Are you required to add your children to your auto insurance policy?

In some states, drivers are required to add children to their car insurance policies. In other states, you’re not required. Today, we’re explaining everything you need to know about adding children to your car insurance policy.

Licensed Teen Drivers May Need to Be Added to Your Car Insurance Policy

If your teenaged child has a driver’s license, then he or she may need to be added to your policy. In certain states, you are required to add all licensed drivers in your household to your insurance policy.

If your child only has a learner’s permit and is still required to have a licensed adult with them in the vehicle when driving, then your child is typically covered under your policy automatically. If your child has a full license, however, then he or she should be added to your auto insurance policy as a named driver in order to remain covered.

There are some exceptions to this rule. Talk to your insurance company to determine when to add a teen driver to your policy. If your child only has a learner’s permit, for example, then you may be able to add the child at no cost.

Generally, however, you only need to add a child to your insurance policy after the child has received a full driver’s license.

How Much Does It Cost to Add a Teen Driver?

Generally, adding a teen driver to your insurance policy is expensive. Male teen drivers are more expensive than female teen drivers.

Talk to your insurance company to determine if any discounts are available. You might be able to enjoy a good student discount if your child has an A average at school, for example. Or, this situation might be a good time to shop around for car insurance. Some insurance companies charge exorbitant rates to teen drivers, while other insurance companies are more competitive. (For more information, read our “How much is it to add a teenager to auto insurance?“).

Your Insurance Company May Let You List a Teen Driver with No Charge

Talk to your insurance company to determine when to list a teen driver on your insurance policy.

Some insurance companies will allow you to list a teen driver on your insurance policy when the teen driver has a learner’s permit, for example, but they won’t charge for this listing. Your teen driver will be fully covered while driving under the terms of the learner’s permit. Then, when the teen driver graduates to a full license, you will typically need to pay more for car insurance to ensure your teen driver remains covered.

Remember: car insurance companies may have access to driver’s license registration data. They’re able to see the number of licensed drivers at your household. If they see a licensed driver listed as a member of your household, but that driver isn’t listed on your insurance policy, then you might encounter problems.

How to Save Money on Teen Car Insurance Premiums

Teen drivers are one of the highest risk groups for accidents. Insuring a teen driver can be expensive. Boys are generally more expensive to ensure than girls. However, there are certain ways to save money on car insurance for your teen driver, including:

Driver Training Discount: You might be able to get a 10% to 15% discount on car insurance by going through driver training.

Good Student: If you maintain a B+ or better average in high school or college, then you may qualify for a good student discount, reducing car insurance premiums by 10% to 20%.

Good Driver Discount: If you have a clean driving record, then you might qualify for a good driver discount. Typically, this discount is only available after you accrue at least 2 to 3 years of safe driving history, although it’s a significant discount at certain companies.

Teen Monitoring Programs: Insurance companies now offer vehicle tracking systems. The insurance company can monitor the behavior of the teen driver, then assign a customized rate based on the teen driver’s driving habits.

Family Plan Discount: Bundling car insurance policies together as a family can lead to steep insurance savings. Make sure all family vehicles are under the same insurance policy.

Conclusion: Talk to Your Insurance Company

In most states, you are required to add all licensed children to your car insurance policy. Once your child has a driver’s license, he or she needs to be added to your car insurance policy.

Every time your teen drivers a family vehicle, they have liability over the assets of the family. It’s in your best interest to ensure your teen driver remains covered in all situations. That’s why you should contact your car insurance company about whether or not you need to add your child to your policy.

Some states require you to add your child to your insurance policy as soon as she has a license. Other states may have different rules. Contact your insurance company to make sure your teen driver stays protected on the road – and consider comparing insurance quotes to make sure you get the best deal on car insurance for your family.

Read more: Can I get auto insurance for a car that is used for teaching or driver education purposes?