Services
Insurance
Repairs
Advice
About

What can happen if I take a loaner car across state lines without approval?

I live in St. Louis, but my family lives right across the river in Illinois. I'm currently driving a loaner car, as my car is in the shop and I signed a contract saying I couldn't take the car across state lines. What happens if I go visit my family?

avatar
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
If you signed a deal for a loaner car that specifically states you cannot take it across state lines, it’s strongly suggested that you don’t do it.
While you might take the approach that the dealer will never know, remember that many dealerships now add GPS to their cars. And even if they don’t have GPS, you’re going to have a tough time explaining an accident, ticket, or another issue if it happens on the other side of the river.
The true reason why the dealership probably doesn’t want you to take the car over state lines is all about liability. Maybe the car isn’t covered in Illinois or is only covered in
Missouri
. If you’re caught without proper insurance or you get into an accident, it could cost you thousands of dollars or more in legal fees, property damage, and bodily damage.
So even if you get the urge to go across the river, don’t do it. If something happens, you could be on the hook for a ton of money.
While your car is in the shop, you may want to take the time to analyze other aspects of car ownership. Thinking about a car warranty or new car insurance is a good place to start to save some cash. With the
Jerry
app, you can compare rates from more than 50 top insurance companies to get the best coverage and rate possible. The average Jerry driver saves $879 a year on car insurance!
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Read Advice From Car Experts At Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings