Do I have to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

The time has finally come. Your child has decided to pursue learning the skill of driving a car. Whether you've been looking forward to it or had anxiety about it, there are implications to your household insurance. One of the biggest questions is whether we must add my teenage driver to my insurance. Not doing so could leave you vulnerable to coverage gaps or insurance eligibility issues. Check out the below for more:

Do I need to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

In South Carolina, teen drivers have different insurance requirements depending on where they are in the Graduated Driver Licensing program. When your teen gets their learner's permit, adding them to your insurance policy is not required. However, it's a good idea to do so. Typically, when adding a permitted driver, there's no additional premium cost, and the policy could extend additional coverages, such as specific coverages for your learning driver. This means you can rest assured that you have protection on your vehicle if the unexpected happens.

When do I need to add my teenage driver to my insurance?

Once a young driver in your household gets their driver's license, whether restricted or full, the new driver must be added to the household's insurance policy. Most parents find it cost-effective to add their teen driver to their policy versus getting their own policy typically due to discounts that the teen driver may not be eligible for on their own policy, like being a homeowner or having several years of continuous insurance history. Even in the rare cases, a young driver does get their own policy, most insurance companies still require you to have all household drivers rated or excluded on the policy. This requirement means that if four licensed drivers live in the household, all four drivers must be listed on your insurance policy whether they drive your vehicle or not.

Typically, if you're making any changes to your policy, whether it's adding a driver, changing a car, or making coverage changes, if you're ever unsure whether you're doing the right thing or not, it's best practice to review the change with your licensed insurance agent.