1. Can you get auto insurance with just a learner's permit?
Auto Insurance Required for Learners Permit?
Yes, you can. A Drivers or Learners "Permit" is permission to drive and therefore a temporary license with certain restrictions.
You can obtain your own auto insurance or you can be covered under someone else's policy such as your parents or the vehicle owners policy, but you must have coverage. If you are a minor and want your own policy, due to the limitations of contract law your parent or legal guardian will need to countersign your insurance application for it to be legally binding.
A Drivers Permit comes with all the responsibilities of anyone licensed or not who operates a motor vehicle on public roads, including our financial responsibility. No state provides exemption from Financial Responsibility Laws for minors or permitted drivers.
2. Are you covered by a family member's insurance when driving their car?
Coverage under a Family Members car Insurance
If you are a listed, scheduled driver on your relatives insurance policy then yes you are covered. If you are not a scheduled driver then maybe you will be covered and Maybe you will not.
An unscheduled driver can be covered for some types of claims so long as the permissive use was not in violation of the law or the insuring contract. In most cases if your friend across the street or relative from out of town, the occasional unexpected driver then yes you would be covered under permissive use rules and the owners liability under a standard form policy. If you are a household resident family member or a regular operator then you are required to be scheduled on the policy for coverage. Regulations will vary by state in the U.S.
Some of the new low cost "Named Driver" policy offerings though economical for some, may not extend coverage to unscheduled drivers at all. Hence the policy form name. So make sure your getting the best coverage you can afford.
It's a good idea to review coverage from time to time, make sure it's the right coverage for you now and the foreseeable future. If economy was an issue when you purchased your last policy, when finances allow you may want to address any under-insured exposures and adjust limits to cover the reality of new risks or assets and other net worth exposures.
Call and ask questions if needed like the company policy on occasional and additional drivers, visiting guest and family members etc. Ask about Available coverage limits and policy upgrades with enhanced limits matching real asset and income protection exposures rather than state minimums. Accident claims often exceed state minimum limits leaving an insured exposed to future liens for losses beyond the policy limits.
Check on the latest offerings to make sure your getting their best rate plan and all available discounts for the coverage you need. They can also help you make sure all driver risks you face are properly covered.
