.
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