Second driver staying longer than primary driver
 

I'm renting the car in my name and with my insurance. My son-in-law will be the secondary driver.

They want to stay 2 days longer than me, I'll fly home before the rental is due back.

Is it ok that I'm not physically nearby in case something happens? Is the fact that he's the registered secondary driver good enough to leave him with the car while I'm gone?

I'm getting deja vu that I might have asked this in the past but can't recall the answer or find the thread.

I don't see why it would be a problem. Even if you weren't flying home early, you wouldn't be required to be in the rental vehicle whenever your son-in-law drove it.

Yes, but if he should be in an accident, etc., would I need to be there for that reason? As I said, the insurance is in my name.

I do hope you are correct.

If you're relying on your personal auto insurance to cover third-party liability and/or loss/damage involving the rental car, you should verify with your insurance company whether their coverage extends to other authorized drivers of a car you rent.

No, I'm not, it's the Amex Premium Primary Insurance, and I just recalled asking about it before...but now I remember that it was ok, secondary driver is covered, but we would be "together" in the same area, even if he was off someplace alone that day.

This would be me not even physically in the same state.

Unless the Amex insurance has a provision that requires you to be in the same city/state/country as the second driver when the accident occurs, I don't see how they could disclaim coverage.

But what coverage -- if any -- does the second driver have for third-party liability? Does he have his own personal auto insurance, and if so, does it cover him when driving rental cars?

As long as he is an authorized driver listed on the rental contract, it makes no difference if you are sitting next to him in the passenger seat or orbiting the earth on the space station. He is fully covered under any insurance scenario as long as he is obeying the terms of the rental contract.

I guess I'm just a worrywort Mom but thanks for the reassurance.

Just make sure that both of you are covered for third-party liability (death or injury to others, or damage to the property of others). The Amex Premium rental-car insurance does not provide any third-party liability coverage.

Yes, thanks, we're good.