Adding a teen driver

The risk point people skip

Your premium going up is the change you notice. The change that matters is that an accident caused by a driver in your household can reach your assets through a liability claim.

If there was ever a moment to check whether your liability limits are adequate, it's now — not after. Our coverage calculator compares your limits against what you'd have at risk.

How insurers usually rate a young driver

Practices vary by carrier, but a few patterns hold and are worth asking about directly.

• Which vehicle the teen is assigned to affects the premium — often more than people expect
• A permit holder may or may not need listing; ask, don't assume
• Good student status is commonly recognised
• Driver training and state-approved courses often count
• A student away at school without a car may qualify for a reduced rate

Tell your insurer promptly

Add them when they're licensed rather than waiting for renewal. An unlisted household driver can create a coverage argument at claim time, and that's a far more expensive problem than the premium you were avoiding.

The conversation that lowers risk more than any discount

Agreements made before the keys change hands work better than rules introduced after an incident.

• Phones away — agreed explicitly, not assumed
• Passenger limits in the first months
• Expectations about night driving
• What to do after any collision, however minor
• That calling for a lift is always fine, no questions asked