Removing a Secondary Driver from Your Auto Insurance Policy?

Now and again, we feature auto insurance questions that we encounter on a fairly regular basis; questions about determining fault in a collision, how long it takes before a ticket drops off your driving record.

Let take a look at this scenario. A young lady's younger brother is listed as the secondary driver on her insurance policy and gets a ticket for distracted driving (using a cell phone). The young lady wants to now remove her brother from the insurance policy before renewal so her rates won't increase.

A recent survey found that 14% of Canadians admitted to texting or instant messaging while driving, 26% regularly check their messages while driving, and 41% have checked messages while stopped at a light.

The young lady might be able to remove her brother from her policy, but the insurance company could require the brothers to sign a document stating that he will not under any circumstance, drive the young lady's vehicle. It does not matter if it is a family emergency; he will not be permitted to drive no matter what happens or the circumstances.

If the brother does drive the vehicle after the document is signed, there will be no insurance if he gets into an accident. This will leave the older brother financially responsible for all damages and injuries from the collision. And, if the younger brother is lucky enough not to get into a collision but gets pulled over by police for some reason, he could face some serious fines and consequences.

Another alternative would be that the brother gets listed under the parent's policy or insures himself on his own policy, meaning that he could now be removed from the young lady's policy.