New driver's licence: Insuring young drivers
In a selfie taken today, your smiling teen shows you her learner’s licence. You’ll be at her side when she takes the wheel and you trust her. But you need to insure her first kilometres in your car. Here’s when and how to do it.
Insure your children as they learn to drive
Does your car insurance cover your teens while they learn to drive? Find out before they take the wheel either with you by their side or alone in your car.
Otherwise, in the event of an accident (at-fault or not), your insurance company could impose certain conditions if a claim is filed. It could even deny your claim if you haven’t notified it that there are new drivers using the car.
A learner's licence and insurance
A learner's licence entitles a person to drive when accompanied by someone who has held a permanent, valid driver's licence for at least two years.
It mandates a curfew: Your teenager cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m. In addition, this licence must have fewer than four demerit points. With regard to blood alcohol levels, the zero-tolerance rule applies.
If your teenager commits an offence, the police will fine your child, not you, and assign any demerit points to him or her.
Your insurance company
Notify your car insurance company: It must be informed that your teenager obtained his or her learner's licence and will drive only under your supervision. His or her name will be added to your insurance policy as an occasional driver. The premium rate will then be adjusted according to various factors, such as your child’s age.
Probationary licences
When your child passes the road test, he or she will obtain a probationary licence for 24 months. As with a learner’s licence, this licence must also have fewer than 4 demerit points and includes the zero-tolerance rule for alcohol consumption.
At this stage, your teenager can now drive alone, and will undoubtedly borrow your car.
Keep your insurance company posted!
If your teenager drives your car, whether frequently or not, have his or her name on your insurance policy to cover the additional risk. You may pay a slightly higher rate, but you’ll have peace of mind (and so will your child).
Now that your car insurance is all set, practise remaining calm when your offspring makes mistakes at the wheel...it’s par for the course!