1. Where can I go to find auto insurance for my dauther, who is 18
years old, and will be driving her car during the college holiday
break in Dec? [Currently the car is home, as she can't have it at
school.] Wouldlike to buy full coverage for her for the break period
only.
2. What rental car company rents to 18 years olds? Do they provide
insurance coverage ( for a cost) ?

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Request for Question Clarification by jbf777-ga on 24 Nov 2003 09:07 PST

Have you tried calling an insurance broker in your area?

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Clarification of Question by jim1946-ga on 24 Nov 2003 10:19 PST

Ins agents want ot write a min 6-month policy

Greetings Jim1946:

I did some sleuthing on your behalf and discovered that 21 is the
minimum age for drivers renting from Thrifty and Dollar car rental and
25 is the minimum age for drivers renting from the Budget rental
agency (except in New York, the Budget man thought, where it's 21). 
The gentleman said that even if a parent rents a car from Budget under
his/her name, a person of under 25 will *not* be granted addition to
the list of accepted drivers.  However, he said that if a corporation
or government agency has a rental plan with Budget, drivers 18 and
older *will* be added to the list of accepted drivers but only when
their driving is done for business purposes.

I fear that unless you rent from a private car rental company, it may
not be possible to secure a rental car for your daughter.  You may
want to consider going with the 6 month policy as it may prove to be
the only (and least expensive) way.

Sorry I couldn't help you find a suitable agency but I hope this
information will assist you in your quest.

Best regards,
journalist-ga


SEARCH STRATEGY:

Phone calls to:

Budget rent a car
Thrifty rent a car
Dollar rent a car

I think the only place you'll find this will be at a small, locally
owned car rental shop. The big chains definitely don't allow it.

I would try:

1. Looking for "Rent A Wreck" or "Bargain Buggies" type places - these
typically rent somewhat older cars (3-5 years old as opposed to 0-2
years old at major rental places) and are often more flexible about
age, not requiring a credit card, etc.

2. Calling local car dealerships - both new and used - and seeing if
they rent cars.

Good luck.

A couple of other thoughts about your insurance.

I am presuming that you currently have a valid policy for this car -
just that it does not have the daughter on it. If not (i.e. the car is
sitting fallow waiting for daughter to come home to it), I don't think
these suggestions will work.

1. Can the agent add the daughter to the policy temporarily? It may
re-rate you higher, but when you take her off in a month will they
re-rate you lower again?

2. Ask your agent about "authorized drivers". I have been told (this
is not legal advice, I am not a lawyer, and even if I were, I haven't
read your policy, but according to a friend who is a lawyer it is
common language) that if you authorize someone to drive your car
(provided they are a licensed driver) that your insurance coverage
would extend to them. For example, if I lend my car to my friend (who
is a licensed driver, but owns no car and therefore has no insurance
of his own) and he gets in a crash, my insurance would be valid. I
believe there may be limitations that this is only true for occasional
use - one couldn't use this language to, say, permanently avoid
putting a minor child on the policy - but if it's just for a few
weeeks, would that qualify?