Why is my son's driving record still hurting my insurance rates?

When my son lived at home, he racked up 12 tickets while he was on our policy. My insurance went from $100 a month to almost $650 because of his record. He hasn't lived at home in three years now. He's got a wife, kids, and somehow drives company vehicles for work (how? No clue). Can I remove his record from our history so I can get back to an affordable rate?

If your son hasn't lived in your household for three years, you should be able to remove him from your policy, and your rates will probably drop significantly afterward. A jump from $100 to $650 a month is substantial, and his ticket history is likely the main driver.

Insurance companies base your premium partly on who lives in your home and has regular access to your vehicles. And in Indiana, like most states, insurers can require that all licensed household members be listed. Once someone establishes their own residence, that requirement no longer applies to them. When your son was listed on your policy, his driving record (with all 12 tickets) was factored directly into your rate.

Now that he has his own household, he's no longer considered a member of yours, which gives you solid grounds to remove his name. Call your insurer, explain that he moved out years ago and has his own residence, and ask to have him excluded from the policy. They may ask for proof of his address, like a utility bill or lease, just to verify.

Once he's off, your rate should reflect your driving history, not his. How much it drops depends on your own record and your insurer's specific guidelines, but removing a high-risk driver from a policy can make a dramatic difference.

Once you've made the change, it's worth shopping around to see if you can get a better rate elsewhere. Removing a high-risk driver is a good opportunity to compare quotes and make sure you're still getting the best deal.

One last thing: just make sure he has his own car insurance in place before you remove him, so there's no gap in his coverage (a lapse could make his rates even higher).