Can You Get Car Insurance With a Permit?
Key takeaways
- Drivers with a learner’s permit can get car insurance regardless of their age.
- Some car insurance companies let learner drivers be on their parents’ policy while they have a permit.
- Almost all states require drivers to carry at least liability auto insurance.
How to get learner driver insurance
- Get added to a parent or guardian’s current car insurance policy
- Buy your own car insurance policy
If you want to get added to someone else’s policy, the process is often as simple as having them contact their car insurance company and ask to have you added to the policy as a driver with a learner’s permit. Most insurers will then ask for information like the current policy number, your name and your learner’s permit number.
If you have a learner’s permit and own a car in your name, or if you live by yourself, you will have to buy your own car insurance.
Do learner drivers need car insurance?
Adding a learner driver to your auto insurance may cause your premium to go up with some insurers. If this is the case with your current company, compare car insurance quotes from other companies to see if you can save money.
What car insurance does a learner driver need?
States do not require you to carry full-coverage car insurance, but if your car is financed, your lender will likely require full coverage as part of the lending agreement.
Your state’s minimum car insurance limits may not be enough if you cause an accident that results in extensive medical bills or court costs. Consider raising your coverage limits to what your budget can handle to avoid financial stress after an accident.
How much does learner permit car insurance cost?
Car insurance for teens is often expensive because of their lack of driving experience. This is true whether a teen buys their own car insurance or they’re added to a parent’s policy.
Parents in Oregon pay an average of 284% more for car insurance after adding a child to their car insurance, for example. Still, adding a child to your current policy should be cheaper than if you had separate policies. Make sure to compare car insurance quotes from several companies to get the cheapest rate for you and your child.
Car insurance rates with a child driver by company
| Company | Parent only | Parent w/ 16-year-old | Cost difference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Allstate | $2,032 | $6,149 | $4,117 |
 | American Family | $937 | $4,477 | $3,540 |
 | Mutual of Enumclaw | $1,076 | $4,365 | $3,289 |
 | Farmers | $1,614 | $7,040 | $5,426 |
 | Geico | $1,374 | $4,200 | $2,826 |
 | Nationwide | $1,271 | $5,747 | $4,476 |
 | Progressive | $764 | $2,486 | $1,722 |
 | State Farm | $711 | $3,166 | $2,455 |
 | Travelers | $1,187 | $5,789 | $4,602 |
 | USAA* | $704 | $2,097 | $1,393 |
How can I save money on car insurance for a learner driver?
There are many discounts aimed at young drivers, such as:
- Good student: If your child maintains a 3.0 grade point average, they could qualify for a discount.
- Away at school: If your child attends school a certain distance from home, often 100 miles, and leaves their parent’s car at home, they may get this discount.
- Safe driver: There are discounts available if your child completes a certified safe driver course.