My claim was denied because I didn’t list my daughter

I had a pretty minor fender-bender, but decided to make the claim and got denied. National General said it was because I have a 13-year-old, but she won't even be driving for a couple more years. I don't get it.

That’s frustrating, and you aren't alone in your experience. Insurance companies, including National General, base your policy on everyone who lives in your household, not just the people who actually drive. They want to know about all household members because anyone with regular access to the car could, in theory, drive it (even if they don’t have a license yet).

When someone isn’t listed, the company can treat that as “material misrepresentation” (basically, missing information that could affect risk), which sometimes gives them grounds to deny or reduce a claim. It’s not that they think your 13-year-old is secretly taking joyrides, it’s just how underwriting rules are written.

Here’s what to do next:

• Ask for a written explanation of the denial, and double-check if it was labeled “non-disclosure” or “rating issue.”
• Submit an appeal or review request, especially since your daughter is a minor and unlicensed. Some insurers will reconsider when you show proof she doesn’t drive.
• Talk to your local agent (if you have one) about how to correctly list household members moving forward (sometimes you can mark them as “excluded” or “non-drivers” to avoid this exact issue).
• And if you’re unhappy with how it was handled, file a complaint with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. They review cases where denials seem excessive or unclear.
  

If this whole thing has you thinking about switching, The Zebra’s agents can compare companies that are more flexible about household members, so you don’t get tripped up by the same rule again.