While there are no laws governing who should provide car insurance for teens after a divorce, it’s a question that many families across the country must deal with. Divorce can be a difficult process and it can be hard to agree on anything. Car insurance is not usually one of the hot button issues, but it could help the overall situation to take some time to agree on how it will work for your family going forward.
Let’s look at some of the issues facing divorced families with teenage drivers.
The Basics of Auto Insurance
One point of confusion when it comes to auto insurance is the question of whether the insurance covers the car or the driver. The answer isn’t very helpful: it depends.
Liability coverages, such as bodily injury and property damage, follow the person who is insured if they drive someone else’s car. It can also cover your car If you let someone borrow it with your permission and they have an accident. This is in contrast to comprehensive coverage, which usually follows the vehicle.
How To Cover Your Teen Driver After Divorce
The most common recommendation for providing car insurance for teens after a divorce is to add them to one of their parent’s policies. It is not a good idea to get your teen their own auto insurance policy, and in fact, may be impossible given the degree of risk a new driver poses for the insurance company. Even if your teen can get their own policy, the cost may be astronomical.
A more cost-effective method for getting your child insured is to add them to your, or your ex-spouse’s, auto insurance policy. Which parent takes this on, and how the cost is covered, must be handled on a personal level and may require some negotiations with your ex.
Keeping Rates Down
It is well known how expensive auto insurance is for young drivers. This is mostly because of their lack of experience (and their tendency to drive fast!). If you are the parent who will be paying the auto insurance to cover your new teen driver, you’ll want to do whatever you can to keep the rate down. Here are few ways you might be able to make your monthly premium more affordable:
- Have your teen take a defensive driving course
- Make sure your teen gets good grades
- Educate your teen on good driving habits
- Shop around
Do you need some help looking for car insurance for teens after a divorce? Comparing quotes for your teen driver is the best way to keep your rates down. We know the process can be frustrating. So, give the InsuranceWins form a try. You’ll automatically get quotes from companies you know, and you can use it to find affordable auto insurance for your teen after a divorce.
