First time drivers insurance?

[Octoberbride03]

We are fooling around with me getting my license. We have been a 1 driver and 1 car family, and while we're not unhappy with that we're just thinking that maybe its time to become a 2 license household.

So since I'm 37 I'm just wondering if anybody would have an idea about how bad the hit would be on car insurance.

I have held permits before in PA before i got married but taking drivers tests with a state trooper completely freaked me out and i just it go. And I haven't really missed driving all that much oddly enough.

And while I'm at it if anybody has any info on just how the VA test goes that would be good too. Along with when the permit expires. Haven't found that anywhere on the DMV site. Just that I can take test after 30 days.

TIA

 

[msmayor]

To really get the best answer, you should call your current car insurance company. They will gladly give you an estimate of the premium; I've done this before with my kids. They even ran an estimate for my son last year, and he wasn't even due for a license for two years. I simply wanted to be prepared.

Because car insurance rates vary wildly depending on where you live and the car you drive, its really hard for others to give good information. Its possible the rate you'll pay is higher than the average 37 year old simply because most folks that age have more experience.

 

[stichy]

I know that when my friend's DD turns 17 their insurance will double but I doubt they would charge you as much as a teenage first time driver.

 

[msmayor]

I know that when my friend's DD turns 17 their insurance will double but I doubt they would charge you as much as a teenage first time driver.

Double? Even here in NJ, with some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation, that didn't happen at all when my daughter was added.

$1600/year for two cars for my husband and I. Adding my daughter to the policy raised the premium about $450/year.

 

[tar heel]

Ours doubled when we added a teenage boy. He's 22 now and it's less than that first year even though he has had a ticket and a wreck.

 

[Jaklackus]

Double? Even here in NJ, with some of the highest car insurance rates in the nation, that didn't happen at all when my daughter was added.

$1600/year for two cars for my husband and I. Adding my daughter to the policy raised the premium about $450/year.

Insurance rates are based on so many things location, proximity to medical care and fire services, cost of medical care, average value of vehicles in the area, number of traffic accidents, number of street lights and signs, fraud rates, etc etc before you even get to rating the driver of a vehicle...you could have an identical situation to your neighbor across the street and their rates could be double your rates because they are considered part of a differently rated area than you because the insurance company draws their imaginary line down the middle of your street.

I live in an area were the average age of a car is 2 years old....the insurance company tracks this because it factors into the cost of replacing other people's property on the liability side of the policy.

It's always a good idea to call ahead before the license is obtained....I worked for a large national insurer for a very short amount of time....and we would get calls for 'quotes' with the parents thinking they could just keep the newly licensed driver from driving if the cost was too high...because of the way the contract/policy was written...we had no choice but to add them to the policy unless there was proof that they were covered under a different policy or living somewhere else....lots of upset customers and lots of divorced parents whose children suddenly went to live with the other parent once they got their license....not a fun job...not worth the venom.

 

[ceecee]

My friend is paying close to $1200 a year for her 16 year old (with a good student discount). I guess it's lower if they don't have their own car and higher if they do.

 

[clh2]

One of the big factors for the OP - will they be getting a second car or not. What type of car they get will be important in determining the rates.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Got DH on the hook to call his agent when he gets a spare moment about the insurance. For now i am officially studying for the learner's permit exam. Oh joy.

I had a permit in PA back a long time ago. Never did get the license though. Seems me sitting next to a State trooper to take the test is a sure-fire way to go down in flames

Once I get the license we'll remain a 1 car family for awhile and use Dave Ramsey to help us pay down some bills before adding a 2nd car. never planned to go this long without it, but I didn't miss driving and we didn't have any money at all for extra anything so it worked out. Now we're better off but not great. If I need my own car ahead of time we'll probably rent it by the day as we need it.

And if anybody knows just how the VA Driver's exam goes that would be a help. Cause I have no idea what's done for the road test

 

[DisneyQueen1320]

Good Luck
I'm kinda in the same boat as you, I'm 28 and never had my license, always had a permit. Every couple of years I would renew the permit, but not take the road test. Driving kinda scares me, but by the end of this fall I'm determine to complete this. We always had 1 car and I work at home so it's no problem, plus my dh doesn't mind shopping. But my dh picked up a second job working at nights so, we need another car. It gets kinda boring at home during the week.

I wish you the best of luck

 

[Green Tea]

I would be surprised if it made any difference at all. The cars are insured, not really the drivers. Goes up with teens because teens drive the car, but you would likely be similarly rated as your husband. With one car and you as an occasional driver, it likely wouldn't change.

 

[msmayor]

I would be surprised if it made any difference at all. The cars are insured, not really the drivers. Goes up with teens because teens drive the car, but you would likely be similarly rated as your husband. With one car and you as an occasional driver, it likely wouldn't change.

I disagree. While age is a factor in responsibility, the OP would still be considered a new driver and therefore pose a bigger risk.

Its why as time goes on, folks get "Good Driver Discounts", or are rated as "Premium Drivers". The longer you go without an accident, the better risk.

With a new driver (no matter the age) the risk is unknown. There is no 'experience rating' to go by.

It most likely won't be the same increase as a teen driver...but I'd be very surprised if there wasn't an increase.

The OP can find out right now what the increase would be. Just call the insurance company and ask for a quote. Its done all the time.

 

[DVCLiz]

Just to give you an example (this is in NC):

I drive a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country minivan - my insurance is about
$55/month.

