Purchasing car insurance for a first-time driver can be a real pain in the rear-end. There is a lot of information you’ll need in order to find and sign up for the best plan. So let’s start here at the beginning with when you should get car insurance for a new driver. 

When to Get Auto Insurance

The first question many new drivers (and their parents) have is when auto insurance is needed. There are two possible answers depending on your location and insurance provider:

After Getting a Learners Permit - Since permitted drivers are behind the wheel, young drivers who have taken drivers ed may need to be added to an auto insurance plan under their parent or guardian’s name.

After Getting a Drivers License - In other cases, you won’t need to get car insurance in a new driver’s name until they have a drivers license in hand. 

Types of Coverage

Next, you’ll need to decide what type of coverage is needed for a first-time driver. There are three common types of coverage:

• Liability

• Personal injury protection

• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist

There are a few other types of coverage available, but many drivers have these three included in their auto insurance plan.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage comes in two types: bodily injury and property damage. 

Bodily injury liability coverage pays for the claims made against you if someone is injured or killed in an accident. There are usually separate types of bodily injury liability, one that provides coverage if a single person is hurt and another for if multiple people are hurt.

The other type of liability coverage you may be required to have is property damage liability coverage. It pays for damage to any property belonging to someone other than you.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection (PIP) is coverage to help you pay for any medical expenses, lost wages or other financial needs if you are injured in an accident.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is only mandatory in a handful of states. It provides coverage in the event you are injured in a hit-and-run accident or in a collision with a driver who either has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover all the damages.

Know the Minimum Coverage Mandates

Getting auto insurance isn’t an option. It’s mandatory in 48 states. Only Virginia and New Hampshire have no auto insurance requirements. However, that doesn’t mean uninsured drivers are off the hook. The at-fault driver is still liable for bodily injury and property damage even if they have no insurance. 

Auto insurance requirements vary from state to state. You should be able to find out what’s mandatory at your state’s Department of Transportation website. 

Deciphering Minimum Coverage Amounts

When you look up your state’s car insurance requirements you’ll quickly notice that the type of coverage isn’t the only thing specified. Most states set minimum coverage amounts as well. 

You will often see auto insurance coverage amounts represented by three numbers. For example, in California, you may see it represented as 15/30/5. This is because the required coverage in that state is $15,000 for bodily injury of one person, $30,000 for bodily injury of more than one person and $5,000 for property damage.

Keep in mind the required amounts are the bare minimum. It’s best practice to get as much as coverage as you can. A serious accident can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, and the driver is responsible for anything that isn’t covered by insurance.

Car Insurance 101 Glossary

Comparing auto insurance plans is much easier when you know what everything means. There are a lot of terms you’ll need to be familiar with in order to be well informed when purchasing car insurance. 

We put together the auto insurance glossary below to help new drivers get a handle on all the industry jargon and understand potential insurance discounts.