Godfrey, Leibsle, Blackbourn & Howarth, S.C.
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Elkhorn, WI

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Is a learner’s permit holder an uninsured motorist?

When there is a young learner’s permit holder in a Wisconsin family, the parents may have questions about the need to get additional auto insurance. If that person is driving an already insured vehicle of the parents, the holder of the learner’s permit will not be seen as an uninsured motorist. This is because auto insurance follows the vehicle and not the operator.

For that reason, as long as the car is insured, the driver will also be protected. However, insurance companies have different rules when it comes to the specification of drivers on auto insurance policies. Some would only require the driver to be added after he or she was involved in an accident while other companies need every driver — or every member of the household — to be specified.

Understanding an auto insurance policy is essential because some companies only cover licensed drivers, and have no option to add a learner’s permit holder. Others may allow such a young driver to be named as a secondary driver of a parent’s vehicle, which might be a cost-effective option. However, because inexperienced drivers are known to bring in many claims, insurance premiums may be loaded if the young driver gets his or her own vehicle while only a learner’s permit holder.

The best option for parents of teenagers in Wisconsin is to ensure proper training and guidance to help young drivers to become responsible motorists. Any person who was injured in a car accident that was caused by an uninsured motorist may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. If that driver was a learner’s permit holder, his or her parents could also be named as defendants in such a claim. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide answers to questions about auto insurance and liability.

Source: thebalance.com, “Do I Need Car Insurance With a Learner Permit?“, Emily Delbridge, Accessed on Feb. 3, 2018

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