Does my car insurance cover my child?
Your child is covered under your car insurance if you list them on your policy. Most children don't qualify for permissive user status.
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Zach Fagiano
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
UPDATED: May 13, 2024
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Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: May 13, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- In order for a Personal Auto Policy to provide coverage, the person operating the vehicle at the time must be a listed driver or a permissive user
- Not everyone qualifies for permissive user status
- Most companies won’t provide permissive user coverage to a child of the policyholder
Auto insurance can be expensive when you have licensed children in the home. It’s for that reason that no parent looks forward to picking up the phone and adding their son or daughter to their insurance policy.
Unfortunately, choosing not to make that phone call could lead to uncovered losses and ultimately to financial devastation.
If you’re under the assumption that your child is covered under your car insurance policy, it’s time to do some research.
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Is my child licensed to drive?
In most states, teens can be issued a provisional permit somewhere between the age of 15 and 17.
The purpose of the permit is to give young drivers the opportunity to develop skills while they navigate the road under the supervision of a licensed adult.
If your son has a permit and not a license, he technically isn’t yet licensed to drive.
In a majority of states, insurance carriers will extend coverage to a teen with their permit without charging.
To rate a driver, most companies need for that driver to have a license. Also, teens are being supervised and are under some very serious driving restrictions when they hold a learner’s permit.
These restrictions are enough to reduce risk so that permitted drivers are automatically covered at no extra charge. It’s best that you verify your company’s policies before assuming coverage will be afforded.
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Is my child over the age of 14?
Another important factor to consider is whether or not your company knows about your child. Surprising to some, companies want to know about everyone who lives in your home over the age of 14 even when they aren’t licensed.
This helps with underwriting and assessing the risk that will present itself in the future.
If you have a teen in your home, make sure you that you list your teen as a family member in your home. As defined by auto insurance policies, a family member is someone related to you by blood, marriage or adoption.
Under a Personal Auto Policy, a family member is insured under the policy as long as it doesn’t appear that they are intentionally being hidden.
If you tell your agent about a young family member in the home, the company will follow-up with you to ensure they are rated when they need to be.
Does my child live in my home?
If your son is licensed and they live in your home, he needs to be listed under the policy. This is because there are underwriting guidelines that state that all household members who regularly or occasionally drive the vehicle must be listed on the policy.
If your son is a resident of your home and is licensed to drive, they’ll need to be listed.
There are very few scenarios where it’d be considered wise not to have your child listed as a primary or occasional driver.
Does my child have access to my cars?
Just because your son is licensed to drive doesn’t mean that you want him to drive your vehicles.
If you don’t allow your son to drive your treasured vehicles and you don’t want to get stuck paying for coverage you’ll never need, you do have the option to exclude him from your policy.
When you exclude a driver, they won’t receive any coverage if they operate the covered vehicles and get into a loss.
In exchange for reducing risk, the company won’t charge you for the high-risk driver living in the home. Since no coverage is afforded, you should only fill out a driver exclusion form when there’s no chance that your son will operate your vehicle.
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Does my child have their own car insurance?
If your son has his own vehicle registered in his own name, there’s a good chance you can name him as a deferred operator under your policy to protect yourself and still save money.
Adeferred operator is a person who has their own active auto insurance but who is listed as living in the home.
When your son has their own insurance, their primary coverage will take effect first to pay for damages that he is liable for. Then, if the coverage doesn’t pay for all of the damages, the vehicle’s policy will pay. This is because liability coverage follows the vehicle.
Have I given my child permission to drive my vehicle?
Permissive user status can get very complicated when you’re trying to understand how coverage works. Many policies will extend coverage to a driver who isn’t listed under a policy if the owner has given the driver permission.
Many policies will extend coverage to a driver who isn’t listed under a policy if the owner has given the driver permission.
Unfortunately, not everyone fits under the broad blanket of permissive use.
Your son needs permission to drive if you want a loss to be covered, but there are some exceptions to the permissive user rule:
- The driver is a household member
- The driver is not licensed to drive
- The driver is under the age of 25
- The driver has been given permission to drive the vehicle regularly
Is my child away at college?
If your child is away at college, they probably still consider your address their primary residence. If this is the case, you should let the insurer know you have a student away at college so that they can be rated.
They won’t have a dramatic effect on premiums because they will receive a special designation and credit.
If your teen needs to be listed, be sure to compare rates to find the best deal when insuring an inexperienced operator.
Read more: Can I add a college student in another state to my car insurance policy?
The best way to compare rates when adding a teen driver is to use an online insurance comparison tool.
After you’ve quoted the rates through several companies, choose a reputable option with the best rates for young drivers who are automatically considered high-risk.
Enter your zip code in our FREE tool below to compare car insurance rates instantly!
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Case Studies: Understanding Car Insurance Coverage for Children
Case Study 1: John With a Provisional Permit
In this case, John’s parent assumes that he is automatically covered under their car insurance policy since he has a provisional permit. However, it is important for them to verify the insurance company’s policies regarding coverage for permitted drivers to ensure John is adequately covered.
Case Study 2: Sarah over the Age of 14
Sarah is over the age of 14 and lives in the same household as her parents. Even though she doesn’t have a driver’s license yet, it is crucial for her parents to inform the insurance company about Sarah’s presence in the household to ensure proper underwriting and risk assessment.
Case Study 3: Mark Licensed and Living in the Same Home
Mark is a licensed driver and resides in the same home as his parents. It is necessary for his parents to list him as a driver on their car insurance policy to comply with the underwriting guidelines. There are very few scenarios where it would be considered wise not to have Mark listed as a primary or occasional driver.
Case Study 4: Excluding Sarah from Coverage
Sarah’s parents have decided to exclude her from coverage because they don’t want her to drive their vehicles. By excluding her, they eliminate the risk of coverage for any accidents she may be involved in. However, it’s important to note that no coverage will be provided if Sarah operates the insured vehicles and gets into a loss.
Case Study 5: Mark With Separate Car Insurance
Mark has his own vehicle registered in his own name. His parents can consider naming him as a deferred operator under their car insurance policy to provide him with additional protection while still utilizing his primary coverage. This arrangement ensures that Mark’s own insurance policy takes effect first for any liable damages.
Case Study 6: Permission for John to Drive
John’s parents have given him explicit permission to drive their vehicle. Many policies extend coverage to drivers who are not listed under the policy if the owner has given permission. However, it is important to review the policy terms to confirm this coverage for John.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my car insurance cover my child?
Generally, car insurance policies extend coverage to family members living in the same household, including children. However, it’s essential to review the specific terms and conditions of your policy to determine the extent of coverage for your child.
What factors determine if my child is covered under my car insurance?
The primary factors that determine if your child is covered under your car insurance policy include their age, driving status, and whether they live with you. Policies typically cover children living in the same household and may provide coverage when they drive your vehicle with your permission.
What if my child has a driver’s license?
If your child has a valid driver’s license, they are generally eligible for coverage under your car insurance policy. However, it’s important to notify your insurance company about the new driver in your household, as they may need to be added to the policy as a listed driver.
Does my insurance cover my child if they don’t have a driver’s license?
Car insurance is primarily designed to cover vehicles rather than individuals. If your child does not have a driver’s license, they may still be covered under your policy as a passenger. However, it’s best to check with your insurance provider to understand the specifics of your coverage.
Can my child drive my car and be covered by my insurance?
In most cases, your child can drive your car and be covered by your insurance if they have a valid driver’s license and your policy allows for permissive use. Permissive use means you have given your explicit permission for your child to use your vehicle. However, it’s important to review your policy to confirm this coverage.
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Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Zach Fagiano
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.