Insurance requirements for reporting unlicensed driver

[leadout_kv]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

My 87yr old Dad (who has Alzheimers) has recently had his license revoked due to a failed cognitive test given to him. This was expected. Is there a requirement (if not law) that this be reported to his specific insurance company?

I ask because my Mom who is my Dad's care taker is wavering on reporting this to his/their insurance company. I also realize the cost savings by removing me Dad from the policy but trying to explain that to mid-80's parents is surprisingly a tall task.

Thanks

 

[ecmst12]

If there is ANY possibility that he could get a hold of the keys and try to drive, they should keep him on the policy. He's confused and forgetful, even though he's not SUPPOSED to drive, that doesn't mean it couldn't happen unless someone is watching him 24/7 and the keys are kept locked away when the car is not in use.

 

[You Are Guilty]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MD

My 87yr old Dad (who has Alzheimers) has recently had his license revoked due to a failed cognitive test given to him. This was expected. Is there a requirement (if not law) that this be reported to his specific insurance company?

I ask because my Mom who is my Dad's care taker is wavering on reporting this to his/their insurance company. I also realize the cost savings by removing me Dad from the policy but trying to explain that to mid-80's parents is surprisingly a tall task.

Thanks

I am not psychic, but if no one informs the insurance company of Dad's license revocation and he ends up driving/having an accident, the insurance company may not cover it. (In which case, he might not even be entitled to his premiums back). In which case, the question is - why pay for a benefit you will not receive?



Sorry about your dad, btw.

 

[ecmst12]

They might not cover it but then again they might. The policy that I worked with in MD did NOT have an exclusion for unlicensed drivers. They would have to check their policy.

 

[leadout_kv]

Thanks to both emcst12 and you are guilty for you answers.

To emcst12 - you make an excellent point regarding the possibility of my Dad somehow acquiring the keys to his car. I didn't think of that. Because of this we might want to consider getting rid of his car before cancelling his insurance. My Mom will still have her car and there's potential that he may acquire her keys. Is there still an obligation that his license revocation be reported to their insurance co.?

To you are guilty - I agree, just the cost savings is enough to remove my Dad.

Ok, so to put two and two together, the best option may be to get rid of my Dad's car first then remove Dad from the insurance policy.

Agreed? ...and yes reading the specifics in the policy regarding unlicensed drivers might also be prudent.

 

[HighwayMan]

I ask because my Mom who is my Dad's care taker is wavering on reporting this to his/their insurance company.

Does your mother drive?

Maybe it's just me, but this shouldn't even be an issue. There should be no question about it. Your father should NOT drive. Period.

It has nothing to do with his license status - it has everything to do with his mental status. A few months back we had a call of a car on the right of way in one of the local rail freight yards. A LICENSED 90-year old woman (with Alzheimers) took her car out one morning to go to a doctor's appointment and never came back - her children (who she lived with) reported her missing. We found out after we ran her license and discovered that the State Police were looking for her.

Anyway, not only did she drive into the rail yard, she drove about 3/4 of a mile down the right of way and then up ONTO one of the tracks, where she promptly got stuck and couldn't figure out why. We found her there about midnight and had no idea how long she had been there. We had to walk the last 100 yards on foot to reach her - we had no idea how she made it that far with a car.

Thankfully that track was not normally in use, or she would have been killed.

When her "kids" showed up to get her I couldn't help myself - I ripped into them about letting her keep her car and the keys. They said they hadn't wanted to take her car away because it was difficult to limit her mobility and it would hurt her pride. I told them her mobility and pride would have died with her if she had been hit. They realized they were being foolish and vowed to never let her drive again. It took that for them to realize how serious the problem was.

Sorry for the long story, but I'm trying to drive home my point. Do everything you can to keep your dad away from a car.

 

[leadout_kv]

Does your mother drive?

Maybe it's just me, but this shouldn't even be an issue. There should be no question about it. Your father should NOT drive. Period.

It has nothing to do with his license status - it has everything to do with his mental status. A few months back we had a call of a car on the right of way in one of the local rail freight yards. A LICENSED 90-year old woman (with Alzheimers) took her car out one morning to go to a doctor's appointment and never came back - her children (who she lived with) reported her missing. We found out after we ran her license and discovered that the State Police were looking for her.

Anyway, not only did she drive into the rail yard, she drove about 3/4 of a mile down the right of way and then up ONTO one of the tracks, where she promptly got stuck and couldn't figure out why. We found her there about midnight and had no idea how long she had been there. We had to walk the last 100 yards on foot to reach her - we had no idea how she made it that far with a car.

Thankfully that track was not normally in use, or she would have been killed.

When her "kids" showed up to get her I couldn't help myself - I ripped into them about letting her keep her car and the keys. They said they hadn't wanted to take her car away because it was difficult to limit her mobility and it would hurt her pride. I told them her mobility and pride would have died with her if she had been hit. They realized they were being foolish and vowed to never let her drive again. It took that for them to realize how serious the problem was.

Sorry for the long story, but I'm trying to drive home my point. Do everything you can to keep your dad away from a car.

I appreciate your feedback. Yes my mother still drives and I never said that my Dad should or will drive. Believe me, we the family, are the ones who initiated the revocation status by starting with my Dad's doctors so we are well aware of the severity of the issue.

Thanks for your insight though.

 

[ecmst12]

Just because you don't INTEND to let him drive doesn't mean that it can't happen if everyone who lives with him is not VERY careful to make sure he does not have access to anyone's keys.