Can I get car insurance with just a learner’s permit?
Yes, you can get car insurance with just a learner’s permit or provisional license. This is fortunate given all drivers, even those just learning to drive, must have the minimum insurance coverage required by their state. You can also purchase and register a vehicle without your full license.
Getting a learner’s permit can be an exciting first step toward adulthood, but it also comes with responsibility. Below, we outline how drivers with permits can ensure they get appropriate coverage without breaking the bank.
Do I need to add my child to my car insurance policy?
If they are using your vehicle, yes.
The gray area of insurance often occurs when someone of driving age lives in your listed residence and has access to your vehicle. Often times, insurance companies will require you to add or exclude any of-age driver from your policy.
It’s never a good idea to assume anything about your insurance company. If you or your teen has just received your learner’s permit, make sure you speak to your insurer about your situation. If you assume they’re covered and they’re not, you run the risk of having a claim denied or running into legal issues.
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Relative cost savings. While you’ll see a significant increase to your insurance premium, it’s likely less than if you were paying for two separate policies.
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Relative cost savings. While you’ll see a significant increase to your insurance premium, it’s likely less than if you were paying for two separate policies.
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Ensured coverage. Assuming your child is covered on your current plan without checking with your insurer can lead to denied claims and other penalties.
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Additional discount eligibility. Good student, etc.
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Increased cost compared with when you were just paying for your own. Although, it’s still less than if you paid for two separate policies.
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Your child’s driving mistakes can affect your rates. If your child has an accident, it can impact your personal rates for 3-5 years.
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Potential loss of current discounts. Check with your insurer to see how adding your child will affect your eligibility for various discounts.
Drivers under the age of 18 can’t typically have their own policy. As you can see with the data below, even when teens are finally eligible for their own, it’s usually much cheaper to stay on their parents’ policy.
| Policy | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Adult + 1 Teen Driver | $417 | $2,503 |
| 1 Adult | $183 | $1,100 |
Check out our article discussing when children should stay on their parents’ car insurance policy for additional information.
Cheap companies for young drivers
As we stated, whether or not you need to be added to your parent’s or significant others’ policy will depend on the company and unique situation. Thus, it’s difficult to give car insurance quotes for companies. However, we skipped ahead to the next step of your driving life and created a user profile where a licensed teen was added to their parent’s policy. Here, we can see that, all other metrics constant, GEICO and Progressive were the cheapest companies for families with young drivers. Remember, comparing quotes is the best way to ensure you are getting the lowest price on auto insurance, whether you have a permit or are fully licensed.
| Parent Age | Company | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | Allstate | $690 | $4,140 |
| 50 | State Farm | $622 | $3,730 |
| 50 | Nationwide | $496 | $2,973 |
| 50 | Progressive | $473 | $2,840 |
| 50 | Farmers | $464 | $2,782 |
| 50 | USAA | $441 | $2,648 |
| 50 | GEICO | $419 | $2,517 |
Discounts for drivers with permits
While young drivers may face higher rates overall, there are ways to save money on your insurance policy. Have a look at the following discounts that can help you save money on your insurance rates.
Being a student with good grades can oftentimes lead to reduced rates. This is often stipulated at a B average or above.
Safe driving and keeping a clean driving record can often save you money.
Taking a course — like drivers ed — can lower your auto insurance rates in many cases.
Drivers permit insurance considerations
You should consider our data as a starting point and not a strict rule. While insurance companies use driving age and years of experience as major rating factors, every company will view you differently and thus charge you differently.
It’s important you be upfront about your or your child’s learner permit status. Most auto insurance companies allow first-time drivers with permits to be added to the plan of a parent or significant other. Once they become a licensed driver, however, it’s likely that rates will go up.
Whether you are a permit driver or have a full license, your best bet for finding an affordable policy is to regularly shop around for car insurance quotes. The Zebra can help you find a car insurance policy that is right for you and your family’s needs.
What’s the best coverage in each state?
This really depends on what your priorities are in a car insurance company. Is a cheap rate the most important thing, or is great customer service more valuable to you? Because young drivers’ rates are so pricey, sometimes the cost wins out over other factors when you’ve got teen drivers. Whichever quality is most important to you in an auto insurance carrier, the best way to save is to compare multiple quotes from several different companies.
Check out your state on the table below to see some options for insurance providers in your area.
