You are here

Teenage Driver- Who pays?

CommittedMomma's picture

My SS has his restricted license. We haven't had to put him in our insurance yet but when we do, is that a cost that should be shared with his BM?
At this point, DH doesn't want SS to be driving while visiting his BM because we aren't sure how or by whom an accident or ticket would be covered by. How have y'all dealt with this?

Comments

Stupidlyoptimistic's picture

I would say it depends on whether or not he has his own car. If so, I would think splitting the cost would be the logical answer. If he doesn't, and he would be borrowing either parent's car, each should have him added to their own car insurance. Ideally, he should pay for his own car insurance, regardless. I paid for mine when I started driving. It really helped me to understand thar driving was a privilege, not a right or entitlement. JMO

GoodbyeNormaJean's picture

Why is anyone else responsible for his insurance? He can carry his own policy, and he can pay for it. If not, he'd wait til he can to drive at my house. I don't pay for the kids' insurance. Driving is a privalage.

CommittedMomma's picture

Do you help provide a vehicle then? We are in a rural area where it is very common for kids to be driving at 15 or 16 years of age. Most of them are driving tractors and combines before then!

I really thought kids legally had to be on their parents policy, too. I need to look into that further.

floridianmama's picture

When my son turns 16 I will buy him the car but he has to work to cover the insurance. He will be on his own policy. I don't have to worry about this in my particular state but in many states if he's in an accident and he's on your insurance you can lose your home if he was at fault.

evilstepmotherJ's picture

We went through this with SD and we fought tooth and nail. SD lives with us, immediately upon receiving her drivers license (not permit) she has to go on one of the cars in the household (we put her on husbands). If she has an accident she is covered because she is listed as an occasional driver on hubby's car. We did not let her get her license until she promised to pay her share of the insurance. BM whined and argued for months - wanted to put SD on her car but that would not be legal in our state. Thankfully BM bought her a car and put it in SD's name so now SD has car in her name and policy in her name.

PS...be sure to set liability limits HIGH, BM wanted them at 15/30/15 (our states minimum), took a ton of explaining to BM that if SD hits a new car worth $25,000 that 15/30/15 isn't going to go far enough to cover new car.

Sweet T's picture

In our state the parent with primary custody ( the home where the kid lives) pays for the car insurance. I would be damned if we would pick up part of BM's insurance ever. SS knows if he wants a car he needs to get a job to pay for it.

Jsmom's picture

If you have full custody, you pay for the insurance. We have one kid with BM and one with us. We pay for ours and she pays for hers. Both kids have cars. Our expectation is good grades to use it. No expectations for SD with BM.

My BS was not allowed to take the car to college. Not paying the increase in insurance or fees. Maybe next year, but that is only if he has a work study program...

I do believe the kid pays for his own gas and parents maintain the vehicle, but all of this is dependent on B average.

CommittedMomma's picture

Thank you everyone for your replies!! I think the best idea is to help him purchase an older but we'll maintained vehicle then let him pay his own insurance and gas. He can ask his BM for help if he wants but that would be better we n he and her.