Adulting comes with a lot of firsts.
Your first proper job. Your first place. Your first car. Your first debit order that makes you question whether being independent was really worth it.
And somewhere in between all of that comes your own car insurance.
If you’ve been driving a car insured under your parents’ policy, you might be wondering when it’s time to make the move and get your own car insurance.
There isn’t necessarily one magic age when everything suddenly needs to change. What matters is who owns and drives the car, where it’s kept and whether your insurer has the correct information about how the vehicle is being used.
So, are you ready to make the move?
Why stay on your parents’ car insurance?
There are plenty of reasons why a young driver might still have a car insured under a parent’s policy.
Maybe you’re still studying. Maybe you’re living at home while saving for your own place. Or perhaps the car you drive still belongs to your parents.
And no, that doesn’t automatically make you a freeloader.
Car ownership and living situations look different for everyone, especially when you’re just starting out.
What matters from an insurance point of view is that your insurer has accurate information about the vehicle, its regular driver, where it’s usually kept and how it’s used.
When is it time to get your own car insurance?
There are a few life changes that might make you start thinking about getting your own car insurance.
Perhaps you’ve bought your first car in your own name. Maybe you’ve moved out of your parents’ home. Or you’re now the regular driver of a vehicle that was previously driven mainly by someone else.
Even something as simple as changing where the car is parked overnight could be information your insurer needs to know.
The important thing is not to assume that your existing insurance arrangement still works simply because nothing has gone wrong yet.
If your circumstances have changed, speak to your insurer and make sure your policy details still accurately reflect your situation.
Discover 5 car insurance FAQs.
Be honest about who actually drives the car
Let’s say the policy lists your parent as the regular driver, but you drive the car to work every day, take it everywhere on weekends and keep it at your own home every night.
That’s something your insurer needs to know.
It might be tempting to leave things as they are because you’re worried your premium could change, but incorrect information can cause much bigger headaches when it comes time to claim.
Your own car insurance is based on the information you provide when you take out or update your cover.
So, if you move, change how you use your car or become its regular driver, update your insurer.
Future you will be glad you did.
Moving out? Don’t forget about your insurance
Moving out of home comes with a surprisingly long admin list.
Change your address. Set up Wi-Fi. Buy groceries. Discover how expensive cleaning products are. Figure out why nobody warned you how quickly electricity disappears.
Your own car insurance should be on that list too.
Where your car is usually kept can be relevant to your cover. So if your car used to spend every night at your parents’ house and now lives with you somewhere else, let your insurer know.
And while you’re updating your car insurance, it may also be a good time to think about the other things you’ve started accumulating.
Your laptop, TV, furniture, appliances and other belongings can add up quickly.
Car and household insurance can help protect more of the things you’re now responsible for as you become more independent.
Buying your first car?
Getting the keys to your first car is exciting.
Getting your first scratch? Considerably less exciting.
Before you drive away, make sure insurance isn’t an afterthought.
Take the time to understand what type of cover you’re choosing, what’s included and excluded, and what excess may apply if you need to claim.
And don’t choose a policy based on price alone.
Affordable cover matters, especially when you’re starting out, but you also need to understand what you’re actually paying for.
The cheapest option isn’t much of a bargain if it doesn’t give you the cover you thought you had.
Understand the 5 signs that your car needs a service.
Your first insurance policy doesn’t need to be confusing
Insurance has a reputation for being complicated, but understanding your cover shouldn’t require a dictionary.
Before choosing your own car insurance, ask the questions that matter to you.
What does my policy cover? What isn’t covered? How much is my excess? What happens if someone else drives my car? What do I need to do if my circumstances change? And most importantly, how do I claim if something happens?
Understanding these things now can save you from trying to figure them out on the side of the road after an accident.
Cover that can change as life changes
Your first car probably won’t be your last.
The same goes for your first apartment, your first couch and almost everything else you own in your twenties.
Yourowncar insurance needs can change along with them.
With Oneplan Car & Household Insurance, you can choose cover for your car, household contents and personal belongings based on what you need.
You can also manage your cover through the Oneplan App, making it easier to keep track of the things you’ve insured as life changes.
Because becoming independent comes with enough admin already. Your insurance doesn’t need to make it harder.
Ready to leave the insurance nest?
Getting your own car insurance is one of those small but very real adult milestones.
You don’t need to have your entire life figured out first.
What matters is making sure the car you drive is properly insured, your insurer has the right information and you understand the cover you’ve chosen.
Whether you’ve just bought your first car, moved into your own place or you’re simply ready to take over the insurance admin yourself, Oneplan can help you find cover that suits your needs and budget.
Your short-term insurance family,
