Because a 17-year-old person is a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the car insurance policy that is issued to them. This means that parents will be responsible for what happens when their teen driver is behind the wheel. Yes, a 17-year-old can almost always take out car insurance, but being a minor, a parent or guardian will normally be asked to co-sign the policy. Teens 18 and older can purchase an auto insurance policy on their own in almost every state.
Most insurance providers offer discounts to students who can maintain good grades in school. Every car insurance company has its requirements, so check with your company to see if your 17-year-old child qualifies. Some of the top companies that offer good student discounts are Allstate, Geico and Nationwide, to name a few. In addition, other individual qualifying factors influence your car insurance premium, such as the make and model of the vehicle, the number of miles traveled annually, and the history of car claims.
This can vary depending on the insurer, so the best way to be sure is to contact your insurance company and let them know that a teen with a learner's permit will drive a car covered by their policy. The table below illustrates the average annual premium for car insurance with full coverage for 17-year-olds by state. However, if they live in your house and drive your car, they must remain on your family car insurance policy. Insurance companies can include in their policy premium the driving history of anyone of driving age who resides in the insured's home.
That said, buying an individual car insurance policy for an 18-year-old driver is much more expensive than adding it to family coverage. The best way to determine if your particular state has any regulations regarding the minimum age for buying an auto insurance policy is to contact your state's insurance regulator. While you can title a car in the name of a minor, a license plate cannot be issued without proof of the vehicle's liability insurance. Since car insurance can be expensive for 17-year-old drivers, finding a cheap car insurance company may also be important.
In addition, each insurance company will have their own rules about who is eligible to purchase insurance. A 17-year-old can get car insurance in most states, but as a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the policy with you. Male drivers aged 16 and 18 also pay more for car insurance than their female counterparts.
