Do I need to add my teen driver to my insurance?
Teen drivers are required to have car insurance in almost every state, so they can either be added to your policy or insured with a separate policy. Buying a standalone policy for teenagers can be expensive due to their lack of driving experience and high likelihood of accidents, so adding a young driver to your existing policy is usually more cost-effective. By adding them to your policy, they benefit from the savings and rates you've earned as a longtime driver with an established credit history (in most states). Here are some more reasons why it is generally a good idea to add a young adult driver to your car insurance policy:
Control
Since you already have a policy, you can easily add and update coverage to ensure your teen driver has the right protection.
Flexibility
If you have multiple vehicles in your household, your teen will be insured to drive them all.
facilities
You only need to manage one policy.
Pro tip:
A separate policy is rarely the cheapest option for young drivers, but there may be exceptions. For example, if you drive a luxury vehicle or an expensive sports car and your teen doesn't drive it, it may be cheaper to have a separate policy for them. Talk to your insurance company to fully weigh your options. Since they live in your home, you should include your teenagers in your policy. However, if a teenager has a separate policy and is not driving any vehicles on your policy, they may be eligible to be excluded from coverage on your policy.
If I add a teenager to my car insurance, how does the coverage work?
If you include your teen driver in your car insurance policy, they will benefit from the protection you do. All covered drivers have access to all cars listed on the policy, and liability limits are the same for all drivers on the policy. Since teenage drivers are more prone to accidents, you may want to increase your liability limit on the policy, especially if your current limit does not cover your entire net worth. Learn more about liability coverage.
All additional coverages on the policy will also apply to your teen, including roadside assistance, loan/lease payments, rental car reimbursement and missing deductibles.
How much is car insurance for teenagers?
A separate car insurance policy can be expensive for teenage drivers because they have a higher tendency to be distracted, speed, tailgate and not wear seat belts. However, the average price of teen car insurance will depend on the exact age of the driver, their zip code, driving history and vehicle type. Learn more about the factors that affect car insurance rates.