What happens if I don't add my teenager to my car insurance?

Asked by: Jeramie Adams V  |  Last update: September 15, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (38 votes)

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.

What happens if I don't add my child to my car insurance?

If your child gets into an accident and isn't listed on your policy, your insurance company may not cover the damages, and there could be other consequences, like policy cancellation.

What happens if I don't put my 16 year old on my insurance?

``If you don't add your teen to your car insurance policy and they're in an accident, it is likely your car insurance company will deny coverage, stating you committed fraud, specifically material misrepresentation by not informing it of a permitted driver. Deliberate concealment could impact coverage''.

What happens if you don't list a driver on 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.

Does your insurance go up if your child gets their license?

Once your child gets a license, you have 60 days by law to inform your insurance carrier. In most cases, because an insurance carrier will see a new driver as a greater risk, your insurance premium will increase, sometimes significantly (up to 60% for a two-car family).

What Happens If I Don't Add My Child To My Auto Insurance? - InsuranceGuide360.com

42 related questions found

Do I need to add my child with permit to my car insurance?

In others, insurance coverage is required even for teen drivers who have a learner's permit. In California, teen drivers are automatically covered under their parent/guardian's insurance once they obtain a learner's permit, so no action is required until a teen gets a driver's license.

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.

Can my son drive my car if he is not on my insurance?

Yes, your son can drive your car with your permission, even if he is not insured. It is known as “permissive use” and is generally allowed by insurance companies. Check your auto insurance policy to see if it allows for occasional or permissive use by family members.

Can I exclude my son from my car insurance?

If a household member will no longer be driving your vehicle, you can exclude them from your car insurance policy in most states. There are times you might not want a licensed family member covered on your policy due to the impact their status could have on your premium.

Can someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance Geico?

Some states require the car owner's insurance to cover any accidental damage, so if they're not insured or don't have the right coverage, as the driver you may end up being liable.

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 someone drive my car if they are not on my insurance in Georgia?

Many people wonder whether car insurance covers the car or the driver. Car insurance in Georgia typically follows the vehicle, not the driver. This means your auto insurance policy is usually the first line of defense if someone else gets into an accident while driving your car, regardless of who was behind the wheel.

How much will my car insurance go up when I add my 16 year old?

Insure.com found that adding a teen driver increases car insurance rates by 70% to 150%.

Do all drivers have to be listed on insurance?

All household members should be known to the car insurance company, even if they are not intending to drive your vehicle. This means you need to tell the insurer all licensed drivers that are in your house, including your spouse, teen drivers, roommates, and elderly parents.

Should I put my adult child on my car insurance?

Do my parents have to put me on their car insurance? Only if you live with them. Insurers typically require all licensed drivers who live at the same address to be listed on a policy, especially if they frequently borrow each other's cars.

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.

What happens if I don't add my child to my auto insurance?

One of the biggest risks of not adding your teenager to your car insurance is what happens if they get into an accident. Even if it's a minor fender bender with no injuries or property damage, it can open up a can of worms with your insurer.

What happens if someone wrecks your car and they aren't on your insurance Progressive?

Allowing another licensed driver to borrow your vehicle is known as "permissive use," which means you give someone, who isn't listed on your car insurance policy, permission to operate your vehicle. If they're involved in an accident, your auto insurance may pay for the damages and injuries, up to your coverage limits.

Can my parents remove me from their car insurance?

Second, your parents can drop you from the policy if they're the named insured (i.e., the people who created the policy).

What happens if someone borrows your car and gets in an accident?

Vehicle Owners Are Liable Under California Law

This law holds a vehicle's owner responsible for collisions caused by the driver of the vehicle – even if the driver is not the owner. Liability is determined by identifying the actual owner of the vehicle.

Does it matter whose name is on the car?

Yes, the name on a car title can impact insurance coverage. Insurance companies usually require the policyholder to have an insurable interest in the vehicle, meaning they either own the car or have a significant financial interest in it.

Should I let my son borrow my car?

One of the primary concerns when lending your car to family members, especially those not listed on your insurance policy, is the potential risk it poses. Insurance companies may refuse to cover the damages if the person driving the car is not a named insured.

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”.

Can my wife drive my car if she's not on my insurance?

Usually, yes. Your car insurance coverage should be able to extend to anyone else driving your car. Even if someone isn't listed on the policy, they can operate your vehicle. If you explicitly name someone as an excluded driver in your policy, however, none of this applies to them.

What states allow driver exclusion?

What States Allow Driver Exclusion?
  • Hawaii.
  • Kansas.
  • Michigan.
  • Minnesota.
  • New York.
  • North Carolina.
  • Rhode Island.
  • Vermont.