’)
Congratulations! Your teen successfully passed his driver’s permit test and is now learning the ropes of driving under your watchful eye. But his rough braking isn’t the only thing you need to worry about right now: getting car insurance for your permit driver should be at the top of your mind. Here are three things you need to know right now about getting car insurance for your permit driver.
1. Even Permit Drivers Need Car Insurance
You might think that because you or an adult over the age of 21 is accompanying your permit driver all the time he is driving, he doesn’t need his own coverage. This is a common misperception, and one that can be costly should your teen get into a car accident. He is not automatically covered by you being in the vehicle with him. Your car insurance company will not pay for damages if your teen is driving unless he is also insured.
2. Insuring Your Teen Doesn’t Have to Cost a Lot
Parents hear horror stories about how much it costs to insure a teen driver. Even if your teenager has a permit and not a full drivers’ license, he must carry car insurance. But if you add your teen to your existing car insurance policy, you could save several hundred dollars. Adding him to your car insurance premium will get him the same coverage you currently have. If you feel that might not be sufficient and are worried about him getting into a collision with an uninsured driver, consider adding additional car insurance coverage to your policy.
3. Make Sure To Follow the Rules
Your teen is required by law to have an adult over the age of 21 with him any time he drives any vehicle. If he were to get into an accident without an adult or with someone under the age of 21 in the vehicle, all that car insurance coverage won’t do him a bit of good. Driving without the appropriate supervision will void his car insurance policy and possibly cause him to lose his learners’ permit. Even worse, it could cause your car insurance company to drop you from being covered with the company. Make sure your teen has an approved adult riding with him at all times. This teaches him to be a safer driver, and keeps your insurance costs down.
Ask your car insurance agent what it would cost to add your teen with a learners’ permit to your existing car insurance policy. If your teen has taken drivers’ education, he may be eligible for a discount on his part of your premium. Shop around with several car insurance companies to make sure you’re getting the best rate for your entire family of drivers.
