How Long Can You Stay on Your Parents' Car Insurance Policy?
- You can stay on your parents' policy if you share the same address and vehicles.
- Compare insurance quotes to ensure you and your parents aren't being overcharged.
How long can I stay on my parents' car insurance?
You can remain on your parent's auto insurance policy as long as you reside at the address and use the vehicles listed on their policy. Unlike health insurance, you do not “age out” of an auto insurance policy. Read on to learn more details about when you can and can't remain on their insurance as well as how to get your own policy while still living at their house.
Key Takeaways:
- You can stay on your parent's auto insurance as long as you reside at the address and use the vehicles listed on their policy (although many companies will let you even if you own your own car).
- You can have your own insurance policy while living at your parent's house, but you should still be listed as an excluded driver on their policy.
- Unless your parents have a poor driving record, it is usually cheaper to be listed on their policy than have your own.
- Maximize savings by avoiding claims, optimizing coverage, capitalizing on discounts, and comparing quotes.
When can I stay on my parent's car insurance?
Usually, you remain eligible for coverage on your parents’ policy if you still live with them full-time. However, there are exceptions. See the following chart for the scenarios when you likely will and won't be eligible to remain on their policy.
| You Can Stay On Your Parent's Insurance If... | You Need Your Own Policy if... |
|---|---|
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Please note that these are just general guidelines. It's essential to discuss your situation directly with your parents' insurance company. They can provide you with information accurate to their unique policies and help you determine whether you need to obtain your own car insurance based on your specific situation.
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 (learn how here), remove or exclude yourself from your parents’ policy. Car insurance companies want every individual above driving age to either be listed or excluded on the policy. If you live at 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.
Should I stay on my parents' car insurance or get my own?
Unless your parents have a poor driving record, it is usually cheaper to be listed on their policy than to have your own. Your parents' years of driving experience will help lower the premium. However, it's important to confirm this with the insurance company and compare the costs of being added to their policy versus having your own. We recommend gathering quotes from multiple companies as each insurer will weigh your unique driving profile differently.
While cost is an important factor, it is worth considering if there are factors you value above financial savings. For example, some see getting their own policy as a non-negotiable step toward independence. Ultimately, whether it's better to get your own policy is up to your priorities and unique situation.
Children of driving age aren’t automatically covered under a parent’s insurance policy—you’ll need to add them as drivers to ensure they’re protected. In fact, most insurance companies require you to include all licensed drivers in your household on your policy (or exclude them). If you have a new driver at home, updating your policy is essential to keep them covered.
Saving money when you're on your parents' policy
If you’re worried about increasing your parents’ bill, below are five cost-cutting solutions worth considering.
1. Avoid claims
Rate increases can have major impacts on your and your parents’ insurance premiums. You should always weigh the pros and cons of filing a claim. Bear in mind, if you damage someone else’s vehicle and they prefer to file a claim through insurance, not filing a claim is no longer an option. Furthermore, many companies require you to report any damage or accidents, even those where you are not at fault. While this will not have as large of a financial impact, it can increase your rates.
Zebra Tip: Use our Claims Calculator to Decide Whether to File a Claim
All you have to do is get an estimate for repairs and enter details about your accident and insurance coverage. Our Insurance Claims Calculator using our State of Auto Insurance report does the rest!
2. Be smart with your coverage
If your vehicle is worth less than $4,000, consider carrying only the legally required minimum liability insurance. Paying for comprehensive and collision coverage, to protect the physical integrity of a vehicle valued less than $4,000 is likely not worth it.
Zebra Tip: Determine the value of your vehicle using Kelley Blue Book and NADA online. Drop comprehensive and collision coverage if your vehicle is less than $4,000. 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. Consider adding uninsured property damage coverage to your policy to protect your vehicle from uninsured drivers.
3. Find auto insurance discounts
Discounts will not halve what you pay for car insurance, but they can help. Below are some common auto insurance discounts.
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.
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 for popular telematics programs.
| Company | Estimated Savings |
|---|---|
| Progressive SnapShot | Average of $130 |
| Allstate DriveWise | Average of 10-25% |
| State Farm Drive Safe and Save | Up to 15% |
| Esurance DriveSense | Varies |
| Nationwide SmartRide | Up to 40% |
| Liberty Mutual RightTrack | Average of 5-30% |
| Root Car Insurance | Varies |
| Metromile | Varies |
| GEICO DriveEasy | Varies |
4. Bundle your insurance
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. See the table below to compare average rates by homeowners status. For more information see:
Updating data...
| Homeowner Status | Avg. 6 Mo. Premium |
|---|---|
| Condo Owner | $1,129 |
| Condo Owner With Multi-Policy | $1,037 |
| Home Owner | $1,127 |
| Home Owner With Multi-Policy | $1,016 |
| Renter | $1,148 |
| Renter With Multi-Policy | $1,093 |
Source: The Zebra
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
5. 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 to retrieve personalized quotes from top insurance companies.
Compare quotes from over 100 providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
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About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.