In most cases, you must be the age of majority defined by your state to purchase an auto insurance policy. The best thing to do is to contact insurance companies to learn their guidelines for allowing a minor to obtain their own car insurance policy. While some insurers may agree to put a policy in a teen's name, most will require a parent or guardian to sign or co-sign the car insurance policy. Therefore, in most states, a teen cannot independently buy or insure a car because minors cannot own property in most states or sign contracts, so parents would own that property until the child becomes an adult.
Since most insurance companies don't offer policies for children, the parent or guardian must sign the insurance documents (contract). Technically, parents have no insurable interest in the vehicle, so the insurance company can refuse to add the teen's car to the parents' policy. Your New York State insurance identification cards and the electronic insurance notice together verify your insurance coverage. While you can title a car in the name of a minor, a license plate cannot be issued without proof of the vehicle's liability insurance.
The best way to determine if your particular state has any regulations regarding the minimum age for buying an auto insurance policy is to contact your state's insurance regulator. A 17-year-old can get car insurance in most states, but as a minor, a parent or guardian must co-sign the policy.
