auto insurance

Navy616

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We are from California. Does anyone have experience/suggestions as to how auto insurance works? Can he still stay on my auto policy or will he need to obtain his own in Maryland? Will he need a Maryland Driver's license or can he keep using his California one? These are just questions that came up...he's may consider getting a car for firstie year
 
We are from California. Does anyone have experience/suggestions as to how auto insurance works? Can he still stay on my auto policy or will he need to obtain his own in Maryland? Will he need a Maryland Driver's license or can he keep using his California one? These are just questions that came up...he's may consider getting a car for firstie year

If he's just starting, as a plebe, he's not allowed to have a car at USNA, or operate one, except when on leave off post (Christmas or Spring break). Same as a youngster. As a 2nd class, he can operate a car, but can't park on the Yard (it's $20/mo to mark at the stadium, a good distance from the yard. As a firstie, he can have a car (if he can afford it), park on the Yard (if he can find a space), and might actually get enough time off to make the cost of owning one worthwhile. After two or three years, he's legally a Maryland resident - he can get a Maryland license or a military license, but probably can't continue to use his CA one.

Regarding insurance, if he's only driving while visiting you and driving your car, then you can probably keep him on your policy, if your insurance company allows it. If he buys a car firstie year, he'll probably have to buy his own insurance. Given the costs of car, insurance, parking, maintenance, etc., and considering that he'll probably only be able to use the car a couple of weekends a month (and maybe an hour or two some evenings), and while on leave, it's not really a great way to spend the starter loan, though a lot of guys really want their own car.
 
LT Sackett is correct on using a car as a midshipman. However, there is likely to be lots of opinions on insurance and licenses.
You should be able to keep your mid on your insurance just as you likely would for any college. He can also use his own company and most mids choose USAA given their outstanding ratings and military mindness.
The license is a portion of a much larger issue...home of record. Most states allow you to keep your license because you are "ordered" into the military. For example, I entered the military from NH and kept my license in NH for over 35 years; but that was because I chose to keep my residence in NH for a variety of other reasons, the biggest being no state income tax. Although LT Sackett is likely correct in saying that the mid can probably get a MD license, the question needs to be whether that is correct for all the right reasons. When it comes time to "prove" a residence, having a license from the state is a good one, so if it is beneficial to keep a "residence" in CA, so be it, but you will find many members of the Armed Forces who are "residents" of TX, FL (remember 2000 election!), NH, WY, AK...all because they have no state income tax.
 
we are also from California, when I called our ins. co. they put him on what they call an away for school policy which still alows him to drive our cars when he is home. The policy also still covers him for any other car he drives including rentals, but it is about half the cost of keeping him on the policy full time.
 
Thank you for all the input. I probably should have been more specific in my question. DS is considering purchasing a car for firstie year. He will probably purchase the car in Maryland. Since his drivers license is from California, will he need to obtain a Maryland license? Will he need to get his own auto insurance policy or can he remain on mine, which means that I would have to be a co-registered owner of the vehicle, right?
 
Our DD registered her car in our home State. Still does even in FL. Still has USAA but it is her own policy.
 
Our DD registered her car in our home State. Still does even in FL. Still has USAA but it is her own policy.

Did your DS purchase the vehicle in your home state? Does she still use her drivers license from your home state or did she obtain a Maryland drivers license?
 
First year car was registered in MD. License registered in ID after that. D/L was always from home state.
 
Thank you for all the input. I probably should have been more specific in my question. DS is considering purchasing a car for firstie year. He will probably purchase the car in Maryland. Since his drivers license is from California, will he need to obtain a Maryland license? Will he need to get his own auto insurance policy or can he remain on mine, which means that I would have to be a co-registered owner of the vehicle, right?

Hello! I worked in insurance claims for just over 21 years. Here are the general rules:

Insurance follows the car and the driver's insurance becomes secondary (if the driver is not the owner of the car)

Your driver's license should be from wherever you consider your home state.

Your vehicle should be registered in your home state.

Your insurance should be from your home state.

While your mid is at USNA, they can remain on your insurance (if that's the cheapest option and they consider your home their home). Your mid can however get their own insurance if that's the cheaper option.

Let me know if you have other questions. Hope this helped!
 
Hello! I worked in insurance claims for just over 21 years. Here are the general rules:

Insurance follows the car and the driver's insurance becomes secondary (if the driver is not the owner of the car)

Your driver's license should be from wherever you consider your home state.

Your vehicle should be registered in your home state.

Your insurance should be from your home state.

While your mid is at USNA, they can remain on your insurance (if that's the cheapest option and they consider your home their home). Your mid can however get their own insurance if that's the cheaper option.

Let me know if you have other questions. Hope this helped!

Thank you for the info! If vehicle is purchased in Maryland, can it be registered in home state (Calif) or does it have to be registered in Maryland? DS may be making the purchase in Maryland. If that is the case, will I still be able to insure it under my policy in my home state?
 
Insurance

If your policy is USAA, you can put your MID in an Academy/Cadet status while they attend school there. I just called today and put my PLEBE to be in this status effective next week. Basically, she is covered while at home for the short period of time but without the carrying cost of a regular driver.
This assumes they do not have their car there.
 
Thank you for the info! If vehicle is purchased in Maryland, can it be registered in home state (Calif) or does it have to be registered in Maryland? DS may be making the purchase in Maryland. If that is the case, will I still be able to insure it under my policy in my home state?

If you want to register it in California it will need to pass the California smog check, which will require having a Ca. certified smog station do the test, so I don't think you would be able to register in here.
 
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