I am from Nevada and am thinking of adding my 16-year-old daughter who has no driver’s license yet under my car insurance policy. Would it be a smart move, or would it just raise my car insurance premiums?

Belinda

Reno, NV

The State of Nevada mandates that the minimum age to apply for a full driver’s license is sixteen. With this in mind, your daughter needs to have a driver’s license first before she can be listed under your insurance policy. You must remember that young drivers are expected to meet 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience, with 10 hours completed in darkness.

Nevada laws also require a licensed driver who is 21 years old or older and has been a driver’s license holder for at least a year seated next to the young driver at all times. If driver education is not available within your area, and you do not have internet access to have your daughter take an online driver education course, your daughter is required to complete 100 hours of supervised driving, with 10 hours of that completed in darkness.

About your insurance premiums, always bear in mind that car insurers generally charge the highest premiums for drivers under the age of 25. A number of factors can affect the cost of having your teen under your policy. These may include your daughter’s performance in school, how often she is accompanied in the car by an adult, or the type of vehicle she drives. Sporty or large cars generally cause more serious damage and will cost more to insure.

If you would really like to save money on your insurance rates, have your daughter take the certified driver’s education course since most car insurance providers give discounts to teens that have successfully completed the course.