The divorce and stepparenting thread
dirt track date -- Saturday, July 06, 2002 -- 06:50:52 PM(All users will see what tags exist for a thread. Please tag carefully!)
I have a logistical question for those of you who have kids of driving age and are divorced. How does car insurance work if parents are divorced? Do both parents need to add the kid to their policies if they want the kid to be able to drive their cars? Or can the kid get a policy that will apply to both households?
We have one approaching driving age and I'm wondering how much THAT will cost.
dirt track date, wondering, who are you?
The SO's son has just turned 16 and I know he wants to learn to drive. It's the SO's issue of course but I am wondering who insurance works when they are learning, do you have to add them to your policy before they get their actual license, while they are on their permit? I guess he needs to call his insurance agent.
It's going to cost a fortune, I fear--insurance companies collect lots of money on teens.
I think insurance works by driver, not by car.
Hmm...except if we buy another car we have to add it to the policy. I thought it worked somehow by driver AND by car. You have a set list of drivers and a list of vehicles. The cost goes up if you add more drivers and/or more vehicles.
I guess I will have to call the insurance co. and find out how it works.....seems to me that if you could buy a policy that covers the driver and would apply to both households it might be cheaper than each parent having to carry the kid on their policy.
Hmm...except if we buy another car we have to add it to the policy. I thought it worked somehow by driver AND by car. You have a set list of drivers and a list of vehicles. The cost goes up if you add more drivers and/or more vehicles.
I guess I will have to call the insurance co. and find out how it works.....seems to me that if you could buy a policy that covers the driver and would apply to both households it might be cheaper than each parent having to carry the kid on their policy.
I don’t think they will allow both parents to cover the same child on two separate policies?!?!
Anyway, if the kid spends more time at one household or the other, that household should insure the kid because the insurance company is going to insist on it anyway. (You know, that charming increase in payments just because you have a 16 yo living with you regardless of their driving status)
Other option is to insure the kid under a new policy unrelated to your own. This is usually a tad more expensive (you don’t get the discounting factors of the rest of your insurance, etc) but it might make it easier for both parents to make payments against the cost.
You know, that charming increase in payments just because you have a 16 yo living with you regardless of their driving status
What? Are you kidding?
I like the idea of a separate policy, and had been mulling that idea myself. That way the ex and I could both pay against it, as well as Spawn. It would also give him an insurance history, which might be useful.
I had no idea they'd do that. bloodsuckers. It figures.
Everything about insurance law is different state to state. Because of the supreme court McCarrun-Ferguson (definitely mispelled) case in the 40s which gave the states authority over insurance law. The only exceptions are large company pensions, because of ERISA, and lots and lots of healthcare stuff where Congress periodically pre-empts state law and no one challenges it.
A wierd result of a wierd case.
Generally speaking, nothing anyone who lives in another state tells you about insurance is likely to be true, esp. if it's auto or homeowners related. Life and annuity stuff tends ot be pretty similar because it's cheaper that way for the companies, but you can't count on it.
Dirt track girl...am I remembering that name right? Anyway, you offered to send me a copy of your parenting agreement once, and I am ready for it, if the offer is still good. Thanks!
I want to get as much pounded out ourselves as we can, before paying someone to advise on what we need help with, which is mostly financial planning stuff and other issues I don't know that I don't know.
Hey, just popping in, it's Lori Dee.
Nothing new happening in Divorce Land for me lately. Although, he went on the 3-11 shift so has the kids during the day now, which is a load off my mind. Not sure how long this will be, however. The bonus? I hardly ever, ever have to see him now and this is truly best.
Well, I'm officially divorced. I must say it was about the most civilized divorce I've ever heard about, because we went out to lunch afterwards and said that we both still felt the deepest of feelings for each other, even though we drive each other crazy at times. I'm sort of sad and happy and relieved and a bit stunned all at the same time. He will always be family to me. I've known him since I was 16. We can't possibly be married anymore, but it's been a strange and complex life with him.
It's probably good to get it behind you, Victoria, but I imagine it's a mixed bag.
It is good to have it done. I did have a bit of a cry, though. He's been such a huge part of my life. He doesn't cry, as a rule, but had to go borrow a hanky. We had no business getting married so young: but we did try hard to make it work.
How long were you married?
But you've been separated for two or so?
In any event, I always have trouble saying that anything going on for 21 years is a failure.
We were married for 21 years, we've been separated for another 4 years on top of that: 25 years altogether.