Why do I still have to add my teenage child that is living with me to my auto insurance if the car is covered no matter who use it?

Helen

Kansas City, KS

Most insurance providers require all licensed household members be listed on your car insurance policy. Since this individual has access to the cars of the house they are a risk factor that insurance providers are allowed to include in their rating calculations.

Not all insurance policies provide coverage to anyone that operates the vehicle. Policies can have motorist exclusions. These exclusions can apply to those under a certain age (teens or under 21 or 25 for instance), those driving under the influence and unlicensed drivers to name a few.

Insurance providers therefore require you list your teen since he or she resides in your household and is a risk factor to them. Most state laws allow an insurance companies to consider all resident operators of an insured car in rating of an car insurance policy. This includes your teenage child, even if he or she has only a learner’s permit and especially when they have a full driver’s license.

Will my 17-year old boy be covered in case of accident if I have a full policy coverage on my car insurance?

Yolanda

Thank you for asking.

If you have the liability and physical damage liability, you son may be covered. I would suggest that you speak with your insurance company and make sure you review the terms and exclusions on your policy as well as the details about having a teenager included in the coverage.

If a seventeen year old boy is included in the household for instance, it is your responsibility to inform your insurance company that the teenager is licensed and must be added to the policy as a driver so that proper coverage will be on that person.

If on the other hand the teen is not a member of the household, you will need to speak to your insurance agent to make sure that he will be covered. You may also read through the terms on your policy because some policies may have exclusions for drivers under certain age . Other exclusions also limits the coverage on those that borrows your vehicle.

If you found out that your son is not covered and will be needing to get car insurance, you may speak with your current insurance agent to find out how you can extend the policy to your son.

Goodluck!

MariCAR