Insurance is mandatory for anyone with a driver’s license in Pennsylvania. If you are a learner driver and the car owner is with you while driving, you do not need insurance, and you may then use that person’s car for your driver’s test. Once you have passed your test, you must be added to their insurance policy or obtain your own. If you have your own car that you are using for the driver’s test, you must get your own insurance policy beforehand, even as a learner driver.
Insurance will also save you money on motor repairs and part replacements if you’re involved in an accident.
The Basics of Learners Permit Insurance
Learner driver insurance is an insurance policy that you can take out either as an individual or under your parents’ policy to illustrate that you take responsibility for the vehicle in the event of crashing during a driving test.
Is Learner Driver Insurance a Requirement?
If you own your car, learner driver insurance is mandatory before and during your driver’s test. Register and insure your vehicle with a permit and then bring proof of the vehicle’s insurance with you to your test.
If you are driving your parents’ vehicle and they are in the car with you, then learner driver insurance is not mandatory. When you go for your driver’s test, you must bring proof that the vehicle you are using is insured (along with all relevant documents). After passing your driver’s test, if you continue driving their car, you will need to be added to their insurance policy.
Before the PA driver’s test, you may drive someone else’s car while they are in the car with you (only a person with a valid driver’s license who has insurance on that vehicle). When you go for your driver’s test, you must show proof of insurance on whatever vehicle you are driving.
In other words – every vehicle must be insured and linked to whoever is driving it, except for the hour or so while you are doing your driver’s test if you are using someone else’s car. Proof of insurance for that car must be shown.
After your driver’s test, you won’t be allowed to drive alone without an insurance policy – it is part of the law in most US states, including Pennsylvania.
What Does It Cover?
Learner car insurance, or coverage under your parents, usually covers your driver’s test. In an accident, only the damage done to the car is covered. Motor insurance follows the car – enabling a vehicle to be covered no matter who is driving (as long as that person has a valid learner’s or driver’s license).
Policies for learner drivers in Pennsylvania start at about $2,031 per year (or about $169 per month) for full coverage and $473 per year (or about $39 per month) for minimum coverage.
Parents’ Car Insurance Policy
You do not have to add your children to your insurance policy. Once they have a learner driver’s license, they can legally take out their own policy.
However, you can add them if you wish. Most companies will allow you to add a teen with a learner’s permit onto your policy at no extra cost until they have their driver’s license. After that, it will raise your insurance premium but will be worth the peace of mind! You’ll be offered a range of coverage depending on what you spend – speak to your broker about how to go about this, though expect to pay between $1200/year to about $2400/year.
Other Insurance Options for Learner Drivers
Some policies are tailored to specific types of young drivers and allow for good savings, such as for good drivers, students, and military families, and some are more forgiving should an accident occur).
For high-risk young drivers, the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan (PA ARP) is another good option, even though it is slightly more expensive. It covers the following:
- Bodily Injury (BI) – $15,000/person and $30,000/accident
- Property Damage (PD) – $5,000
- Medical Benefits (PIP) – $5,000
Costs will vary between individuals, so you will need to obtain a quote. There are usually two payment options for PA ARP coverage:
- Pay in full You can pay 30% down of the total estimated premium and the rest within 30 days of receiving the premium notice if you choose to pay annually in a lump sum.
- Pay in installments Pay 30% upfront, and then the rest in 5 installments over 5 months. There is a service charge for choosing the installment plan.
Final Verdict
If you’re a parent and the one paying, you’ll usually find that adding your teen onto your existing insurance policy will be the best, rather than having them take out one individually and then paying for it separately.
If you take out your own policy as a teen, your premiums may be higher than they might be in a few years as an adult once you’ve shown a good driving record – whether you’re on your parent’s plan or your own.
An option that makes great sense is to complete Driven2Drive’s driver’s ed classes which make you eligible for a driver’s ed insurance discount – saving you money and preparing you for the road at the same time. Have a look at Driven2Drive’s great discounted offer to get you on the road to successful driving.
Driven2Drive is a premier driving school and the leader in Driver’s Education. From our dedicated team of instructors to our innovative state-of-the-art Driving & License Testing Centers, we are committed to instilling safe driving habits for life in a fun and interactive atmosphere.
