when do you add teen to your auto insurance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But I don’t see why you would add them. Eg. If your friend borrows you’re car and makes an accident, being not a named driver means you have a higher deductible. If your teen drive and not a named driver, I would assume the same? A higher deductible. So if you equate how much you have your teen added to the insurance vs. Deductible, you will make it back in no time. Allstate And liberty charge an arm and a leg for a teen driver. Plus in most cases, if you meet a small accident, I wouldn’t involve insurance anyway and settle it privately with the other driver. Claiming insurance just wipes your no claim bonuses, increase your premiums next year?

So maybe I am missing something. Why would you add your kid as a named driver unless you totally anticipate bad accidents?

My insurance guy said that kids have to be insured if licensed and living at a residence with a car. I thought I could take my college kid off while he was away from home with out a car (and obviously he would know he could not drive) . I was told no. It is frustrating as he is away all summer too. Home with access to the car about 5 weeks a year but we do not want to give up the license.

[Anonymous]

We use GEICO. Called and told them my DD had a learner's permit. Think they noted the account.

I was glad I did as DD ran the car into a tree driving in an empty parking lot first time DH took her out.

Also FWIW, call your insurance co when your DC goes to college w/out a car. We did and our rates dropped significantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Once she was licensed, I don’t believe they can quote insurance until they are licensed.

This is correct. You won't be charged for them until they can drive alone. Beware...your insurance will go up like 3 times as much as you pay for the parents only. We pay $960 for 2 cars and 2 adults (total annual cost). I called and asked for an estimate, which they said was hard to do, but it was going to be something like $1800 to add our teen. That price stays high for 3 yrs. If no accidents, it drops after the first 3 yrs.

Also, they rate the teen on the highest costing vehicle if the teen does not have a designated vehicle. (Not sure if this is specific to our company).

Most companies do this. We actually saved on our monthly insurance bills by getting a very cheap 3rd car and assigning that to our teen driver. (though most of his driving is in our newer, safer cars)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All major US insurance companies give a free ride until the child is licensed. I’d be surprised if anyone here has had anything different.

My insurance company -- Geico -- asks the ages of the people in the household. Presumably so they know if there will be a new driver soon (or now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use GEICO. Called and told them my DD had a learner's permit. Think they noted the account.

I was glad I did as DD ran the car into a tree driving in an empty parking lot first time DH took her out.

Also FWIW, call your insurance co when your DC goes to college w/out a car. We did and our rates dropped significantly.

Ha ha, what a nightmare come true. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I don’t see why you would add them. Eg. If your friend borrows you’re car and makes an accident, being not a named driver means you have a higher deductible. If your teen drive and not a named driver, I would assume the same? A higher deductible. So if you equate how much you have your teen added to the insurance vs. Deductible, you will make it back in no time. Allstate And liberty charge an arm and a leg for a teen driver. Plus in most cases, if you meet a small accident, I wouldn’t involve insurance anyway and settle it privately with the other driver. Claiming insurance just wipes your no claim bonuses, increase your premiums next year?

So maybe I am missing something. Why would you add your kid as a named driver unless you totally anticipate bad accidents?

If my friend borrows my car I am going to assume they have their own policy. Your teen would not be covered ifnot on any policy at all.

Insurance follows the car, vs. the driver. So if your friend borrows your car with your permission, your insurance is primary in the event of an accident.

But not if your "friend" is actually a relative who lives with you and should be insured under your policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I don’t see why you would add them. Eg. If your friend borrows you’re car and makes an accident, being not a named driver means you have a higher deductible. If your teen drive and not a named driver, I would assume the same? A higher deductible. So if you equate how much you have your teen added to the insurance vs. Deductible, you will make it back in no time. Allstate And liberty charge an arm and a leg for a teen driver. Plus in most cases, if you meet a small accident, I wouldn’t involve insurance anyway and settle it privately with the other driver. Claiming insurance just wipes your no claim bonuses, increase your premiums next year?

So maybe I am missing something. Why would you add your kid as a named driver unless you totally anticipate bad accidents?

If my friend borrows my car I am going to assume they have their own policy. Your teen would not be covered ifnot on any policy at all.

Insurance follows the car, vs. the driver. So if your friend borrows your car with your permission, your insurance is primary in the event of an accident.

Depends on the state and/or insurance company. Michigan charges per vehicle and driver, assuming that even if you designate driver a on vehicle a, they might drive vehicle b.

I’ve talked to several companies. Some want to make a note in the file that there is a permit, others don’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But I don’t see why you would add them. Eg. If your friend borrows you’re car and makes an accident, being not a named driver means you have a higher deductible. If your teen drive and not a named driver, I would assume the same? A higher deductible. So if you equate how much you have your teen added to the insurance vs. Deductible, you will make it back in no time. Allstate And liberty charge an arm and a leg for a teen driver. Plus in most cases, if you meet a small accident, I wouldn’t involve insurance anyway and settle it privately with the other driver. Claiming insurance just wipes your no claim bonuses, increase your premiums next year?

So maybe I am missing something. Why would you add your kid as a named driver unless you totally anticipate bad accidents?

My insurance guy said that kids have to be insured if licensed and living at a residence with a car. I thought I could take my college kid off while he was away from home with out a car (and obviously he would know he could not drive) . I was told no. It is frustrating as he is away all summer too. Home with access to the car about 5 weeks a year but we do not want to give up the license.

Most states allow voluntary surrender. Reinstatement within a certain period of time is just price of renewing, and only because they print a new license. For 5 weeks, I wouldn’t even do it. But I did do it for 3 months, and switched to a state I’d during them rest of the year. Much cheaper!

[Anonymous]

USAA told us to wait until the kids actually had their license. They did not care about a permit.