What are the issues if the car is registered under the owner but driven by someone else?
4 Answers
The owner is legally responsible for all liabilities arising from the vehicle. If an accident occurs while someone else is driving, the responsibility falls on the owner, effectively making the owner the guarantor for all legal liabilities related to the car. Even though the vehicle does not belong to the owner and the accident was not caused by them, the owner must still bear the responsibility. Below are some driving precautions: 1. Check the rearview mirrors: When turning or changing lanes, always use the turn signals, slow down, and check the rearview mirrors before turning. Left turns require checking the left rearview mirror, right turns require checking the right rearview mirror, and both left and right turns require checking the interior rearview mirror. 2. Don’t focus solely on the front of the car: When driving on clear roads, look straight ahead about 100 meters, avoiding fixation on the immediate front of the car. 3. Depress the clutch: Generally, when decelerating at speeds above 40 km/h, there’s no need to depress the clutch immediately; wait until the speed drops to around 20 km/h before doing so. 4. Steering: Turn the steering wheel slowly for high-speed turns and quickly for low-speed turns.
The biggest concern when the car is registered under your name but driven by someone else is getting into legal trouble. In case of an accident, the police will first contact the registered owner. At best, you'll face points deduction and fines; at worst, you could be sued for compensation. Especially in serious cases like drunk driving hit-and-runs or fatal accidents, even if you weren't the one driving, you may still bear joint liability and might have to appear in court. During routine drunk driving checks, your car is more likely to be scrutinized since it's registered under your name. A friend of mine got into trouble last year for lending his car to someone else—ended up paying tens of thousands in compensation and had his license suspended for six months. This is no joke.
From an insurance perspective, this carries higher risks. The insurance I purchased only covers myself and the insured vehicle. If someone else drives my car and gets into an accident, the insurance company will likely dispute the claim—either paying only half because the driver isn't listed on the policy or outright denying the claim. There was an Audi in our neighborhood that had this happen, and the owner had to pay over 200,000 yuan in repair costs out of pocket. Not to mention cases involving unlicensed or drunk driving, where the insurance company won't pay a single cent. If you really must lend your car, I suggest checking your insurance policy first to confirm the coverage. Don't wait until something happens to realize you're in trouble.
The most emotionally damaging aspect of lending a car lies in the endless aftermath. When a friend scratches the car while using it, who should pay for the repairs? If a ticket arrives at my home deducting my points, how do I bring up asking for compensation? Once, my cousin borrowed the car for a road trip and returned it covered in scratches plus three speeding tickets—I couldn't bring myself to confront him, and he thought I was being petty. The worst are those who lack self-awareness, returning the car without refueling or checking tire pressure, leading to two months of driving that wore out the tires, costing me two thousand to replace them. My sincere advice: if you must lend your car, draft an agreement clearly outlining responsibilities for repairs and traffic violations in black and white.
