Hi, there! I am only sixteen years old. I hope you can help me find cheapest cars to insure. By the way, my name’s Harrison, and I’m from Florida. I need the cheapest car insurance for teen drivers there is available.

Harrison

Tallahassee, FL

You can go online to see an updated list of cars that can fetch you lower car insurance premium rates there in Florida.

You know, Harrison, buying a less expensive car means less expensive car insurance. That’s the usual rule. By the way, the “cheaper the car, the less expensive to insure” policy also applies to older vehicles. You might also be interested in looking for one. Be reminded that in buying older cars, you should look for factors such as reliability, safety, and the price, of course. SUVs for teenagers are out of the question. SUVs are powerful things. They react differently compared to regular cars. Young drivers are more inclined to overcorrect when steering. You see, it’s quite dangerous; this makes young drivers more prone to accidents. This is the reason why safety authorities advise against SUVs for teens.

Another reminder for you, Harrison: The lightest vehicles have the highest accident death rates. Nowadays, small cars, such as the Ford Focus, Honda Civic, and Saturn models are the most popular choices, but they aren’t actually ideal for young drivers like you.

A smarter choice for a teen driver is a bigger and a heavier car. You might not find it cool for your age, but that’s a smarter and safer choice for you. Minivans and large four-door cars have the lowest death rates. Car insurers use these variables when computing your car insurance rate.

Reader’s Question:

My 16 year old daughter can’t get car insurance policy of her own without a parent also signing in FL. If we sign for her, can we be held liable in case of accidents or settlements, etc?

Andrew

Deerfield Beach, FL

I am not a lawyer so I cannot definitely inform you how the exact responsibility or liability you will have for signing a parental consent form first for your 16 year old daughter to get a driver’s license in Deerfield Beach FL and then sign on their car insurance policy. I can tell you however that usually by signing on with your teen on an insurance document that you are accepting liability just as if you were the motorist if they were in an accident. This means your assets could also be at risk by the actions of your teen.

To get specific law regarding your liability and responsibilities for signing on a car insurance policy with your sixteen year old daughter, you may contact a Florida attorney that works in this area of law. In the state of Florida the consumer division of the insurance regulator for the may also be able to provide you information on this issue.

I live in Boca Ciega Florida and I would like to know at what age can I start driving a vehicle? I am only 15 year old.

Mark

Boca Ciega, FL

The age at which you may legally start to drive a vehicle will differ from state to state or if you are not in the US, it will vary depending on the territory, providence, or county. The average age at which US states permit for a new driver to drive is 15 or 16. Typically, the youngest age in the US at which you can drive appears to be 14 years old in South Dakota who can apply for an instructional permit.

In Florida you can obtain a learner permit at fifteen, in California you can obtain a provisional permit at 15 1/2, in Texas at fifteen you can get a driver’s permit and . You must be sixteen or over to operate a vehicle in New York State. Other states such as Kentucky, New Hampshire, Missouri also require you to be at least sixteen years old.

My teenage son barely drives and so I’m thinking of taking him off from my policy. If in case he gets in an accident, will he still be covered since to my understanding the car has insurance under my name? We’re from Cape Coral, FL.

Simon

Cape Coral, FL

Your insurance company in Cape Coral, FL may not allow you to take off your teen from your policy since your son is already licensed and lives in your residence unless he turns in his license or gets his own policy. Your son does not have his own car yet so getting his own policy may not be a good option for you. A non-owners policy would not be of help either. It only works as a secondary insurance and if the primary insurance, yours, would not pay out (due to him not being on the policy) then the non-owners would not typically pay out either.

If you still would want to take off your teenage son from your policy, you can discuss this with your insurance agent in Cape Coral but more likely as previously mentioned, they will insist that you keep him on it. You may be required to exclude him from the policy if you choose to take him off, in which case he would not be covered by your insurance policy if he drove the vehicle and was in an accident.

I have a NY driver’s license and I will be attending college in Miami, Florida, should I keep my vehicle insured with NY or do I need to have it changed to Florida. Do they offer auto insurance for college students?

Andrew

Miami, FL

You can continue to keep your New York policy if this is temporary situation.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles any individual who has a car in Florida for more than 90 days during a 365-day period must buy personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability insurance coverage.

Therefore as a college student from New York if you keep your New York insurance you will still have to make certain that you also have these coverages required by the state of Florida. So it is likely that it would be more affordable to register and insure your car in Miami, Florida since you could not only just place Florida insurance on the vehicle and since New York state does not accept out of state car insurance on New York registered cars.

My grandmother has two vehicles in Georgia. She decided to let me borrow one to go to school in Florida. Both vehicles and the auto insurance are under her name. Do I have to purchase another insurance for myself that is under my name? What will happen if the auto insurance is not under my name but I got involved in an accident in Florida?

Daniel

Fort Lauderdale, FL

The Florida statutes states that any individual who has a car in Florida for more than 90 days during a 365 day period (the days do not need to be consecutive) must buy personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance coverage.

So if the vehicle you are borrowing from your grandmother is in Florida 90 days or more this type of Florida coverage will need to be put on it. You grandmother will need to verify that her insurance will cover you until you are able to get the car insurance required of a vehicle in Florida.

Since you are not the car owner you will have to find an insurance carrier that will allow you to get insurance on a vehicle that you do not have insurable interest on.

As for what could happen if you do not have the proper insurance on a car and was in an accident, the state of Florida might impose penalties as if you did not have auto insurance or probably require an SR-22 form.