Home Car insurance Teens drivers Insuring a teen driver in single-parent households Insuring a teen driver in single-parent households Written by: Michelle Megna Michelle Megna Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. | Reviewed by: Penny Gusner Penny Gusner Penny is an expert on insurance procedures, rates, policies and claims. She has extensive knowledge of all major insurance lines -- auto, homeowners, life and health insurance. She has been answering consumers’ questions as an analyst for more than 15 years and has been featured in numerous major media outlets, including the Washington Post and Kiplinger’s. | Updated on December 5, 2022 Why you should trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing honest and reliable information so that you can make the best financial decisions for you and your family. All of our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. We maintain strict editorial independence from insurance companies to maintain editorial integrity, so our recommendations are unbiased and are based on a comprehensive list of criteria. Insuring a teenage driver can be expensive. Even if your children are away at college, live part-time with an ex-spouse or spend a significant amount of time away from home, you may still be required to buy car insurance for them if they plan to drive. It depends on your circumstances and the practices of your car insurance company. For example, some companies won’t sell policies to drivers under 18, first-time buyers or young drivers with a tarnished driving record, according to Progressive Insurance. Key Takeaways If your teen drives your car occasionally, you may be required to list the teen on your car insurance policy. When parents get divorced, many insurers suggest that the parent with full custody should add the child to his or her insurance policy. If your teenager has an accident and you have to file a claim, your insurance company could refuse to pay if you did list your teen on your policy. Some insurers offer discounts to parents who install a G.P.S. unit inside a teen’s car to track the teen’s driving. When parents are divorced If there is joint custody, the teen should be listed on the policy of the parent with whom he or she resides. When teens split time between divorced parents, many insurers suggest the parent with full custody should add the child to his or her policy. In some cases, insurers suggest it should be the parent that has custody where the teen attends school. In the event of joint custody, the teen should be covered by both parents’ policies, regardless of whether the teen is listed as a driver on either policy. That’s because some insurance policies define “an insured” as “a person related to you by blood, marriage, or adoption who is a resident of your household.” Check your policy language or contact your insurance agent for clarification of your own policy. Honesty is the best policy If you don’t list your teen on your policy, be prepared to face the possibility of cancellation of your policy, nonrenewal or surcharges. Some insurers require that all drivers be named on both policies. Some insurance companies will cancel your policy for misrepresentation if you fail to list your teen driver during the application process — or when the teen secures a driver’s license. That’s because insurers have a right to charge for the increased risk. Some insurers require that all drivers be named on a policy, no matter how much time they spend in a household. If your teen has access to your car and drives it even occasionally, you may be required to list the teen on your auto policy. The absolute worst case In a state that allows insurers to void policies for misrepresentation, failing to list your teen on your policy can be a costly mistake. If your teen has an accident and you file a claim, your insurer could void your policy because you failed to tell them. If you’re unsure whether your child is adequately covered, contact your agent or insurance company. QuickTake State laws for teen drivers A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy Passing down the family car? Ask these 7 questions Top reader questions about insurance for teen drivers Guide to car insurance for teens The Best Car Insurance for Teens: Guide 7 signs your teenager shouldn't drive anymore Cheap car insurance for young drivers I asked my car insurance company to remove my daughter as a driver from my car insurance policy because she got a new car and she is insured with her father (we’re divorced) with a different insurer. My auto insurer asked me to send it proof of my daughter’s insurance or of a different address if she is not living at my residence. Is it right for them to ask me for these items? See more > Why auto insurers are so concerned about teens Research shows that young drivers are especially vulnerable to death and injury on the roadways. This is due to inexperience, immaturity, speeding, driving while intoxicated, susceptibility to distractions and failure to wear seatbelts — to name a few. Here are some statistics about young drivers, ages 15 to 20, from a 2011 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: 1,987 drivers in this age group were killed in traffic accidents and an additional 180,000 were injured in 2011. They accounted for 10 percent of the drivers involved in motor-vehicle fatalities. Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for this age group. As a result, the cost of auto insurance for teenagers is always higher than for other drivers because they pose a higher risk of accidents than more experienced drivers. According to Insurance Information Institute, if you have a teen daughter, your insurance may go up by as much as 50 percent when she gets her license. A teen son can increase your car insurance by as much as 100 percent. Discounts offered by most insurance companies can help reduce the cost of insuring teen drivers. “Good-student discounts” are often available to teens who have a grade average of a B or higher. Also, some insurance companies will offer discounts to parents who install a GPS unit inside a teen’s car to allow driver tracking. Michelle MegnaContributor   . .Michelle, the former editorial director, insurance, at QuinStreet, is a writer, editor and expert on car insurance and personal finance. Prior to joining QuinStreet, she reported and edited articles on technology, lifestyle, education and government for magazines, websites and major newspapers, including the New York Daily News. In case you missed it Best Car Insurance Companies of 2023 Car insurance rates by state: The most expensive and cheapest states for car ins... Full coverage auto insurance: What it costs to get covered A complete guide to car insurance for seniors A complete guide to adding a teenager to your car insurance policy What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault Total warfare: What to do when your auto insurer totals your car Car insurance claims: Who gets the claims check? Buying and insuring a used car: Most and least expensive models to insure in 202... The Best Car Insurance for Bad Credit of 2021 The best car insurance companies for speeding tickets Car insurance after a DUI Guide to Car Insurance Discounts Proper insurance coverage for college-bound children How to read (and actually understand!) your auto insurance policy Car Insurance Companies New driver insurance grace period: What you need to know How much do insurance agents make Autonomous cars: 5 delightful and 5 distressing things Busted! Part 1: How insurance companies spot bogus claims Insurance options for rideshare drivers 10 things that are illegal but shouldn’t be 1/1 Table of contents When parents are divorced Honesty is the best policy The absolute worst case Why auto insurers are so concerned about teens Get instant quotes now ! Please enter valid zip Get quote