Comments on: Auto Insurance: Is your AP on your policy?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:38:23 +0000

We have Erie Insurance. They explained “guest driver” the same way and it makes sense. We haven’t had any accidents with our au pairs, but we do pay mightily to have them on the policy and were told if they were to theoretically have an accident our premium will shoot up about 30 percent.

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By: Taking a Computer Lunch

Taking a Computer Lunch — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:40:19 +0000

I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad experience. We’ve only had one incident in 9 1/2 years, and that being 1 of 2 APs who clearly didn’t have a clue how to drive (AP #1 just got lucky, I guess – she also had a confident personality). We have a car that is nearly dedicated for AP use and it is nearly pristine after 5 years (I’m probably jinxing myself now, aren’t I?). Our APs tend to care for it as if it were their own (unlike the minivan, which has become a suburban pin-cushion — mainly on HD’s and my time).

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By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:42:11 +0000

We paid for each of our AuPairs to get US driving licenses and put them on our policy. We have had four accidents in eighteen months caused by AuPairs living with us. This has included a hit and run, backing one of our cars into the other, and the most recent DUI with second degree assault. Each AuPair has been a named driver on our policy and after starting with a ten year no claims discount, our insurance in now through the roof. All I can say is thank goodness that the last accident was not on our time as you could be ‘vicariously liable’ for the action or misaction of your employee. So, any damage lawsuit claim beyond your policy maximum you could be responsible for – goodbye savings, house etc. as with a serious injury, property damage, law suit this rapidly adds up. I would not recommend taking responsibility for any AuPair’s driving actions. DO NOT TRUST YOUR AUPAIR TO DRIVE YOUR CAR! DO NOT TRUST YOUR AUPAIR AGENCY TO CONDUCT EVEN REMOTELY ADEQUATE BACKGROUND CHECKS ON YOUR AUPAIR BACKGROUND!

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By: Karin Six

Karin Six — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:21:22 +0000

I am wondering if different auto insurers have different policies regarding an au pair? I would like to provide more information to my host families about this. Can you list some of the insurers that you have had no issues with and those who you have? For instance, is Wawanesa different than most other auto insurers as they are stricter with their requirements than most?

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By: Marg

Marg — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:15:04 +0000

The way our insurance agent explained the “guest driver” policy to me was that if I had my out of state father drive my kids to a soccer game in my car, he would be covered under my policy. But if I allowed my 19 year old child who lived in my home to drive my car, he would not be covered on my policy unless he was a listed driver — not necessarily a primary driver, but a listed driver. So, under the same logic, if I allowed my au pair’s boyfriend who was visiting from overseas to drive my car, he would be covered. But if I had a 19 year old girl living in my home for a year, if she were going to have regular (e.g., more than a couple times during the year) access to the car, the insurance company would not cover any claims arising from her accidents unless she was a listed driver. They explained that young people are statistically more likely to get in accidents, and if insurance companies are going to assume to risk for these accidents, they should be compensated through premiums. I’d much rather pay a $100/mo premium increase than a $1m tort suit for an au pair who ran someone over.

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By: NoVA Host Mom

NoVA Host Mom — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:22:44 +0000

A little late, but…
No, our AP is not on our policy. However, we do not have an AP who drives. Our daughter is only 12 months old, and my husband and I have the type of schedule that allows us to provide rides to the park for a scheduled playdate and we handle all appointments. Our neighborhood is on a major bus route which goes to the regional subway system, so we use that for getting the AP to and from school.

Our LCC reminded me that we would have to provide the AP with insurance if we were to get a driving AP (even if we never allowed her to drive for her duties for us, and still wanted her to not take the car to school), so for now, at least until we want and are ready for an AP to drive for her work duties, we will not be looking for or wanting a driving AP. Sorry, but I just cannot stomach putting our car at risk just so an out-of-country driver can go shopping with friends. The expense of trying to replace the car would be too great (it’s our older, 3rd car, but we still use it pretty regularly and the cost of insurance would not cover the cost of replacement).

But when we do, the AP will need to get her local state license and demonstrate to us (in a series of driving tests/experiences) that she is a safe driver before we would allow her to use any of our cars. Only after she has passed and proven her responsibility with driving in our area would we place her on the insurance.

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By: anonmom

anonmom — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:00:24 +0000

if we had to pay extra insurance for the au pair, there is no way we could have her drive. Our state is one of the highest insurance costs states. The car is insured, if your mom comes over abnd uses the car, and gets into an accident, the car is insured. Likewise with the au pair. PS- never ask the insurance company- they will tell you to pay extra to insure.

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By: D

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:44:21 +0000

If you have 3 cars & an au pair that drives most insurance companies will require the au pair insured due to their rules The reason being is that 3 cars & 3 drivers means everyone is a primary driver of a “a car” in the home. We always insure our au pairs without question…we have 3 cars.

Now, if you have 2 cars, thats where it becomes grey area. As obviously each parent is a primary driver & the au pair is the guest driver. But yet, not insuring the au pair can lead to a disaster….potentially. If there is a big law suit, or insurance company dragging their feet….grey area could be a nightmare. In this country, not only do you NEED insurance for everyone, you should also have an umbrella policy as well. 1 really bad car accident….is not a time to figure that out & sort thru the pointing fingers. Young foreign drivers…..without a doubt, need this extra safety net, its too risky.

As a family…..we cover the insurance $90 a month no problem, in exchange the au pair needs to be accountible too at a minimum $500 when the accident is during her personal time (if that is the deductible).

Our au pair is a good driver. However, she has been in 3 car accidents during here year with us. 2 of her own & 1 riding with another au pair. She had to pay $500 each of her accidents as it was on her own personal time so totaling $1000. (deductible costs) May sound rough for the au pair….but thats insurance deductibles & how it is here. We all know when you step into the car as an adult you accept responsiblity, thats life. Sadly in this country, it’s expensive to drive & you have to be willing to pay the insurance to cover accidents……..the deductible etc etc Otherwise you or your au pair shouldn’t be driving when without it. Period.

Insurance rates are better if they have a drivers license. ITL is best during the first 30 days. Honestly, though….. If they can’t pass the driving license in your state or have the desire to honor your requests, then they shouldn’t be driving anyway.

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By: PA Mom

PA Mom — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Yes it costs more but we always add our APs as the driver on our 3rd car (my old minivan). With the under 7500 mi a year rating – it’s not too bad but just a cost of having an AP. If you have a live in of any age you need to add them here in PA. Happily you can add them with a foreign license. Yes older is cheaper but we love the current AP who is young and the trade off (a few hundred dollars over the year) isn’t worth picking someone on age alone – we’d have missed out on a great AP! Really the protection is all for the family – cars are expensive to replace in a real accident, your kids could be in that car why risk a question with the insurance company over coverage, there is no fault in this state so being insured just makes sense – what if the other guy is at fault but has no insurance (welcome to PA). Sometimes being penny-wise is really pound foolish. As for not driving the family car – not realistic in suburban PA. But unlike some families where the AP has access to the mom’s BMW SUV, our AP happily lives with a 1999 Totoya Sienna. And it’s irreplaceable.

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By: Elana Kahn

Elana Kahn — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:26:00 +0000

We’re not putting our AP on our policy because we just don’t want her driving our cars, period. We’ll be happy to take her anywhere she needs to go, or she can easily catch the bus or subway. We just don’t have the extra money for it, and our AP hasn’t had her license for very long. Just not worth it for us.

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