Client Questions- When Teenagers Start to Drive

My teenager just received a license to drive. Do I need to add him/her to my policy now? Will it increase my premium?

These are great questions that our customers ask frequently. 

The short answers are “yes” and “yes.”

Most personal auto policies written in Texas extend liability coverage to anyone using a covered auto with your permission, including children when they begin to drive. However, some policies exclude family members who have not been reported to the insurance company and are not listed as drivers on the policy.

Failing to report your newly-licensed teenager is a dangerous game to play with your family assets. In fact, some companies may consider this to be “insurance fraud” and refuse to pay a claim involving a young driver who has not been reported - especially if the youngster had a license when the policy was first purchased.

Insurance companies expect you to report all drivers in the household and will charge a premium based on the appropriate driver classification. In the case of a youthful operator, that premium will depend on whether the driver is the principal operator of a family vehicle or just a part-time operator.

Be sure to discuss your family’s insurance needs with your insurance agent. After considering your specific circumstances, you and your agent can make a decision regarding auto insurance that is appropriate for your family and your insurance budget.

This article was prepared and made available to your agent by the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, which is solely responsible for its content. Please read your insurance policy. If there is any conflict between the information in this article and the actual terms and conditions of your policy, the terms and conditions of your policy will apply. The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas is a non-profit association of more than 1,800 insurance agencies in Texas, dedicated to helping its members succeed, in part by providing technical resources that explain insurance policies sold to their customers.