Can I put my 17 year old on my car insurance?
Asked by: Crawford Emard | Last update: December 11, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (61 votes)
Can a 17 year old be on their own car insurance?
Because someone who is 17 is a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the car insurance policy they're issued. This means parents are going to be responsible for what happens when their teen driver is behind the wheel.
Should I put my adult child on my car insurance?
Even adult children away at school are considered part of the household & need to be listed because insurance policies automatically cover all licensed drivers in the household if they do not have their own vehicle, own insurance. Unless the child moves out & is no longer financially dependent on the parent.
Can my son drive my car if he is not insured?
If your son has a driver's license, he can still legally operate your car if he has his own insurance, because if he does not have insurance, you become liable for his actions.
How long can a child stay on parents' car insurance?
There is no age limit that prevents you from staying on your parents' car insurance policy as a listed driver, as long as you live at home or if you're a full-time college student. That means you're still covered when you drive your parents' vehicles.
How Should I Handle Car Insurance for My Teenage Driver?
What happens if I don't add my teenager to my car insurance?
Failing to add your teenager to your auto insurance can lead to coverage denial, legal penalties and policy cancellation. Lack of driving experience and perceived higher risk contribute to higher car premiums for teen drivers.
When should you take your child off your car insurance?
Many parents generally opt to retain teens on the family's automobile insurance policy until they graduate from college, assuming they find employment and live away from home. At this point they should be paying for their own housing, food and credit card bills, building up a positive credit rating.
Can I drive my parents car if my name isn t on the insurance?
Most insurers cover someone else driving the policyholder's car with their permission once in a while. But, if you're going to start driving one of your parent's cars regularly, you'll need to be added or named on their auto insurance. You can't legally drive your parents' car without any insurance at all, either.
Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?
A driver who lives in your household and isn't listed on your auto policy may be denied coverage if they borrow your vehicle and are involved in an accident. Family members who live in your household and drive your vehicle, including a teenager or your significant other, should be listed as drivers on your policy.
When to add a new driver to insurance?
You can typically make a change to your policy at any time to add a new driver at your residence, such as a teenage child, or a driver that just started driving your car regularly. Adding a driver to your insurance policy means they're an insured driver under your policy when they drive your car.
Should I put my 18 year old's car in my name?
Register the car in your child's name.
If your son or daughter is legally an adult (18 years or older), he or she is able to register a car in his or her own name. Without you as the owner of the car, the laws imposing vicarious liability (such as New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 388) will not apply to you.
Can I let my 18 year old grandson drive my car?
If you let a grandchild borrow your car, the car will most likely stay covered under the terms of "permissive use." Permissive use is meant to apply to occasional uses, so grandkids who borrow a car on a regular basis may have to be added as a driver on your insurance plan.
Does your age affect your car insurance?
Car insurance costs will decrease as you age because younger drivers are seen as riskier by insurers given they are inexperienced and statistically more likely to file claims. The biggest drop is typically from 18 to 19, when the average rate drops by around $1,595.
Can I insure my son's car if he owns it?
You cannot typically obtain insurance for a vehicle not registered in your name, but there are ways to ensure you're still covered behind the wheel. Whether you're driving a friend or family member's car or have been gifted a vehicle under another person's ownership, it's the legal owner's responsibility to insure it.
Can I insure my son's car if he doesn't live with me?
Unfortunately, because the car and your child are not located at your house anymore, they cannot stay on your car insurance policy unless they're a full-time student. Car insurance providers require that the insured live at their residence and park their car at their address to be listed on a policy.
What happens if you don't add a driver to your insurance?
If someone in your household, who is unknown to your insurance company, gets in an accident, your insurer might rescind or cancel your policy and/or deny your insurance claim because they've been kept in the dark.
Do my parents have to put me on their car insurance?
To have the ability to be covered by a vehicle insurance policy you must be added as an additional driver to the vehicle owners policy.
How does insurance work if you borrow a car?
Generally, insurance coverage follows the vehicle rather than the driver. So in most instances, as long as the owner of the car has insurance, it's covered even if someone other than the owner is driving it — as long as they have the owner's permission.
When should your child get their own car insurance?
As kids grow up, when do they need to get their own auto insurance policy? If your child has moved out of your house and is no longer a dependent, they need to have their own insurance policy. Under most personal auto insurance policies, the “insured” covered by the policy includes “family members”.
Does it matter whose name is on the car insurance card?
In most states, police will accept an auto insurance card that lists the car you're driving on it, and it doesn't matter if your name is specifically on the card (some states even accept electronic proof of auto insurance); however, Texas is different.
Can my adult child be on my car insurance?
Insurance companies generally require that any person in the household be listed on your policy regardless of driving status. The reason is that the company wants to know who they will and will not cover as a driver if there is a claim involving your vehicle. The reason comes down to risk.
Can I remove my 18 year old from my car insurance?
You can remove a listed driver from your car insurance policy if they no longer live with you and no longer drive your vehicle. If you have a child away at college or who moves out temporarily, it's a good idea to keep them on your policy. Doing so ensures that they can drive your vehicle during breaks.
When you turn 18 does your car insurance go down?
Do car insurance rates go down at age 18? On average, 18-year-old drivers pay 13% less for car insurance than 17-year-olds. At 18 years old, you have more driving experience than newly licensed 16- and 17-year-olds. Your rates reflect that.
Can I take my 18 year old off my insurance?
If a parent's health insurance plan covers dependents, you usually can be added to their plan and stay on it until you turn 26.