How Long Can You Stay on Your Parents' Car Insurance Policy?

When do you age out of your family's car insurance?

Unlike health insurance, you do not “age out” of an auto insurance policy. As long as you reside at the listed residence on the insurance policy — your family's house — and use their vehicles, you will remain eligible for coverage.

Let’s review some unique circumstances and some ways to save on car insurance as a young driver.

1. When to stay on your parents’ policy
2. How to get your own insurance policy at your parents’ house
3. When you can't stay on your parents’ policy

When you can stay on your parents’ auto insurance policy?

You remain eligible for coverage on your parents’ policy if you still live with them full-time. If you’re worried about increasing your parents’ bill, below are cost-cutting solutions worth considering.

Avoid insurance claims

Rate increases can have major impacts on your and your parents’ insurance premiums. If you’re not sure of whether or not to file an auto insurance claim, follow our guide below:

1. Get an estimate for repairs.
2. Use The Zebra's State of Insurance analysis to see how much an at-fault accident — a collision claim — would increase rates in your state. Consider this figure over a three-year duration — that is how long your insurance company could continue to charge you.
3. Compare the out-of-pocket expense with the rate increase plus your deductible. If it is cheaper to file a claim, do so.

Example: You damage your vehicle and cause $1,700 worth of repairs. In California, an at-fault claim on your insurance premium will raise your rates $379 every six months. Over three years, this will increase your overall payments by $2,274. If you have a collision deductible of $500, your overall cost for filing a claim will be $2,774. Compared to the $1,700 repair costs, it is actually $1,074 cheaper to cover the repairs yourself.

Bear in mind, there are circumstances in which you cannot do this. If you damage someone else’s vehicle and they prefer to file a claim through insurance, you are out of luck. Furthermore, many companies require you to report any damage or accidents. While this will not have as large of a financial impact, it can increase your rates.

Be smart with your coverage

If your vehicle is worth less than $4,000, consider carrying only liability insurance. Comprehensive and collision coverages are not required by law and are designed to protect the physical integrity of your vehicle. If your vehicle isn’t worth much to begin with, you could pay for coverage you do not need.

Determine the value of vehicle using Kelley Blue Book and NADA online. Consider adding uninsured property damage coverage to your policy to protect your vehicle from uninsured drivers.

If your vehicle is worth more than $4,000 but you’d still like to adjust your coverage, consider a higher deductible. Your premium and deductible are inversely related: a higher deductible will result in a cheaper premium.

Find auto insurance discounts

Discounts will not completely half what you pay for car insurance but they can help. Below are some common auto insurance discounts. 

Good student discount: If you’re a student under the age of 25 with a GPA higher than 3.0, you can earn a Good Student Discount from many insurance companies.

Telematics/usage-based insurance: Many insurance companies offer telematics-based car insurance. These policies use in-car devices to monitor the way you drive and more accurately price your premium. If you drive a moderate amount, early in the day, and brake and accelerate carefully, this could be a good option for you.

Below are some estimated discounts of popular telematics programs.

Insurance bundling: Make sure your parents bundle their home, renters, or condo policy with their auto insurance. This cuts down the number of insurance companies involved and earns a discount on both policies.

More information

• How much does homeowners insurance cost?
• How much does renters insurance cost?

Shop around

The best way to save on car insurance is to compare rates from as many companies as possible. Discounts can be great, but sometimes your premium is simply too high because you’re with the wrong company.

Enter your ZIP code below to retrieve personalized rates from top insurance companies.

Can I get my own car insurance policy at my parents’ house?

Yes — but not always with the same company as your parents. Some car insurance companies do not like writing two policies for one listed residence. In the eyes of an insurance company, you are likely to use your parents’ vehicle if you live on the premises.

If you find another insurance company for yourself, remove or exclude yourself from parents’ policy. Car insurance companies want every individual above driving age to either be listed or excluded on the policy. If you live in the listed address, have a valid driver's license, but won't use the vehicles insured on your parents' policy, you need to be listed as an excluded driver.

Unless your parents have a poor driving record, it is usually cheaper to listed on their policy than your own. Your parents' years of driving experience will help lower the premium. If you want to pay your own way, speak to an insurance representative at your company. They might be able to give you a billing breakdown.

Can I stay on my parents' car insurance after I move out?

No. You need to get a new policy, assigned to the address at which you currently reside. Car insurance companies use your ZIP code to determine the monthly cost of your policy. Staying on your parents’ policy after moving out may risk coverage denial in the event of an accident. 

If you need a new quote on car insurance because you moved out, enter your ZIP code below!