Car Insurance and Teen

[dimimi]

OK...explain this one. We had 2 cars and 2 drivers and then added our 16 year old son (good student discount)

He was listed on 1992 car. Everything was fine. Rate didn't go up much.

A couple months later, added a 1993 car. Son still listed on 1992 car, rates went up a little.

Here is the problem. SOLD 1992 car, now we only have 2 cars and our rates went UP! The agent said it is because the son(16) is now a driver on the 1993 car.

Has anyone else found a way around this? Thanks!

 

[elgerber]

OK...explain this one. We had 2 cars and 2 drivers and then added our 16 year old son (good student discount)

He was listed on 1992 car. Everything was fine. Rate didn't go up much.

A couple months later, added a 1993 car. Son still listed on 1992 car, rates went up a little.

Here is the problem. SOLD 1992 car, now we only have 2 cars and our rates went UP! The agent said it is because the son(16) is now a driver on the 1993 car.

Has anyone else found a way around this? Thanks!

For us it was cheaper to buy my son his own cheap car.

 

[msmayor]

Sounds more like a mistake the insurance company made when you added the 1993 car.

If a teen driver is not listed as the "primary driver" on a specific vehicle then they are always assigned to the newest (aka most expensive to insure) car.

When you added the 1993, he probably should have been switched then. You saved some $$ because that didn't happen.

 

[Longsx3]

It sounds like your son is now rated as the primary driver of the 1993, will your insurance company let you designate which driver is primary on which vehicle?


As for the poster who suggested getting him his own policy, with some companies this a no no, with geico they want all licensed drivers in the house on one policy or excluded. Meaning if your teen lives at home, but has his own policy then wrecks your car you may be up the creek. Typically under this scenario you could not claim an occasional driver because the teen resides in the same house. Also one of the reasons having a separate policy for your teen is cheaper is because you purchase lower limits on that policy however if they are in serious accidents with low limits you(the parent) are opening your self up to a personal lawsuit.

 

[elgerber]

It sounds like your son is now rated as the primary driver of the 1993, will your insurance company let you designate which driver is primary on which vehicle?


As for the poster who suggested getting him his own policy, with some companies this a no no, with geico they want all licensed drivers in the house on one policy or excluded. Meaning if your teen lives at home, but has his own policy then wrecks your car you may be up the creek. Typically under this scenario you could not claim an occasional driver because the teen resides in the same house. Also one of the reasons having a separate policy for your teen is cheaper is because you purchase lower limits on that policy however if they are in serious accidents with low limits you(the parent) are opening your self up to a personal lawsuit.

I did not say I got him his own policy, but because they were assigning him as a driver on our more expensive cars, it was cheaper to get him a cheap car and add it to our policy with him as the primary driver of that car.

 

[Longsx3]

Sorry elgerber trying to multi task and misread your post. A cheap car is the way to go if the ins company will let her designate, some don't.

 

[Shmily1]

It really doesn't depend on the car's year as much as the type of car and brand it is. Before DS20 started driving, I contacted my insurance co and asked alot of questions about cars for him for insurance purposes and safety. It was cheaper for him to have my 2003 Mustang and me get a different car than for me to get him a Honda or Toyota car that was an older car.

 

[elgerber]

Sorry elgerber trying to multi task and misread your post. A cheap car is the way to go if the ins company will let her designate, some don't.

No problem. I could have been more clear, just didn't want you think I was trying to cheat the system.