I have two daughters - they each drive a car that is in my name.

DD21 drives a 2009 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Her insurance is about
$52/month.
DD16 drives a 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. Her insurance right now is about $257/month. She must have moved down a level after the first six months of having her license (which she got in December) because it was higher for those first few months.

Assuming no accidents or tickets, DD16's rates will drop slightly every so often (I don't know the exact schedule, but maybe it is every six months) until she reaches the rates DD21 currently enjoys. Can't wait for that day!!!!

 

[Stacy9402]

I live in Fairfax County, VA and I am not sure if it will be the same for you but my 16 year old got her permit when she was 15 and 9 months. She had to take Driver's ed and then I had to pay for Behind the Wheel - normally $280 I got for $197 thru a special. Behind the Wheel people are the ones that give you the road test and it is your last class. Basically you are suppose to observe in the car for 50 minutes and then drive for 50 minutes. She did not parellel park basically she drove from our house to wherever and she would have to park. I thought it was pretty easy.

But with you being over 18 www.dmvnow.com states
"If you are age 19 or older, and you have never held a driver's license issued by Virginia, another state, a U.S. territory, or foreign country, or cannot show proof that you previously held such a license, you must show proof that:

* you have passed an approved driver education course, or,
* you have held a Virginia learner's permit at least 30 days before taking the DMV road skills test.

At any age, as a first time driver, you will be required to provide documents to prove identity, legal presence, Virginia residency, and, if you have one, Social Security number. "

So basically it is saying you have to pass permit test, hold permit for 30 days and then you go to your DMV and they will administer the Road Test.. I do believe they only do these at certain times so you might want to check your local DMV...

 

[Green Tea]

My guess is still with the same car insured and you listed as an occasional driver, the premium will stay just about the same.

I can let anyone I know drive my insured car if they have a license. It doesn't change my premium. If they wreck, the car insurance covers it. I am not the insured. The car is insured.

Apples to oranges but when we had 3 drivers and 2 cars, the premium went up when we had the 16 YO DS get a license. It went way up when we bought a third car and his use went from occasional to implied as the main driver of a car.

 

[msmayor]

My guess is still with the same car insured and you listed as an occasional driver, the premium will stay just about the same.

I can let anyone I know drive my insured car if they have a license. It doesn't change my premium. If they wreck, the car insurance covers it. I am not the insured. The car is insured.

Apples to oranges but when we had 3 drivers and 2 cars, the premium went up when we had the 16 YO DS get a license. It went way up when we bought a third car and his use went from occasional to implied as the main driver of a car.

That reasoning only works if you allow someone OUTSIDE of your home to drive the car.

If it really was true...that the car is insured, not the driver, then we wouldn't be required to list all the drivers in our household on our car insurance.

 

[here757]

My guess is still with the same car insured and you listed as an occasional driver, the premium will stay just about the same.

I can let anyone I know drive my insured car if they have a license. It doesn't change my premium. If they wreck, the car insurance covers it. I am not the insured. The car is insured.

Apples to oranges but when we had 3 drivers and 2 cars, the premium went up when we had the 16 YO DS get a license. It went way up when we bought a third car and his use went from occasional to implied as the main driver of a car.

both the car and the driver are insured.if you look on your policies declaration page it lists both the vehicles and the driver.
if i drive my car and have accident im covered. if you drive my car its also covered. if i drive ur car its possible my policy would pay

the state you live in will determine whos policy will pay.
also depends on the amount of the accident and the amount of coverage.
here in va.. if you drive my car .. my policy pays first, if i dont have enough coverage then ur policy will pay out as well.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Wow, I am in shock at your first sentence. I know we are all American, but that is SO not the culture here.



I bought my first car at age 15.5 and had to wait six months to drive it without my dad in the car! Worst six months of my life.


How do you get around now? I have no idea and I am not making fun, I just don't know.

And to answer, I don't think the rates will go up with two drivers in one car. It is when you buy a convertible as your second car that your rates will skyrocket.

 

[here757]

Wow, I am in shock at your first sentence. I know we are all American, but that is SO not the culture here.



I bought my first car at age 15.5 and had to wait six months to drive it without my dad in the car! Worst six months of my life.


How do you get around now? I have no idea and I am not making fun, I just don't know.

And to answer, I don't think the rates will go up with two drivers in one car. It is when you buy a convertible as your second car that your rates will skyrocket.

lol i used to be an insurance agent.. i worked several states..
depends on the state.
some states have graduated licenese..usually get the real deal license after 6 months to a year. they carry different rules.
some states say no other teens in car after 6.
some say youthful op cant drive after dark.
some say no cell phones. (some states have outlawed them for everyone)
some states u have to be supervised in car til 16 1/2

just depends on the state.
in va they give the orginal lic to the parent. who makes the decision to give to child. it supposed to tell the kid that even though u got a license your parents still control it.

 

[SandrA9810]

I didn't get my driver's license until the day before my permit expired. It was nerve racking taking the driving part of the test because I was so set in my ways of driving which probably isn't the most perfect way of doing things. But I passed with flying colors.

One thing, make sure you look to see if you can make an appointment online or over the phone. It'll save a lot of time.

For the most part with insurance, your discount comes with a long standing history. So after a couple years of no accidents/no tickets, you're premium will go down. But a lot has to do with where you live and what kind of car you drive.