[blparent] dawn stumpner with a question about sighted kids gettingdriving practice and car insurance that won't totally bust mybudgget and sanity

[Michael Baldwin]

IMO $3000 a year is ridiculous, even for a new teenage driver.
Insurance rates also depend on the car. Search out vehicles that are likely
to have lower rates and put it in your name. In most states you have to have
it in your name anyways because those under the age of 18 can not enter in
to a legal binding contract, which the purchase of a car falls in to.
Nebraska is 19.

This is a good time to search out new rates for house and auto as well. The
majority of insurance companies will give discounts for combined policies.
We get 20% off our home owners because we have house and auto with them.
You would need to be listed on the auto policy because you are the owner of
the vehicle, but they can put you down as a  non-driver. If your agent, or
insurance carrier can not do this, look for someone else.

I would not do any power of attorney. Especially on advice from a school. If
you consider this, speak with a competent lawyer. If you want him to
practice with friends, you could have an attorney draw up a contract which
would basically state you would be responsible for any portion that is not
covered under the vehicles owner's policy. Which should limit you to
basically the deductable. It is possible your friends are not even concerned
about it.

If you have your own car, his practices can be limited to only that vehicle
as well.

The teens are only covered if they have a learners permit, if they are
practicing with nothing, then they are not covered.

I would think an umbrella insurance policy would cover things like this,
that is what they are for, is to cover other items that might not be
covered, or exceed the coverage of regular home owners and auto insurance.

Michael

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of dawn
stumpner via blparent
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 11:00
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blparent] dawn stumpner with a question about sighted kids
gettingdriving practice and car insurance that won't totally bust mybudgget
and sanity

Hi!

I have 3 kids, one of driving age who doesn't drive, one of driving age who
has currently just passed his paper written test for a permit, and one who
will be going through this process in three years.  I knew it would be
nerve-racking worrying about a new driver, but there are other dimensions to
the issue that just increase the stress.  Does anyone have advice? My main 2
questions are:
   Driving Practice: Most sighted parents' teens are covered under their
auto policies while they practice.  Because I will have friends giving him
practice in their cars, his driving school said that I would have to sign a
power of attorney of which one part says I will be responsible financially
for any accidents he has.  I'm fine morally being responsible for them, but
my home policy would not pay for that, and I do not have an auto policy
because I don't drive.  My insurance person said there is no other type of
policy I could buy to cover that.  She said he may be covered under the
people's policies with whom he'd be practicing, but my worry is that if I
sign a power of attorney saying that I'm financially responsible, won't
their insurance companies use that to not pay if, God forbid, there is any
type of accident?
   Insurance once he has a license: Even once he has a license, I know
insurance would be expensive, but it looks like it will probably be $3,000 a
year because there is no adult on the policy if I don't drive.  In addition,
this could continue until he is
21 because he will still be a "youthful driver" until that age.

Has anyone who does not drive or have their own auto policy but has had
teens go through practicing and getting a license have any advice? Or does
anyone out there who has law or insurance experience have any suggestions?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
     Thanks!
        Dawn

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