My teenage daughter just got her student license here in South Dakota, and did okay in her driving classes at school. Now, she wants to drive our car! Do I need to get separate car insurance for her?

Kate

Sioux Falls, SD

Hi, Kate, they grow up so fast don’t they? My suggestion to you would be to get on the phone with your car insurance agent in South Dakota and ask him about the specifics of your policy. For most car insurance providers, your daughter should automatically be covered under your car insurance policy. Since you have insured the vehicle, anyone who drives that vehicle should automatically be covered.

However, each car insurance company differs in their rules and specifications. Some will require you to have your daughter listed down under your policy as well to ensure her coverage. You need not get a separate policy for her since she doesn’t have her own car yet and she only has a learner’s permit and not a full fledged driver’s license.

Did you know that teenage accidents occur more than accidents involving adults? Not that I’m trying to scare you, but this may be a good time to review your car insurance policy and determine whether you have enough coverage. Take into account the costs you may have to pay for out of your own pocket should an accident happen. Most states only require liability insurance coverage, so if this is all you got, maybe you’d like to add some comprehensive insurance or collision damage insurance, as well.

I would like to know if a motorist with a restricted minors permit required to have their own car insurance or are they covered under their parents insurance policy until they receive their unrestricted operators permit? While having an instructional permit they are covered by the parents insurance policy so I would to know if this is the same once they get their restricted minors permit.

Allan

Sioux Falls, SD

For car insurance, the South Dakota law state by the SD Division of Insurance states that any individual who licenses and/or operates a motor vehicle must show proof of financial responsibility (FR). Financial Responsibility is typically shown through acquiring a car insurance policy having at least the state’s minimum requirements.

Your parent’s insurance provider needs to be notified of your licensing status. The insurance company will then tell your parents if you will need to be added to the insurance policy as a motorist or if you are covered as the insurance policy currently stands.

You can normally be added to their South Dakota car insurance policy and do not need to have your own separate insurance policy. If you get your own car, then at that point you would need to find out if it could be added to your parent’s policy or if you would need to get your own policy