Do I have to be added to my parent's auto insurance?

Question

I'm 19 and I just got my driver's license. Do my parent's have to add me to their car insurance. Does it make a difference if I am going to be driving their cars? Or do they not have to if I'm not going to be driving their cars? Basically what I'm asking, are they required to add me to their insurance no matter what? Like, is it a law?

Answer 1

If you have a valid license and live in your parents household, you must, by law, be listed on your parents auto insurance.  To mbcratz1:  It is a law!  The insurance company MUST pay for any licensed driver that resides in the same household whether they are listed on the policy or not.  The theory is that every licensed driver  in the household has access to the car even if they do not have permission to drive it.   If the insurance has to pay out on a claim for a member of the household who isn't listed, they will then cancel.  On the other hand, the insurance company also has the right to raise the rates for any young driver who has a license, even if they never drive the insured car.

Answer 2

It's not a law, it's written into the policy.  If you live in their house, and they don't add you, the insurance company doesn't have to pay.  They don't pay for you, they don't pay for the car, they don't pay for the damage your car does to someone else.  Your parents have to write the checks.

Yes, your parent's have to add you to their policy, if you drive one of their cars, or live in their house.

Answer 3

Not that I know of. It's probably better financially though for you. If they have a good driving record and add you, your rates should go down and because your 19 they should go down more.

Answer 4

If your living in their household and the vehicle are available to you, you either have to be listed or excluded.

Answer 5

(This is for IL, but my apply to you)  If you are going to drive, you need to be insured.  If you are going to drive your parents vehicles (they are the owners and the cars are registered to them), you need to be added to their insurance.  If you are going to drive your own car, you'll need your own insurance.  If you are not going to drive, you don't need insurance, but can use your license as an ID.  I would recommend joining with your parents because it is very expensive at your age to be a primary driver.  As a secondary driver, you will get a discount.  The law says that if you are driving, you or the car needs to be insured.  (If you only drive a car once, you should be covered by the car, but if you are driving regularly, you need to have insurance for yourself).  Insurance is confusing, and there are many types, so you should probably have your parents sit down with an agent to explain everything.  After all, you're paying them a lot of money.

Answer 6

There is no law that says your parents HAVE TO put you on their insurance policy.  That being said, you'll be better off in terms of how much you'll have to pay for insurance if you're on your parents' policy.  If you try to get insurance yourself at 19 years of age it's going to cost you a fortune.  It also makes things less complicated if you're going to be driving vehicles that are not registered in your name (like Mom or Dad's car).

Answer 7

Well, your parents might have insurance coverage which allows them to cover anyone they let borrow their car without adding them to the policy, but the insurance company might require you to be added if you live in the same household.  I think its always a good idea to actually be added to their policy though just in case the insurance company tries to come back and not cover you if you get in to an accident or something like that. It's really up to you.  Just make sure you have your parent's call their insurance company to make sure you would be covered if they let you borrow the car and the insurance is not in your name.

I know insurance for a young driver is really expensive, so make sure you ask your insurance company about special discounts such as the good student discount (B average or better). If you are trying to get a ball park idea of how much insurance would cost you, you could compare a few quotes online.  The site below is really helpful because it allows you to compare quotes for all of the insurance companies in your area for free.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

No.  They can instead list you as an excluded driver, and never allow you to drive their car.  Otherwise they will have to list you as a secondary driver, assuming you still live at home at age 19.

If you have your own address it won't be a factor.

Answer 9

now that youre over 18 they don't but i know that for teenagers insurance is expensive

Answer 10

I think if you drive one of their cars either you have to have insurance that covers you in what ever car you drive or they need to add you to their insurance.