Ok I am planning to go down to texas to buy a rx8 in about 24 hours. I cant drive manual so i am taking my friend down there to take it back. Now the question is, does my insurence cover him while he is driving it back?

 

Ask your agent. I would think it does.

 

^ +1 or learn to drive it on the way back

 

that would have to be some shear of bad luck if something happens when he is driving it bak...

 

well yea but who wants to take a
$18k risk

 

Im pretty sure you'll be fine, but I think usually it doesnt cover the person if they are not the owner, or under the owners name...

 

As long as the vehicle is in your name, anyone you want can drive the vehicle as long as they have your permission.

 

Insurance insures the CAR not the driver. If you have full coverage on any vehicle then you should DEFINITELY be covered driving this one back (I think I have 30 days from the time I buy a vehicle that it is covered by my insurance, but they HIGHLY recommend at least letting them know you are planning on picking it up).

 

Don't count on the "insurance covers the car" argument. You really need to verify this with your agent. A couple of years ago, we were rear ended by a woman in a Toyota. It was at a traffic light, there was only minor damage, so we simply exchanged information. Later, when we provided the info to OUR insurance company in order to get the bumper repaired, the claim was denied by HER insurance company. As it turns out, it was her mother's car, and she wasn't covered under the policy. Granted, it was one of those high-risk, bargain-basement insurance companies, but still...check with your agent to be sure.

 

it only covers the car at speeds in excess of 90mph, so you better step on it..

 

True. Your auto policy will have a section that defines "Who Is An Insured" which will tell you if your friend qualifies as a "permissive user." Generally this will be the case, but check your policy to be sure. The actual language can vary a great deal from state to state and policy to policy. These days most are written in plain English, but if you have any doubt it is a good idea to check with your agent (assuming you have one). If you don't have an agent, call the company directly.

If he has his own policy, that may cover him if your's does not.

Or you can skip the whole whole ordeal and learn how to drive the car on the way back. You know you want to!

 

Aside from the insurance question. Try and wrangle the reins of the car from your friend to learn to drive it, at least on the highway. I live in Austin and drove down to San Antonio to buy my RX-8. I only had about 2 hours worth of manual driving "experience" at that point.

Anyways, on the highway the stick is easy... it's only in the city that I was sweating it, but I managed.

After driving an automatic for 10 years, learning to drive on a stick actually increased my driving skills and awareness- mostly because I didn't want to screw up the car or run into things/people/stationary objects.

Good choice on the manual. The first couple of days will be rough. After that, remember to be good on the break-in period.

Also, you may want to check with Rotary God on this, but if possible don't drive it on Cruise Control on the way back. Since it's a new engine, it's best to not to keep the RPMs at one point for too long. So maybe try and fluctuate the speed every now and then.

michael

 

Important! Dont let the dealer know you cant drive MT(Tell him you had a few). This might help you if the clutch goes out early. I'm not sure if Mazda will cover a worn clutch 12/12

 

The deal there was most likely that the daughter was still living at home, and the mother had never told the insurance company about her. Your company could still have gone after them personally. Their company could have cancelled them, or raised their rates to cover the daughter for the future.

In my youth, I was in an accident in my father's car. Other driver's fault. Our company paid off on collision, and they eventually collected from the the other company so my dad got his deductable back. But they immediately listed me as a driver, and jacked his rates up accordingly. They stayed up until I moved out on my own and bought my own car, about a year later.

A friend not living in the same household would not be the same deal as an undeclared live-at-home child. But your advice is 100% on the mark - he should check with his agent.

Ken