Reader’s Question:

I would like to know how much my father can expect insurance premiums to increase if he adds me to his car insurance? I just got my G2 last month. I have also taken a drivers defensive course and have held a G1 for a year. I’m only 19 years old and our current annual premium is between 1800-2000.

Allan

Denver, CO

The cost of adding a teenager with a G2 to an auto insurance policy will vary depending primarily on the type of car(s) you own, the age of the new driver and the young driver’s driving record. An auto insurance charge will be applied to your father’s insurance. All G2 motorist living in their parent’s household and driving a car must be added to their auto insurance policy.

Generally, adding you to the policy can up the rates by $1000 - $2000, so doubling the cost of your father’s insurance is possible depending upon your parent’s insurance provider’s rating system. Your father should speak with his auto insurance agent or company to get a quote for how much it will cost to add a teen to the policy now that you hold your G2. Make sure that he mentions your driver’s education course to acquire a discount for that.

Reader’s Question:

I am a nineteen year old teen from Illinois. My parents are planning to buy me a car and I would like to know more about my requirements for auto insurance in Illinois?

Paul

Chicago, IL

The state of Illinois requires that teenagers should have insurance before driving. The insurance company will send you an insurance card after you have paid your policy. Your IL insurance card should be kept always in your vehicle because driving in Illinois without insurance will suspend your license plates and incur you fines. Before driving anyone’s car, be sure there’s an insurance identification card. In Illinois, it is mandatory to carry the insurance when driving any vehicle.

Reader’s Question:

Do I need to rush to get my teenage daughter her Michigan car insurance as soon as her permit and car are ready?

Candice

Detroit, MI

Yes.

Do not procrastinate just so you can save a few dollars. If you delay and your teenage daughter gets involved in a car accident, your insurance company generally will cover it, but can retroactively charge the higher premium, or worse revoke your coverage. Also, never carry less coverage on a teenager who happens to be a higher-risk driver, or you will be forced to cover the damages from you own pocket.

Reader’s Question:

I have a son who will get his license in the next two month. I am just wondering if he can purchase his own auto insurance. If he cannot then at what age can he get car insurance?

Emily

Bakersfield, CA

Usually insurance carriers permit people to buy insurance at the age of 15 or 16. But, until they are 18 years old, they are considered minors. Since a car insurance policy is a legally binding contract, usually a minor or teen cannot sign it alone otherwise, the insurance policy could be considered as void. In this case, a parent or legal guardian is required usually to sign the documentation with the minor. Since the parents or legal guardians are responsible for the minor’s actions, it’s best to have a them sign the documents with the minor. In this way, the parents or legal guardians can make certain that the minor or teen buys enough insurance to protect their own financial interests. Once the individual turns 18 years old, s/he is responsible for his/her own actions and decisions. As a result, s/he can sign his/her own documents and contracts.

Reader’s Question:

My 16 year old teenage son gave the keys of my car to his 18 year old friend who got involved in an accident and crashed the car and was arrested. I am just worried if my comprehensive coverage insurance will pay for the damages to my vehicle?

Amelie

Anaheim, CA

If the 18 year old teenager was arrested then it is likely that he was doing something illegally. Some insurance providers will not cover a loss such if your car was used without your permission. You also said that you have comprehensive coverage which is a broad physical damage coverage which should covers all property damages except collision and those perils or property which are specifically excluded. If you also do not have collision coverage then the damages to your car may not be covered. I would recommend that you contact your insurance company as soon as possible to determine if you are covered for this damages.

Reader’s Question:

Can I maintain insurance under my name in Detroit Michigan if I am only 17 years old?

Naomi

Detroit, MI

The Department of State for Michigan states that there is no age requirement for titling a car in Michigan and no minimum age for acquiring auto insurance.

It is unlawful however to knowingly sell a car to an unemancipated minor without written permission from a parent or guardian. The seller must have a written consent form completed by the parent or guardian of the teenager at the time of the sell. By law, the seller is required to keep this consent form for three years.

