michigan auto insurance

[frenchielk]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? michigan. Do I have to add my 23 year old son to my auto policy. I recieved a bill and they added him on as a driver. He does not drive my car or live with me?

[quincy]

If your son does not live with you, drive your car or drive a car registered in your name, then, no, there is no reason to have him listed on your policy. Having a 23 year old male on your policy, in fact, increases your premium amount substantially. If you do not wish to insure your son, then call your agent and have your son removed from the policy.

[LSCAP]

Just have his name removed.

But don't make the mistake of saying, or their thinking that he is forbidden to drive. In an emergency you might need his help.
Just that he doesn't live with you and doesn't drive your car.

[quincy]

I don't think most insurance agents would think that, just because someone wants to remove a 23 year old son from their car insurance policy that the son is unable to drive. They would probably assume, if he no longer lives in the house or drives the family car, that he is an adult who can insure a vehicle of his own.

While all vehicles in Michigan must carry insurance, and most insurers require that all licensed drivers in a household be listed on the car insurance policy, licensed drivers do not NEED to have car insurance if they do not own a vehicle of their own. These licensed drivers are still able, however, to operate MOST vehicles owned by others (with permission) as MOST automobile insurance policies extends coverage on the vehicle to any licensed driver using the vehicle.

I had wanted to add to my previous post, frenchielk, that you should let your son KNOW that his name is being removed from your policy prior to removing it, so that he can either purchase a policy of his own to cover any vehicle he may own, or so that he can consider purchasing a non-owner's policy to cover himself when driving vehicles belonging to others (although, as I said, this would probably not be necessary for most vehicles, as the insurance usually will extend to cover any licensed driver).

[codysmom]

Sounds to me like your son still has your address listed on his driver's license and the insurance company did a household search that showed this. If he is not living with you he needs to change his address with the DMV to the address he is living at so that he stops showing up on the reports as a resident.

[LSCAP]

Quincy RE: "I don't think most insurance agents would think that,"

I had an agent tried to do that. I was new to this area and she didn't like us.
I got another agent.

[quincy]

My agents have always seemed pretty reasonable, LSCAP, but in your case you were wise to find another one.

Codysmom, I am sure you are right about the insurance agent seeing the son's name listed at his parents' residence. Speaking from experience, however, a college student will often use his parents' address (for important mail and on a driver's license), even when he no longer lives in the home. This often doesn't change until the kid has a permanent address of his own, because changing the address on a license, when you are moving from one apartment to another every year, doesn't make much sense.

If the son does not have a vehicle of his own, and if he is only home for short visits (to do laundry ), there would be no need to have him insured on an automobile policy. Even if he drove a vehicle when home, most policies will cover the driving of a car by other licensed drivers (although it would be important to check this out prior to handing over car keys).

But, to include on your policy a 23 year old male who only makes short visits home, and may or may not drive a vehicle when there, just increases the annual cost of the policy. The son could even rent a car when home and purchase temporary car insurance from the rental company, if need be.

[codysmom]

[quote=quincy;2293712]
Codysmom, I am sure you are right about the insurance agent seeing the son's name listed at his parents' residence. Speaking from experience, however, a college student will often use his parents' address (for important mail and on a driver's license), even when he no longer lives in the home. This often doesn't change until the kid has a permanent address of his own, because changing the address on a license, when you are moving from one apartment to another every year, doesn't make much sense.
QUOTE]

This is true but in the OP it did not seem like this was a college student situation.

OP check with your agent if this is a college student situation and see if the carrier will rate for that. Some carriers are and it brings the premium lower due to the very part time exposure from the student.