If you have a teen driver in your household, you know it can be a stressful time when they are ready to hit the road. The best way to make sure they are safe when on the road is to make sure they are insured while out on the road.

Most people choose to add their teen drivers to an already established policy. This is usually the simplest way to make sure they are insured and can save money if bundled properly. It is a rare occasion that you will want to have a separate policy for your teen driver, but in some cases it might be a better decision. For example, if you have an expensive vehicle that has an expensive policy, it could be cheaper for the teen to be on a separate policy of their own. It is a rarity for a teen to be on a different policy but this is one occasion you might consider it.

Why Insurance Matters

Before anyone can drive in New York, it is mandatory that the vehicle must be insured. New York requires residual liability insurance, personal injury protection, and uninsured coverage. It is required that all drivers have liability insurance and include fatality coverage as well as personal injury protection. The liability insurance minimums are as follows:

-$10,000 for property damage for a single accident

-$25,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for death for a person involved in an accident

-$50,000 for bodily injury and $100,000 for death for two or more people in an accident

It is imperative that you register your vehicle with the DMV within 180 days of your insurance start date. You’ll need to bring a copy of your insurance card to register your vehicle and keep one copy in your vehicle at all times. It is important that insurance and registration remain in the vehicle for anyone driving the vehicle, even if they are not the owner of the car.

Once a teen has a learner’s permit they are only allowed to drive with a licensed driver who is at least 21 years old. In New York City, the driver must be supervised by a parent or instructor and the vehicle must have controls for the driver and supervisor. Another positive to adding a teen to an active policy, is they will have access to the policy benefits like roadside assistance if included in the policy without adding anything additional to the policy. 

Contact Us Today! 

If you have a teen driver who is getting ready to hit the road, it’s important they be included on an insurance policy or have one of their own. We want to make sure your teens are safe and covered, so reach out to Willoughby Insurance in Buffalo, NY today!