Named insured

The named insured is the person or business whose name appears on the declarations page as the insured. In the standard personal auto policy, "you" and "your" mean the named insured, plus the named insured's spouse if they live in the same household. When more than one person is listed, the first one (the first named insured) usually receives notices, pays the premium and can request cancellation.

Being named carries the broadest coverage. The named insured is covered while driving the listed cars, while driving most cars they do not own, and as a passenger or pedestrian for coverages such as uninsured motorist and medical payments. Other people are an insured only through their connection to the named insured: as a family member living in the household, or as someone driving the car with permission. Typically only a named insured can change the policy, add or remove cars and drivers, or cancel it.

Problems arise when the car's owner and the named insured are different people, such as a parent insuring a car titled to an adult child who lives elsewhere. Insurers often require the titled owner to be a named insured, and a mismatch can complicate a claim. See who is covered on your car insurance policy.