Texas teen auto insurance
Reader’s Question:
Can I have my own insurance in TX if I only have a learner’s permit and Im only 15 years old?
Nicole
Thank you for asking Nicole
Young drivers in Texas must comply with the state’s financial responsibility laws, just as older mtorists do. Most young drivers, have the option of satisfying their legal requirements by being added to their parents’ car insurance policy.
It is very expensive to add a young driver to an insurance policy, but it’s cheaper than taking out a separate auto policy. If you want to be insured by your parent’s insurance compnay then they must discuss adding you to insurance policy with their auto insurance agent.
If however you want your own insurance policy it may be possible with just a permit but some insurance carrier will require a fully licensed driver to be on the insurance policy with you. In addition to that, a 15 year old minor you will need a parent or guardian to sign the insurance documents/contract with you.
Most companies would want you to be able to upgrade your learner’s permit first by acquiring a full license within a short period of time after the start of your insurance policy as well if you are trying to take out the policy on your own.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Texas non owner sr22
Reader’s Question:
My insurance carrier will not cover my son in the policy. Can I get a non owners instead?
Bill
Thank you for asking Bill.
It doesn’t look like a non-owners policy would be of much help to your son. A non-owners insurance policy would only cover any liability that is incurred by the insured. If a driver is excluded on a policy then he should not operate any motor vehicle in the household, even with a non-owners policy.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, you can sometimes remove a teen-aged driver or adult child living at home from your insurance policy by acquiring a non-owner policy, however this is not a good idea. A non-owner policy only provides additional liability insurance when operating a non-owned vehicle.
It is also noted that if your child got involved in an accident while driving your car, neither your policy nor the non-owner policy will pay for the damages. This is because the child is excluded from your insurance policy and his non-owners is only for providing additional (excess) liability, if the primary insurance is not paying on the damages caused by the accident then the non-owners would not typically pay either.
I would suggest that you find a company that will cover the 21 year old on the policy with you and at the same time provide cheap insurance policy for you. You may start shopping for cheap insurance policy in the net by checking individual websites that will provide a policy including your son.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
insurance non owner Texas
Reader’s Question:
I was required to carry an sr22 in TX but I do not own a vehicle. I just want to know why.
Paul
Thank you for asking Paul.
Most of the times an SR-22 is required of a drivers after being convicted of certain infractions of the law and especially at the time the driver wants to get their license reinstated or restored.
If the state isn’t mandating you to carry an SR22, you don’t need to buy an SR22. Whether you are going to drive or own a car, it does not matter if the state is requiring that you acquire an SR22 as a condition of your license being reinstated. The SR22 is showing that you will have future financial responsibility if you do operate a vehicle.
If you do not own a vehicle and you are mandated to get a SR-22 you should be able to get a non-owner SR-22 policy.
To find out on why you specifically are being required to carry a SR-22 you would need to contact the Texas DPS or other TX agency that has informed you that this financial responsibility form is required of you.
Goodluck!
MariCAR