Do both parents need the teen on their respective insurance policies? Not necessarily. Often, the parent with primary custody will purchase insurance for the teen driver — but this is merely because the teen is more likely to be regularly driving that vehicle.

Key Takeaway Insurance usually follows the car, which means your teen may already be covered if they drive your car only occasionally.

Custody and car insurance

A teen driver should be included on the policy of the parent they spend the most time driving with.

If your teen will be splitting their living and driving time equally between two households, then both parents should have the teen on their auto insurance policies.

If your teen driver will be doing the majority of their driving at one household, and with one vehicle, then that parent should have the driver on their policy.

You and your ex-spouse will need to discuss who will insure your teen driver — whether it be one or both of you. This can be done in a divorce settlement, which may be a good option if you want a legal agreement on splitting the cost of insuring your young driver.

Young drivers are notoriously more expensive to insure. When it comes time to purchase car insurance for your teen,

Jerry

helps you find the best deals on car insurance to help you save.

Key Takeaway The parent who spends the most time driving with the teen should include them on the insurance policy.

MORE:

Do newly permitted drivers need to be listed on their parents' insurance?

Who is responsible for making sure the teen driver has car insurance coverage?

Both parents are responsible for ensuring that their teen driver is properly insured. If you think only your ex-spouse should insure your teen driver, you must ensure that your ex-spouse does so.

You can always talk with a seasoned insurance agent from your insurance provider to verify you are getting the proper coverage for your teen. Depending on the circumstances, you may also need to talk with a lawyer or other legal representative to come to an insurance agreement for your teen driver.

MORE:

How to add a second car to your auto insurance policy

How to insure your teenage driver

If you’re a divorced parent purchasing insurance for your new teenage driver, figuring out the best (and most affordable) insurance for your teen can be overwhelming. Comparison shopping will net you the best rates—and

Jerry

, a

licensed broker

, can help make the process as pain-free and relaxing as possible.

Choose from quotes from over 50 insurance providers to find the right

car insurance coverage

for you and your teen.

"My favorite thing about the Jerry app is that you can really specifically tailor a custom car insurance plan and quickly see which company will offer that for the lowest price. In one evening I found the exact car insurance plan I wanted for literally over $100 less per month than my previous policy (and both policies were from big names). This app is quick and painless." — Jerry user

MORE:

Minimum car insurance required in your state

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to get new insurance if I get divorced?

Yes. Once divorced, you will no longer be able to be on the same insurance policy as your ex-spouse.

Purchasing a new insurance policy shouldn’t be stressful.

Jerry

makes the switch to new insurance easier than picking out new furniture. It’s like having your own personal shopper for the best (and cheapest) insurance policies.

Does car insurance cost more if you are divorced?

Unfortunately, yes. Most car insurance companies offer lower rates for married drivers than they do for single, widowed, or divorced drivers.

There are a variety of reasons for this — some studies have shown married drivers to be safer drivers. And married people are more likely to own homes and purchase life insurance, making them valuable customers to car insurance companies that are also looking to sell home and life insurance policies.

Still, marital status is only a minor factor in a company’s calculation for your insurance rates, so it isn’t necessarily something to be too concerned about.

Whether married or unmarried,

Jerry

will help you find the

cheapest car insurance policies

in the least amount of time. Signing up takes less than 45 seconds!

Do divorced parents have to split car insurance?

Not necessarily. Deciding how to split the cost of car insurance for your teen should be decided in a divorce settlement. Though there are no hard and fast rules for deciding which parent pays for a teen’s car insurance, both parents are responsible for making sure their teen is insured.

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