Should I Add My Teenager To My Auto Insurance Policy in Michigan?
Reader’s Question:
My legal aged son has moved out of my house in Battle Creek, MI to live over at the apartment of his friend’s parents. The thing is, he hasn’t changed the address on his driver’s license and he’s currently driving their car. Another thing that’s been bothering me is he wants to buy a car and wants to insure it using my name. Any information regarding my situation would be greatly appreciated.
Mary
Battle Creek, MI
Insuring vehicles that belong to other people are allowed by some car insurance companies even if you have no “insurable interest” in it. However, I’ve never heard of any car insurance company that allows people to insure vehicles from more than one household. If a vehicle owner decides to move elsewhere with his car, like your son, moving out of Battle Creek MI, chances are, the car insurance company will not cover the vehicle’s insurance. As for your other inquiry, if your son is going to drive for his friend’s parents , they should list him as driver on their car insurance policy for them not to have the risk of getting denied car insurance services if ever he gets involved in a car accident.
18 Year Old – Young Driver Car Insurance in Michigan
Reader’s Question:
My 18 year old daughter lives at home and drives my vehicle that has full coverage. We have another vehicle with just PLPD. I’m the only person insured on them. Will my daughter be covered if she is not listed as driver? I’m in Redford, Michigan, a ‘no fault’ state. I was just thinking why I should have to list her if I’m already paying full coverage on the car and the older vehicle is insured. As long as, I pay my auto insurance and the vehicles are in my name, is it really necessary to list my teenage daughter on my policy as a driver?
Jane
Redford, MI
Right now, your cars are insured. However, they are insured for you – not your teen daughter. You will need to add your daughter as driver on your car insurance policy, or you run the risk of having your insurance company deny a claim for an accident. Insurance providers want you to list all of the household members who will be driving your cars. Insurance carriers also want you to list as drivers on your insurance policy those people who do not live with you but will be driving your cars on a regular basis. If they do not live in your household and they occasionally drive your cars, you may not have to list them to your insurance policy. The reason to add your teenage daughter (and other drivers) is it permits the insurance carrier know who will be driving your car(s) and permit them to collect the proper car insurance rate.
Physical damage coverage consists of comprehensive and collision coverage. Collision insurance generally covers damage to your car caused by collision with another object or by upset. Comprehensive insurance on the other hand covers damage to your car from vandalism, glass or theft breakage.) Most lien holders require physical damage coverage if you are leasing or financing your car. Also coverage is just that…coverage. It is not permission for a person to drive. Also, if your teen daughter is going to be driving your car(s), I suggest that you call your insurance provider in Redford MI as soon as possible to add your daughter on to your policy as a driver.
Do I Have to Add My Teen To My Car Insurance Policy?
Reader’s Question:
I’m from Dearborn, Michigan and I have a teenage son who just turned 18. My insurance company said that I have to add him to my policy. Why do I have to do that if my car is covered anyways no matter who drives it? Is there a way I can get a cheaper auto insurance?
Sarah
Dearborn, MI
In making auto insurance calculations, insurance companies include risk factors like other people who have regular access to your cars. This is the reason why they require all licensed drivers in your household to be listed on your policy.
Insurance companies usually use classifications that reflect possible liability exposure on the part of the insurer as a measure to predict bodily injury or property damage resulting to accidents involving another person from your household’s operation of your vehicle.
If your teenage son gets into an accident while in the process of getting his license, and you fail to inform your insurance provider, coverage may not be extended. Some states allow the accident to be covered but then charge you for the premiums you should have paid up to that time for the teen to be on the policy.
Also in some states intentionally not reporting any licensed driver from your household to your insurance carrier and adding him as a driver can be interpreted as a form of insurance fraud.
Insuring teen drivers can be expensive since they are statistically speaking prone to road accidents for being inexperience and immature drivers. Good news is that there are ways to bring down the increase in insurance rates due to adding a teen to your insurance policy. So start discussing the available discounts you can take advantage of with your Dearborn, MI agent such as a good student discount, taking a driver’s education or driver’s improvement class, and etc.
16 Year Old Teen Driver Auto Insurance In Michigan
Reader’s Question:
I live in Michigan. My 16 year old daughter is buying a car. Can it be titled under her name alone?
Tim
Pontiac, MI
The Department of State for Michigan states that there is no age requirement for titling a car in Michigan.
It is unlawful though to knowingly sell a car to an emancipated teen or minor without written permission from a parent or guardian. A consent document completed by the parent or guardian of the minor at the time of the sell is needed by the seller. By law, the seller is required to keep this consent form by parent or guardian for three years.
Your daughter will also need a parent or guardian to sign on any other legal papers such as an insurance policy while she is still a teen or minor.
Can 17 Year Old Teen Driver Get Their Own Auto Insurance In Michigan?
Reader’s Question:
Can a 17 year old teenager in the state of Michigan maintain auto insurance under their own names?
Jerome
Detroit, MI
The Department of State for Michigan state that there is no age restriction for titling a car in Michigan and no minimum age for getting auto insurance.
A Michigan insurance law called the Essential Insurance Act guarantees that home and car insurance will be available to all eligible citizens in Michigan. The law states that you are eligible for car insurance if you have a vehicle registered in Michigan or have a valid (not suspended or revoked) Michigan driver’s license.
If you are 17 year old teenager, and therefore still a minor, you will also need a parent or guardian to sign on any other legal papers such as an insurance policy since insurance providers normally will not permit you to sign by yourself until you are 18 and considered an adult. So the insurance policy may be under your own name at seventeen but with the consent of an adult since they may be held liable for your actions as a teenager if you fail to fulfill your obligations.
Michigan SR22 For Teen Driver – Cheap Rates Now
Reader question:
My teen…I wish I didn’t even have to say it, it makes me so mad…has to get Michigan SR22 filed because he was caught driving drunk. I would love to take his car away from him, but I’m stuck because he has a job and if he doesn’t save money from his job, he loses college money, and I know it won’t help at all to punish him by making it harder for him to attend a good college. But I pay for his insurance now. How can I get this on the cheap?
Melanie
Great question, Melanie.
Sorry to hear you’re in that situation. I would be furious too. But, you have to make the best of it. To be honest, if I were in your position, I would just make him pay for his own insurance and let him walk to work. If the walk is to far, then I’d let him quit that job and find one closer. That way he doesn’t sacrifice anything.
Still, you might not be inclined to do that, so I’ll throw you a line. There is a way that you can lower your rates for Michigan SR22 insurance while still laying the hammer on him. He has a job and school? All right, so you make sure that every free moment he has is spent either studying or in class. Here’s what I mean.
A lot of Michigan SR22 companies have a discount for good students. This can be up to 25%–that’s a lot, eh? If your son can pull a B average, he can get this.
Secondly, he needs a defensive driving class anyway, so enroll him in one. Now, if he is already required to take one, then this won’t have any effect on the insurance premium of yours, but if he isn’t required, then you can get a discount.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
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