Insuring Teen Drivers In Arizona: What You Need To Know

In Arizona, teenagers can legally drive from the age of 15 and a half, but they must be accompanied by an adult until they obtain an unrestricted driver's license. This means that parents or legal guardians need to ensure they have adequate insurance coverage for their teenage drivers. Arizona law requires that all motor vehicles operated on public roads must be covered by liability insurance, and parents or guardians are liable for any damage caused by the minor. While it is possible to insure an unlicensed driver, it is generally recommended to add a teenage driver to an existing insurance policy to ensure coverage in the event of an accident.

Arizona's graduated driver's license program

In Arizona, drivers under the age of 18 can legally drive, but only under certain conditions and restrictions. Arizona's graduated driver's license program is designed to limit high-risk driving situations for teens while increasing parental involvement and supervision.

The program has three steps. First, teens must obtain a graduated instruction permit (or "learner's permit"), which allows them to drive as long as an adult is in the car. To obtain this, they must pass a written test. In Arizona, teens can get their learner's permit at 15 and a half years old. They must have this permit for at least six months and complete at least 20 hours of supervised driving practice, including at least 6 hours at night. Alternatively, they can complete a driver education program offered by a traffic survival school or a certified defensive driving school approved by the Arizona Supreme Court.

The second step is an intermediate licensing phase that allows unsupervised driving. To obtain this license, teens must pass an eye exam and a road test. With this license, teens cannot drive between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. for the first six months of holding the license, and they can't have more than one passenger under the age of 18 in the car during this time.

The third step is the unrestricted driver's license. To obtain this, teens must have held the intermediate license for at least six months.

In Arizona, all motor vehicles operated on public roads must be covered by liability insurance. This insurance must include at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 in property damage coverage per accident. If a teenager owns the car, the teen must have their own liability insurance.

Minimum insurance requirements

In Arizona, all motor vehicles operated on public roads must be covered under liability insurance. This means that if your teenager is old enough to own a car, they must have liability insurance to drive the vehicle.

According to Arizona law, the parent or legal guardian who signs the minor's license application is jointly and severally liable for any damage the minor causes by negligence or willful misconduct. If the parent is married, the spouse is also responsible for the damages. However, parents are not liable for such damages if there is insurance covering the minor in at least the minimum amounts required by law. Therefore, it is essential to contact your insurer to ensure your child is properly added to your vehicles' insurance policies.

The minimum insurance requirements in Arizona are as follows:

• Bodily injury or death insurance for one victim: $25,000
• Bodily injury or death insurance for multiple victims: $50,000
• Property damage per accident: $15,000

It is important to note that while these are the minimum requirements, purchasing more coverage is advisable if possible. Car accidents can be extremely expensive, and having adequate insurance coverage can provide valuable protection.

Adding a teen to your insurance policy

In Arizona, drivers under the age of 18 can legally drive, subject to certain conditions and restrictions. Arizona requires teen drivers to get a graduated instruction permit, followed by a graduated driver's license. Teenagers between 16 and 18 years old can get a graduated driver's license, provided they have had a learner's permit for at least six months.

If you have a teen driver in your household, you should contact your insurer to ensure your child is properly added to your vehicles' insurance policies. In Arizona, all motor vehicles operated on public roads must be covered under liability insurance. All liability policies must include at least $25,000 in bodily injury per person, $50,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 in property damage per accident.

There is no standard rule on whether you should add your teen to your policy when they get their permit or a full license. Rules about adding a teen driver vary depending on state laws and your insurance company's internal guidelines. Many car insurance companies allow parents to list a teen with a learner's permit on the policy at no charge until the child becomes a fully licensed driver. However, some companies require you to add a teen and start paying premiums for them once they receive their permit.

You should contact your car insurance provider before your child gets their permit to determine when your current insurer requires you to add your teen driver. Adding a teenager to a car insurance policy is less expensive than buying them an individual policy. However, you can expect your insurance rates to increase by 70% to 150% when you add your teen to your policy. You can get a 5% to 25% discount on your policy if your young driver does well in high school or college.

To add your teen driver to your policy, follow these steps:

• Talk to your current insurance company about when you must add your teen, whether at the permit stage or when the license is obtained.
• Get a quote for adding your child to your existing policy with higher liabilities – 100/300/100 is recommended.
• Shop for quotes from other car insurance companies to find the best rates.
• Add your child at the appropriate time to your current policy or a new insurer with better rates.
• Remember to ask for discounts on both.

Discounts for teens with good grades

In Arizona, all motor vehicles operated on public roads must be covered under liability insurance. This insurance must include at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

If you are the parent of a teen driver in Arizona, you should contact your insurer to ensure your child is correctly added to your vehicle's insurance policies. Adding your teen to your existing policy will often result in a lower premium compared to a separate policy.

One way to reduce insurance rates for teens is to take advantage of the Good Student discount. This discount is available to high school or full-time college students with a verifiable GPA of 3.0 or higher. AAA offers a Good Student discount of up to 14.5% on insurance, while other insurance companies offer similar discounts. Insurance companies view good students as responsible and less likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, which can lead to lower premiums.

In addition to good grades, completing driver's education courses or defensive driving courses can also help reduce insurance rates for teens. These courses demonstrate a commitment to learning safe driving practices, which insurance companies favor.

Liability and collision insurance

In Arizona, all motor vehicles operated on public roads must be covered by liability insurance. This covers others' medical and repair expenses when the insured party causes an accident. Liability insurance also covers medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. The minimum liability insurance requirements in Arizona are:

• Bodily injury liability coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
• Property damage liability coverage: $15,000.
• Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
• Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Collision insurance is separate from liability insurance and covers damage to the insured party's vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault. This includes accidents where the insured party is responsible, such as running a red light or speeding. While collision insurance is not required by Arizona law, it is recommended to have both liability and collision insurance to provide basic protection whether one is at fault or not in an accident.

In Arizona, parents are generally liable for the negligent acts of their teenage drivers. Therefore, it is essential for parents to ensure their teenage drivers are properly insured. While a parent can insure an unlicensed driver, teens in Arizona can obtain a learner's permit at 15 and a half years old. Once a teen obtains their permit, the parent should contact their insurer to add the teen to their liability insurance policy.

Frequently asked questions