I have a 15yo daughter learning to drive and am getting conflicting information on when she needs to be added to our auto policy. I’m quite sure if I call GEICO they will say to do it now whether it’s needed or not, I don’t want to potentially shoot my self the foot by calling them. Suggestions? We’re in Texas.

2 coworkers told me their ins didn't have them add until the kid was licensed.

My 15 yr old is about to start driver's ed, so I'll be following here as well.

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Originally posted by P250UA5:
2 coworkers told me their ins didn't have them add until the kid was licensed.

My 15 yr old is about to start driver's ed, so I'll be following here as well.

Thanks for that… I’m clueless here.

Luckily, I use an independent agent, will be calling him when mine gets her learner's permit, just to be sure.

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Originally posted by P250UA5:
Luckily, I use an independent agent, will be calling him when mine gets her learner's permit, just to be sure.

Yep, there’s definitely advantages to having an agent

On the advice of my agent (independent), I notified the insurance company when they got their learners permit to avoid any coverage disputes. Typically, premiums do not increase until they are licensed. But it is a helluva increase and this was some years ago. I'm sure it's worse now. They got their own policy as soon as they were 18.

I am sure it is specific, but in North Carolina they don’t have to be on insurance until they are licensed. Or technically, they have to be on insurance to be licensed.

I tell you with confidence that the rate goes down each renewal if they don’t do anything dumb.

My son is 19, adding my daughter in January.

When my daughter was that age, my agent told me my insurance went up by her age, whether she had a drivers license or not and whether I added her or not (basically they added her and increased mu premium). I guess liability increases when children have the ability to drive.

We turned into hard noses with our younger kids. When they want their license, they have to buy a car and get their own insurance policy. As in, a completely separate policy that’s independent of ours and won’t affect our rates if they get a ticket or a claim. Since they’re a minor, we have to take them to the Wisconsin DMV and sign a form allowing them to title and register the car in their own name, for the insurance company to write a policy for them alone. We/they have Erie, and I believe Progressive will write a policy for a minor as well.

Thanks for the input guys. I just remember there’s an independent agent I spoke to at one point when I was considering switching from GEICO to his company. I think I’ll give him a call…if I can find his number

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Originally posted by Outnumbered:
We turned into hard noses with our younger kids. When they want their license, they have to buy a car and get their own insurance policy. As in, a completely separate policy that’s independent of ours and won’t affect our rates if they get a ticket or a claim. Since they’re a minor, we have to take them to the Wisconsin DMV and sign a form allowing them to title and register the car in their own name, for the insurance company to write a policy for them alone. We/they have Erie, and I believe Progressive will write a policy for a minor as well.

Are they also paying for all of this? While I like the idea, I just don’t see how the could afford it without a full time job.

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Originally posted by dry-fly:
Thanks for the input guys. I just remember there’s an independent agent I spoke to at one point when I was considering switching from GEICO to his company. I think I’ll give him a call…if I can find his number

If you need someone, I can give you my guy's number.
Email in my profile, if you want.

I didn't have to add my youngest son until he got his license.... and then I explained he was responsible for the increase in my rates.

My son pays that increase as he knows he won't have access to my vehicles if he doesn't.

Male at 16 years old doubled my insurance premium for six months.

Way back in the last century when my kids got their driver license is was cheaper to buy an old junker and list them as the primary driver of that vehicle. Didn't matter if the junker even ran, as long as it was plated you could do that.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
2 coworkers told me their ins didn't have them add until the kid was licensed.

My 15 yr old is about to start driver's ed, so I'll be following here as well.

I can’t speak to other states, but around here when someone is driving on a learner’s permit, the must be accompanied by a licensed driver 25 years old or older. It is the licensed driver who is responsible.

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Originally posted by slosig:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
2 coworkers told me their ins didn't have them add until the kid was licensed.

My 15 yr old is about to start driver's ed, so I'll be following here as well.

I can’t speak to other states, but around here when someone is driving on a learner’s permit, the must be accompanied by a licensed driver 25 years old or older. It is the licensed driver who is responsible.

IIRC it's similar here as well, at least for the LOFS [licensed occupant front seat] part

Just went through this with 19 year old son and Geico.

He has his own policy and is not insured on my vehicles. It was the most reasonable raping and pillaging by Geico I could afford.

Did this just a few years ago in metro Atlanta area with Progressive. Added teen to policy with no rate increase until the teen was fully licensed. Once they had their real DL then they flipped the switch with added cost. But as a learner there was no cost. Definitely call your agent or the company itself. With Progress you deal with the company.

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Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by Outnumbered:
We turned into hard noses with our younger kids. When they want their license, they have to buy a car and get their own insurance policy. As in, a completely separate policy that’s independent of ours and won’t affect our rates if they get a ticket or a claim. Since they’re a minor, we have to take them to the Wisconsin DMV and sign a form allowing them to title and register the car in their own name, for the insurance company to write a policy for them alone. We/they have Erie, and I believe Progressive will write a policy for a minor as well.

Are they also paying for all of this? While I like the idea, I just don’t see how the could afford it without a full time job.

We did something similar with our two sons but not as aggressive.

We bought each sone a car when they got their license with the very clear understanding that this was going to be the ONLY car we were ever going to buy them.
We had them covered under our insurance policy but they paid the premiums. I brought them to our insurance agent (who I knew for years) and had him explain the consequences of either a speeding ticket, accident or DUI. The DUI would result in immediate selling of the car from me.

Thankfully non of the three things happened and when they graduated from college I turned the car over to them and had them get their own policy.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by Outnumbered:
We turned into hard noses with our younger kids. When they want their license, they have to buy a car and get their own insurance policy. As in, a completely separate policy that’s independent of ours and won’t affect our rates if they get a ticket or a claim. Since they’re a minor, we have to take them to the Wisconsin DMV and sign a form allowing them to title and register the car in their own name, for the insurance company to write a policy for them alone. We/they have Erie, and I believe Progressive will write a policy for a minor as well.

Are they also paying for all of this? While I like the idea, I just don’t see how the could afford it without a full time job.

Yes, it’s all on their dime. They start working at 14, and save save save. They can only work 10 or 15 hours a week during the school year, and more hours over the summer. And they only buy $3k-$5k used Toyotas/Hondas. I help them/teach them to do maintenance/repairs on their own. Our 17 year old son just got his annual renewal at $1,250/yr for liability only, but again, on his own policy that doesn’t affect ours. This is down a couple hundred from last year when he was 16, new driver. Our now 19 year old daughter has her liability policy down to $780/yr. Neither has had a ticket or a claim, because they know their rates will skyrocket and it will be their wallets that get hurt.

To be fair and clear, we would likely help out some if we could, but it’s just not in our family economy. I’m the sole earner, with a decent/honest salary, but not a high earner by any means. My wife is an at-home mom who homeschools our kiddos, so this is one of the tradeoffs.