If you are 17, and thus still a minor or a teen, you will also need a parent or guardian to sign on any other legal documents like an insurance policy since insurance carriers normally will not permit you to sign by yourself until you are 18 and considered as an adult. So the insurance policy may be in your own name at 17 but with the consent of a parent or guardian since they may be held liable for your actions as a teenager if you fail to fulfill your obligations.

Reader’s Question:

Do insurance companies give discounts for teenager who take a Driver Education course?

Jenny

Dallas, TX

Insurance companies do offer a discount for teenagers that have taken a driver education course. These insurance companies believe that it is helpful for new teenage motorist to take a driving class if offered though because it is useful as they learn to operate vehicle for the first time.

In most states it is required of a teen to take a driver’s education class and that is one reason that no discount is given to some. Defensive driving courses or driver education classes are also used by some states in lieu of driving points after receiving a person receives a traffic violation citation.

Reader’s Question:

Will my car insurance rate be high as a new teenage motorist even though I am a 20 years old female? Should I shop for a free auto insurance quote online?

Camille

New York, NY

Insurance providers in most states are allowed to have their own rating system. These companies usually look at many factors when determining a car insurance rate, experience of the motorist can be once such factor. Age may also be a factor and at around age 25 insurance premiums will drop from when a motorist is 16 to 24.

If you are a newly licensed teenage driver at age 19 then your rates will be higher than others that have been driving for nearly ten years however may not be as high as a newly licensed driver at the age of 16, since you may be thought of as more mature. Maturity to an insurance providers means less likely to operate a vehicle in a reckless manner. The insurance rates will likely though still be higher than another 20 year old female that has been driving for a few years since this person has a driving history for the insurance provider to check.

I would suggest that as a new teen driver you should shop around for insurance rates quote since as noted above, different providers have different rating system.

Reader’s Question:

I got my first speeding ticket in Ohio. Im 17 years old and I live in the state of Illinois. Is there any way I can remove the ticket from my record and how will this affect my insurance rate?

Gian

Thank you for asking Gian.

If you are still in your initial licensing phase, part of the restrictions of the graduated licensing system includes a written warning to parent and teen if convicted of any traffic violation before age 18.

If you are convicted of 2 moving violations already in a 24 month period, this will result in a suspension minimum of 1 month. The length of the suspension may vary depending upon the seriousness of the offenses and the motorist’ driving record.

Ohio and Illinois are part of the Driver’s License Compact (DLC). This means that Ohio will inform Illinois of this speeding ticket for 22 mph over the limit that you received. It is not noted by the IL Secretary of State specifically that out of state tickets are put on your driving record so you may want to contact the Secretary of State to get more information about this.

According to the Administrative Code Illinois Offense table 20 points is assessed for the speeding violation. It explains there that all out of state convictions will be considered and coded as IL vehicle code violations.

I would suggest that you contact the Ohio BMV and/or IL SOS to check if there is a way to keep this ticket off from your driving record . You may also contact your insurance company to know how this first speeding ticket will affect your premium rates or not. You can contact your insurance provider for information on the rating system of the company.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

Im 20 years old and I want to know if its possible to get a motorcycle license if my license is revoked? Thank you.

Allan

Thank you for asking Allan.

State laws varies so it would depend if you would be able to get a motorcycle license when your motor vehicle license is revoked. Some states allow you to drive a motorcycle while others will not allow you any driving privileges.

Some states have the motorcycle license as an addendum to a normal driver’s license. It would be unlikely that you would be able to get driving privileges with the motorcycle while having a revoked regular driver’s license. Some states have the motorcycle license considered as a separate license so it might be possible to get it.

Vehicle code 23660 in California states that when a license is revoked or suspended, the individual needs to surrender each and every operator’s license to the court. On that statement therefore no licenses are allowed if your driving privileges are revoked.

So to get more information and to verify what the laws are in your state regarding you getting a motorcycle license while having your main driving privileges revoked, contact with your Department of Motor Vehicles.

Goodluck!

MariCAR