If your child has just received his/her learner’s permit and is going to be driving your car, you must add them to your car insurance policy before their first stint behind the wheel. In the majority of cases, in order to be covered, state law requires that anyone operating a vehicle must be named on that vehicle’s insurance policy. Also, insurance companies will usually require that you list all household members who drive the car, no matter how seldom, on your insurance policy.

If you decide you want to add your son or daughter on to your car insurance policy, there are a few details you need to note. First, different states have widely varied requirements for the amount of coverage that is needed to be within the limits of the law. Also, every car insurance company will likely have different procedures for dealing with adding another person onto a policy. Finally, it is important to note that once a new individual is added to your policy, the price of your insurance will likely increase.

To add your child to your car insurance policy, you must first call your insurance company or agent and inform them of your wishes. They will then ask you to provide details about your child, usually including, but not limited to: date of birth, gender, social security number and any accident history that may be present. This accident history may need to be as long as five years, depending on the state and the insurer’s policies.

The auto insurance company representative will then provide you with a revised policy quote that will remain your premium cost until the added driver is removed. If the increase is dramatic, you may opt for a higher deductible in order to keep premium costs down. If you accept the revised premium and okay the changes, the representative will add your child to the policy and will update the information on your account that will show up on your next bill.