Does My Teen Son Need His Own Car Insurance Policy?
Reader’s Question:
Does my son need to have his own car insurance before he can drive my car? I live in CT.
Carl
Good Question, Carl.
Normally, the state law would require a parent to add a new licensed driver to their car insurance policy but instead the insurance company’s guidelines would require you to add your teen in your insurance policy.
All licensed insurance drivers in your household are required by most insurance companies so they can be properly covered. You will need to contact your insurance company if your son just obtained his permit and verify if you may add him or you will have to wait until he is fully licensed before adding him in your policy.
It is possible that may deny a claim in case of accident if you failed to inform the insurance company the status of your teen or if he was not added to your policy and uses your car. Some companies may also cover the claim but will charge you of the premiums that should have been paid for the teenager to be in the policy.
You may contact CT Insurance Department if you need more information on car insurance.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
16 Year Old Driver – Can I Buy Car Insurance?
Reader’s Question:
Can I own a car and buy insurance even if I’m only 16 with just a learners permit? I live in Wisconsin.
Yen
Good question Yen.
There are no age restrictions for buying and registering motor vehicles according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
According to Section 218.0147 of the Wisconsin state statutes that no minor may purchase or lease any motor vehicle unless the minor at the time of the purchase or lease submits to the seller or lessor a statement verified before a person authorized to administer oaths and made and signed by either a parent or a guardian.
This means that you will need a parent or guardian to sign a statement giving you a consent to buy a vehicle. The signed statement will also be use for the application for title.
So basically you may be able to purchase a vehicle if you have the right paperwork and consent from your parent or guardian. This may also apply in getting car insurance, but some insurance companies may not allow you because a minor is not bound to any contracts. You will probably going to have your parent sign any insurance documents if you are going to apply for a car insurance.
If you want to get more information in laws in the state of Wisconsin regarding a minor purchasing and insuring a vehicle, you may contact with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and with the Commissioner of Insurance.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
What Student Driver Auto Insurance Discounts Are Available?
Reader question:
What kind of discounts can a student get on her teen driver insurance?
Ruth
Thanks for asking, Ruth.
Being a full time student and having to pay the much higher teen driver insurance prices would be difficult for everyone, but if you take advantage of all of the teen driver insurance discounts that are available to you, you could get your rates down to something lower even than your parents. All you need to do is pick the right company that has the highest discount percentages, the best service, and the best quotes.
- Are you a good student?
Most teen driver insurance companies will offer a discount for those students who make good grades in school. The requirements differ, but what is more often than not required is that the teen be a full time student and be able to provide either a transcript or a report card proving the good grades.
Then there are the requirements that vary depending on the teen driver insurance company. Some will require that you have been driving for at least a year and a half; others that be over sixteen but under the age of twenty five if unmarried, twenty one if married. The grade requirement is usually a B average, and between a 3.0 and 3.5 grade point average.
Some companies give better discounts than others. Farmers insurance, for example, has more restrictions, but the teen driver insurance discount for good students is 25%, whereas the same discount with GEICO is only ten to fifteen percent.
- Do you need a car anyway?
If you have teen driver insurance on your parent’s policy, then it might be good for both them and you if you leave your car at home when you go away to college. This depends on where you’re going, of course. Most companies only give out this teen driver insurance discount if you will be going to school one hundred or more miles away.
You’ll still be insured when you’re at home, and while you’re at school it’s a lot easier to get by without a car if you’re living on campus. It can also save you guys a good chunk of change on your teen driver insurance premium.
