Question for Officers of the Law...

[RiverDog]

...especially in Florida. Maybe you can help me win an argumant my wife and I have been having.

My son has his learner's permit and I'm teaching him to drive. The wife says I should take him out on the road and let him drive. He's not insured and I can't afford to put him on the policy right now. I told her he shouldn't be driving without insurance. She says he doesn't need it until he gets his license.

What do you say? Is he covered since he's in the car with me?

And by the way I want to add that I really appreciate the great job you men and women do out there every day. Thanks!

[getbent]

ask your insurance agent.

[sean79]

Yep, ask your agent. I know that my boy was covered in my cars under my policy when he had his learner's permit - my agent told me that we didn't have to add him to the policy until he had his real driver's license.

[Hackguitarist]

Our old INS company charged for our older son once he got his permit. Our current does not for our younger son. Not until he passes the driving test, as in passes in the car with the State testing person on the road. So you need to ask, also, when parents are seperated and living at different addresses etc., some state's law are different too if I recall correctly [my brother's experience].

[dijos]

technically, since you are the licensed person, his accident would go on your record. I'm pretty sure that he needs to be insured on your policy if you would like coverage.

[sax4blues]

Originally Posted by dijos

technically, since you are the licensed person, his accident would go on your record.

Not true in California, a person can get a ticket or be responsible for and accident even if they don't have their license yet. It is the vehicle operator that has their driving record affected. So if you borrow my car, cause an accident, my insurance will pay, and your driving record will be affected.

You need to ask your insurance company, this is not a law issue. The law says that the owner of the vehicle must have insurance on the vehicle. Each insurance company decides if they are going to charge a premium when kids get a permit. Some companies even start charging when the kid is 15 regardless of permit. The company I work for does not charge until the kid gets the license.

[vinman]

The car is insured, not the driver. Like sax4blues pointed out, if I borrow your car and have an accident, your insurance will pay. Not mine. I'm not insured, the vehicle is. It then becomes a question between friends on who pays the deductible if applicable.
The car OWNER is on the line for it, but morally who pays it is between the owner and the driver.
The driver's record will not be affected unless he is summoned for a violation or arrested for DUI or something like that.
I worked in crimnal court, so I didn't see much of vehicle law, but I believe or I should say IMO, that as long as the licensed driver with the person with the permit is the legal parent or guardian, then everything is cool both with the law and the insurance company. (cool = not a legal term)

[tazzboy]

Check with insurance first before you do so and get in trouble with both insurance and law.

[squierking]

Originally Posted by vinman

The car is insured, not the driver. Like sax4blues pointed out, if I borrow your car and have an accident, your insurance will pay. Not mine. I'm not insured, the vehicle is. It then becomes a question between friends on who pays the deductible if applicable.
The car OWNER is on the line for it, but morally who pays it is between the owner and the driver.
The driver's record will not be affected unless he is summoned for a violation or arrested for DUI or something like that.
I worked in crimnal court, so I didn't see much of vehicle law, but I believe or I should say IMO, that as long as the licensed driver with the person with the permit is the legal parent or guardian, then everything is cool both with the law and the insurance company. (cool = not a legal term)

The same is true in South Carolina. The car is insured, not the driver. As has been suggested before always consult with your insurance agent to be on the safe side.

[RiverDog]

Thanks everyone. I did ask the insurance company. They said he needs to be on the policy but I had the feeling they were just saying that to get more money out of me. I know it sounds silly but I didn't trust them.

When my daughter moved back in I called for a different reason and when I mentioned her they were going to add her to the policy even though I told them not to. They said I couldn't have a licensed driver in the house without insurance. I almost got in an argument with the woman. Maybe that's why I don't trust them about this subject.

Thanks. I guess I'll call them again. I really thought it came down to state/local law instead of the insurance company.

[Wardpike]

Check with the DMV too!

[sax4blues]

Originally Posted by RiverDog

Thanks everyone. I did ask the insurance company. They said he needs to be on the policy but I had the feeling they were just saying that to get more money out of me. I know it sounds silly but I didn't trust them.

When my daughter moved back in I called for a different reason and when I mentioned her they were going to add her to the policy even though I told them not to. They said I couldn't have a licensed driver in the house without insurance. I almost got in an argument with the woman. Maybe that's why I don't trust them about this subject.

Thanks. I guess I'll call them again. I really thought it came down to state/local law instead of the insurance company.

You are doing business with the insurance company, not the law. Again different companies have different rules. It is not a matter of trust, of course they want to get paid for the coverage they provide. If your daughter NEVER drives your cars then you do not need to add her, but... you will need to sign an exclusion, meaning there is no coverage if she drives any of your cars. The problem with an exclusion is if she drives just once and causes an accident and heaven forbid someone is injured, you will not have any coverage, because... you did not want to pay for coverage.

Now if she has her own car, and is paying for her own insurance with any company, then your company should not charge you for her because that would be double charging.

[getbent]

thanks for the explanations sax4blues... I learned a lot from this thread. My daughter is just getting her learner's permit in a few weeks... I think we're all set, but I didn't know all of that! Thanks!

[garytelecastor]

River Dog- I am going to point out something a little to a 45 degree angle.
When a boy or girl get their permit it is a big milestone in their life. They look forward to it for years. I know you did, and I know that I certainly did. My father never paid for insurance so we could get the training that we needed to learn how to drive. To this day it still bothers me.
If you can anyway arrange it, buy the insurance, obtain the insurance, beg borrow or steal the insurance.
This is more than education for your son. Many years from now you will look back on this and think to yourself "man, it was only $XXX why didn't I pay for it?" Trust me.
I still get good memories of the first time I took my son out for his first drive. Very cool.

[P Thought]

Originally Posted by garytelecastor

I still get good memories of the first time I took my son out for his first drive. Very cool.

I remember sons' first drives, daughters' too. I came back looking like garytelecastor's avatar!

[TJNY]

Find a business location with a large parking lot and practice there on off hours. They can learn how to park, stop, turn and everything else without being a danger to anyone else. You can even practice parallel parking if you bring some cones or something similar. Once your confident that they have acquired the necessary skills, then introduce them to the road......