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Named-Owner Insurance
Why must you purchase a separate insurance policy on every car you own? Why not insure just the owner/driver, instead of each vehicle, since you can drive only one car at a time? Unfortunately for everyone but drivers in the state of Nevada, you can't do this. Nevada is currently allowing insurance companies to offer what's called "Named Operator" liability insurance.
One of the key people involved in getting Named Operator legislation passed in Nevada is Jon Bell of Sparks, Nevada. Jon, who lobbied the Nevada legislature as a private citizen to allow for this insurance option, has found that one voice can make a difference in government. Keep in mind that it is possible in most states to buy what's called "Named Operator" liability coverage. "Named Operator," as opposed to "Named Owner," allows trucking companies and fleet owners to insure drivers, but if the driver also happens to own the vehicles, he can't get that coverage. So if you own several hobby cars, what you probably don't want is Named Operator. You want Named Owner.
Some insurance companies offer liability coverage, but a person can only insure himself rather than a bunch of cars. However, liability coverage is seldom sold alone, but rather as part of a package including comprehensive and collision, on each car. In other words, a collector cannot put just Named Owner liability onto a set of cars without also carrying other coverages on each car. And since liability risks are relatively low with collector cars, these insurance companies toss it in but don't sell it as and of itself.
It will be a long, drawn-out process getting Named Owner coverage in other states. The insurance companies most likely won't help; quite the opposite (there's a lot more money in writing policies on cars rather than owners). Since "Named Operator" works in Nevada, there is no genuine reason why it can't work elsewhere. It's just a matter of pushing it through the various state legislatures. And if Jon Bell could do it in Nevada, well, maybe....Source: Michael Lamm, Special Interest Autos, July/August 1997