Can Teens Get Car Insurance Without Their Parents’ Permission?

Last Updated on June 4, 2020

When teens start driving, it’s very important to make sure they get reliable car insurance. However, if you’re a teen who lives a fairly independent lifestyle, you may not have your parents’ help when setting up car insurance. Maybe your parents don’t want to be involved in the driving process, or maybe you live independently from them already. As a teen, you can get your own car insurance in some circumstances. Here’s what you need to know before you do so.

When Can Teens Get Their Own Car Insurance Policy?

If a teen has their driver’s license and purchases their own car, they can buy their own car insurance policy, regardless of whether or not they have their parents’ permission. In fact, they may be required to get their own policy if they own the car, instead of being on their parents’ policy. If you’re going to be purchasing your own car, it often makes sense to buy your own policy. Although many insurance companies will allow you to join your parents’ insurance policy with your own car, it often makes more sense to buy your own policy. Although the premiums will be higher in the beginning, you won’t have to worry about a difficult transition from your parents’ policy to your own policy later on.

When Do You Need Your Parents’ Permission?

There are some instances where you are going to need your parents’ permission in order to get car insurance. Most notably, if you do not have a car and are going to be driving their car, you won’t be able to get your own policy. You also cannot get your own policy if you only have your driver’s permit and don’t have your license. In these cases, you will need your parents to add you to their existing car insurance policy. It’s very important that they take the steps to add you to the policy and do not let it fall by the wayside. If you do get into an accident and you are not on their policy, it could end up costing them a significant amount of money, and it could even make it difficult for you to get car insurance in the future.

Individual Policy vs. Staying on Your Parents’ Policy

There are pros and cons to getting your own insurance policy as a teenager, just as there are pros and cons to staying on your parents’ insurance. If your parents will allow you to stay on their insurance policy, it’s important to consider both options to see which one makes the most sense for you. Getting an individual policy is going to be more expensive overall, as insurance companies consider you to be more of a risk as a young person on their own policy. However, getting your own policy now means you can start getting lower rates sooner. If you’re on your parents’ policy and then eventually switch to your own policy, your rates will stay higher for a longer period of time, particularly if you don’t have the best driving record.

However, staying on your parents’ policy means you will pay less overall as a family. While your parents’ policy will get more expensive with you on it, the jump in price still won’t be as expensive as you getting your own policy overall. You also may be able to get discounts for staying on your parents’ policy, as car insurance companies tend to reward loyalty among their customers.

Car Insurance Shopping Tips for Teens

• Always get quotes from several different companies. Each insurance company has a different focus and calculates the cost of their premiums differently. It can be tempting to go with the first insurance company you find just because it is the easiest. However, you may be missing out on a great deal on insurance. If you can, talk to an independent insurance agent – they can recommend the carriers that offer the best deals for teens.
• Compare student discounts in addition to prices. If you’re a student, you can get a significant discount for keeping your GPA up. Be sure to look at student discounts when shopping, as well as any other discounts that may apply to you.
• Don’t invest in a brand new car right away – their insurance rates are usually higher. Instead, go for a car that’s a few years old, but still in good condition. Over time, those insurance savings will add up – plus, the upfront cost of the car will be lower.

Keep your driving record clean. Your driving record will always be scrutinized by insurance companies, so get off on the right foot by avoiding accidents and taking driving courses to learn safe habits. After a few years of having a clean driving record,