I’ve just recently relocated to Birmingham, Alabama. I have a teenage daughter who is just starting to learn how to drive. My question is—Should I buy insurance for her, or since she’s going to be using my car, will she be covered under my auto insurance policy? Thanks!

Sue

Birmingham, AL

Everyone I think aged 25 and above needs to have his or her auto insurance for the car he or she is driving. If you already have your own license and your own car, you must have the car insured. But, of course, since your daughter is just learning how to drive, I don’t think she’s already 25. Kids who are just learning how to drive cannot have their own auto insurance policy because you need a valid drivers’ license to get car insurance. If your daughter is just currently learning how to drive, I’m pretty she would be covered under either the high school’s insurance policy or the driving school’s policy. After she gets her drivers’ license, then that is the time to take an insurance policy for the car you’re giving her this Christmas!

Since she only has a learners’ permit now, and the car she’s going to drive is yours, she would covered under your policy. I think that most auto insurance policies are whole-family policies since they don’t expect that each family member has his or her own car to drive. Of course, there will be car-borrowing involved. If I were you, I’d call an insurance company/agent there in Birmingham, Alabama to ask the necessary questions. Choose wisely because things are different from one company to the next. Tell your daughter, Sue, that I said happy driving.