Do I have to add my teen driver on my ins policy? A farmers ins agent adv me I dont have to? Said shes covered

Question

My 16 daughter just got licensed, I was calling around for quotes and a Farmers Ins Rep adv me as long as she doesn't have her own car and will only be using mine or my husbands car occasionally she does not have to be named on the policy. She advised me the vehicle was insured so anyone could drive it. I was always told if they lived in your house they have to be named on the policy. I just want to make sure we are covered if the worse should occur. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer 1

You would have to read the policy to determine if your daughter would be covered or not. It would probably be in your best interest to add your daughter to your policy, what have you got to lose? Most insurance companies require that you list all drivers in the house on your policy unless they have a policy of their own.

Answer 2

In every state I'm aware of, once your child, under the age of 18 and living at the same address, has a license they must be added to your insurance policy as a secondary driver to insure they are covered. Either your state has some kind of different rules, or more likely you have an insurance agent that is wrong about it. Since having an inexperienced driver on the policy raises your risk factors, you can expect to see an increase in premium also.

Answer 3

i question this agent's advice; if your were calling for quotes and decided to go with farmers, then you would have to fill out an application for insurance;

this application would list autos, vin #'s, ownership etc;

it also has a section of members of the family and ages and driver license #; this is where you would put your daughter and her age and license

i have seen some applications that state that all members age 14 or 15 must be listed; this is to notify the insurance company at renewal to see if that child may have gotten their license and need to be added;

now if you get a new policy and fill out an application and do not list your daughter and subsequently she has an accident, the insurance company may deem this misrepresentation;
if so, they could deny any claim since you misrepresented that you had a daughter who was licensed at the time you signed the application; at the bottom of the application it asks you are all representations true in this application?

now on the other hand, if you currently have insurance with a different company and subsequently your daughter gets licensed and failed to notify your insurer, most likely they will honor it, since at the time of application she was not licensed; it is not uncommon for people to fail to call in this info; but if in an accident, the underwriting department most likely will send you a notice you owe more premium for your daughter to catch up when she became licensed and to that date and forward;

unless your state is different, i believe you received wrong info; i am a claim adjuster and have had both scenarios above; ;

Answer 4

How odd. What state are you in?

Is she at least being added to YOUR policy? With an increase in rates? If not, I don't think she's covered. We were told this by the license branch, not by any insurance company.

I went through this last week as well. My son just got his permit. Geico said I had to give them his permit number, no increase in premiums until he gets his license, but then it is $55/month for a straight-A student where I live. (But he is a male, your daughter should be less).

I would call the DMV in your area or check the book she might have gotten before she took the test to see what the law is in your state. My understanding is that licensed drivers have to be insured or they are breaking the law.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Many people have said the same thing here, including a couple insurance agents. It must vary between companies. Check with your company to make sure she would be covered. It would be cheaper to add her to your policy than for her to get her own policy. My vehicle is insured but no one under 25 is covered including family members.

Answer 6

Ahh, the loopholes of insurance. Technically, any blood relative is covered to drive your vehicle whether they are on your policy or not IF they are licensed and IF they have your complete permission. And since your daughter doesn't have her own car and will only be driving here and there, I wouldn't put her on at all. Trust me, once you see your massive rate increase you really will think twice about adding her!

Answer 7

YOU HAVE TO NOTIFY THE INSURANCE COMPANY ABOUT THIS AND SINCE SHE HAS HER LICENSE, SHE WILL HAVE TO BE ON YOUR POLICY AS A DRIVER.