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Does a vehicle's registered owner need to have car insurance?

"I'm planning on giving my car to my sister. She will be insuring it under her name, but I'll still be the registered owner.

I'm not planning on being on the policy, is that allowed? Does a registered owner need to have insurance?"

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“The registered owner of a vehicle is required to be the named insured (primary name) on a
car insurance
 policy.
If you are giving your car to your sister, you’ll either need to keep insurance on it and add her as an additional driver.
The question then becomes: why are you giving her a car and keeping it in your name? It’s probably more hassle than it’s worth.
Most states allow you to gift a car to a family member. With minimal paperwork, you can transfer the title to your sister and she becomes the owner of the vehicle. This can get rid of the added responsibility of having car insurance on a car you don’t drive.
If you choose to gift the car to your sister, make sure she checks out the
Jerry
 app. After downloading the app, she can compare over 40 insurers to find the best price and coverage for her needs.”
MORE:
How to Transfer a Car Title When Buying or Selling
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