It is mandatory for all motorists to have auto insurance to prove financial responsibility. A learner’s permit is merely a permission to drive which is a temporary driving license that has some restrictions. Every driver must possess auto insurance whether they have a Drivers license or Learner’s permit. To put it simply, the permission to drive on the road comes with all the responsibilities including financial responsibility relating to driving a vehicle on the road. In essence, you must have auto insurance to be able to have a motor vehicle even if you only have a learner’s permit. This means that you either buy your own auto insurance or be covered by other’s policy like your parent’s.
Most of the states do no insist on your own auto insurance when you are driving on your learner’s permit but you will have to learn driving on your parents’ vehicle so that the insurance of your parents’ vehicle will include you in the coverage during this period of time. Your parents should notify the insurance company that you will be driving their car with your learner’s permit.
Usually most of the insurance companies will not charge extra when you drive with a learner’s permit but will start charging you when you start driving as a licensed driver. This charge will be higher than what they charge for experienced drivers as new drivers are considered as higher risk. You can still get a reduced rate the rate if you take a course in approved driver’s education and also maintain high grades. If you are attending a driving school and are learning with the school’s car, the insurance of their car, you will automatically be covered by their insurance for that car.
It must be understood that the car you use for learning needs auto insurance though you need not have insurance. In the case of an accident if you are found at fault, the car’s insurance should cover damages to the other cars involved. In the event of a collision the car’s insurance will pay for the damage to your car.
Additional insurance is not required for the duration of learning. In California, you can only drive with a licensed adult who has insurance on the car that you are using to learn driving. Once you get your own driver’s license you need to be added to the car’s insurance and the rates will definitely increase for the addition of an inexperienced driver.