Do You Need Insurance to Have Your Learners Permit?

With most insurance issues, there is no single answer that applies to everyone, everywhere. This is true about insuring people with learner's permits before they are officially licensed. Each state treats the issue differently and insurers may have different policies about it even within a single state. Follow some general guidelines to keep yourself protected as you or your family member learns to drive for the first time.

Getting a Permit

In many places, the process of obtaining a permit and using it on the road are two different things. Depending on the state you live in, you may not need to show proof of insurance simply to obtain a learner's permit. In North Carolina, for example, if you do not have an insured vehicle when you get your permit, the state puts a restriction on your driving privilege that you must pay to remove when you get and insure a vehicle of your own.

Driving With a Permit

You must comply with your state's laws regarding insurance when you get behind the wheel of a car with your learner's permit. Most states require their drivers to carry at least a minimum amount of liability insurance. If you live somewhere that does not require this, you can drive without insurance, though having a valid policy is a good idea nonetheless. You are not exempt from your state's financial responsibility laws simply because you only carry a permit. You can still cause damage with your vehicle.

Insurer Policies

You must have a valid insurance policy to protect you when you drive in most states. If you live on your own, you have to buy a policy to protect you. If other people in your household already have insurance, your insurer may require them to modify the policy to cover you or it may not. Some companies automatically cover a policyholder's children with learner's permits. Others offer automatic coverage for up to 30 days after someone gets a permit and make you pay after that. Still others won't cover a permitted driver at all unless he is specifically listed and someone pays appropriate premiums.

Discounts

If you live somewhere that requires insurance and your insurer makes you pay for coverage while you have your permit, look for ways to keep your costs low. Insurance companies charge high premiums for inexperienced drivers because, statistically, they tend to cause more damage while they are learning. Your state's motor vehicle department or even your insurer itself may offer safety courses you can take that will discount your policy premiums. If you are a student, your insurer might also offer a discount if you maintain good grades.

References

• North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles: Applying for a Driver License or Learner Permit?
• Cheaper Car Insurance: Do I Need Car Insurance if I Have a Learner's Permit?
• Insurance Providers: Do You Need Car Insurance With a Learner's Permit?
• Car Insurance Comparison.com: Do You Need Car Insurance When You Have a Learner's Permit?