Teenagers and CAR insurance question

[Kitty 34]

Those of you that have had a child reach driving age eek: )......did your car insurance automatically put them on your plan or did you have to call them first?


The reason I ask is our AAA plan went up $800 for this coming year and after we recovered from shock, we saw it was because they added on both our sons......one who is 22 and on his own plan and the other who just turned 16 and hasn't gotten his license yet.

We just thought it odd that AAA automatically added both DSs without hearing from us first.

We will be calling tomorrow but I just want to know if that's the "norm".

 

[JulesMom]

We had to call to add DD

 

[Liz]

I don't know but I'm curious to hear what you find out because I have a DS who is turning 16 this fall. So afraid of what the insurance rates will do!!!

 

[ltldeb]

We had to call to have DS added.

 

[Pam]

We called the insurance company when DD turned 16 and got her permit - they told us to call back and they would add her when she passed her test, which we did.

A couple of weeks ago the insurance company sent us a questionnaire asking for the names and ages of any other children over the age of 10 - which I thought was very strange until a coworker of mine suggested that the insurance company would probably try to up our rates on the premise that the younger child could be capable of trying to sneak the car out for joyrides, etc. I'm anxious to find out if that happens, because I will throw one heck of a fit if they do!

 

[luvdzny]

I called when DS got his "temps" but they said not to worry about it until he had his actual license. Then I had to call to have him added. He is 18 now has a clean record and his insurance is about $1800.00 a year.

 

[Fire14]

I believe my parents had to call with me but with brother they just automatically added him.

 

[Kitty 34]

Thanks for the replies. It sounds like most of you had to call.


My DH called AAA to ask them about it. Our rep was out of town so he didn't have a chance to talk to him. My DH told the lady who answered that both sons are on a plan thru another company. She told my DH to fax all the other Ins co. info to them. I'm thinking WHY??? Why should it matter to AAA which insurance company we chose for our sons?

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I also had to call to add my kids, after they got their licenses. Luvdzy...my son's insurance is $2,200 for the year! If I was assigned to his car, it would be $960 for the year...it's ridiculous what they charge guys. He has a clean driving record and will turn 20 this month...wonder what it would have been if he just got his license?

 

[snuggles]

We had to call. I'd be pretty upset if they added someone to my policy without my permission.

 

[Liz]

Oh my gosh, you guys are scaring me to death with these prices you are quoting! We can't afford that much for insurance!!! Is there anything to keep the prices down? Is it cheaper when they are just an added driver on the family car because DS won't have his own car any time in the forseeable future.

 

[cinlee3]

My son doesn't have his own car either but they have to rate him on the most expensive car on the plan.

My brother checked with his ins. to add his son and was quoted $4,000 a year. Translated - they don't want teenage drivers.

From what I was told by our agent, there is not that much difference in the price of ins. for teenage boys vs. teenage girls.

 

[Serena]

My insurance co has said that our insurance will double when my dd is able to drive. But we have to call, they won't automatically add her.

 

[luvdzny]

Our DS has he own car that he is rated on. It is a '95 Saturn. I am sure it would be higher if he had to be rated on my van or DH's truck because they are newer and more expensive. Some insurance companies give "Good Student Discounts" to student that maintain a certain GPA. That helps to bring the cost down a bit. It is expensive, that's for sure!!!!

 

[thinkerbell]

My son is 17. We also had to call to add him to our policy. His insurance is $1200 a year but he is driving our least expensive vehicle. He also has a lower rating because he has good student discount.