Do Teens with Learner's Permits Need Car Insurance?

It's an anxiety-ridden time for most parents: the day their children start to drive. Even equipped with a learner's permit, there is much more freedom afforded to teens who can operate a motor vehicle. There is also added expense when your family adds another driver, especially in the form of car insurance.

The rules governing car insurance and teens with learner's permits vary depending on state and insurance company. In most cases, according to Insurance USA, teen drivers do not need their own car insurance in order to drive with their learner's permits.

This is because, in most states, teens can drive with their parents and be covered under their insurance, at least until teens get their driver's licenses. This means that you don't have to buy separate insurance or add your teen to your insurance police, as long as you and your vehicle are covered.

With that said, insurance companies have their own rules about who must be included on an auto insurance policy. Your provider may require you to add teens with learner's permits to your car insurance coverage in order to be legal. For example, some insurance companies exclude teenage drivers entirely until they are added to the policy.

Keep in mind that, even if teens with learner's permits don't need their own car insurance, they must still be covered by someone in the vehicle. It is best for teen drivers to only get behind the wheel with their parent in the front passenger's seat. This way, there are never any questions of coverage.

If your teen drives with someone other than a family member, it is a good idea to verify that the other driver has his or her own car insurance policy. Otherwise, the teenager runs the risk of having his or her driver's license suspended before he is even able to obtain one.

This rule also does not cover teens with hardship licenses or full driver's licenses-only learner's permits. This means that the teenager cannot get behind the wheel without a licensed driver for supervision, so it is important to explain the rules to teens so they understand the limitations.

There may be some situations in which teens with learner's permits live in households where no adults drive or have car insurance. In this case, it will be necessary to obtain car insurance for the teen driver alone. Since this is more difficult (and usually much more expensive), it is best to contact an insurance company and ask how the process works. It is usually easier for an adult to obtain insurance in this case for the purpose of teaching the teen to drive.

The best thing to do is to contact your insurance agent and ask him or her to explain the rules. From there you can decide whether you need to add your teens to your policy or wait until they get their driver's licenses.

Once teens with learner's permits reach the age of 16 and obtain their own driver's licenses, they must be added to their parents' policies (or obtain their own coverage). Keep in mind that this is more expensive than insuring another adult, and that some restrictions and/or limitations may apply.