Posts: 1,632
Threads: 217
Joined: Sep 2024
Reputation:
0
So my 20 y.o. step daughter (who lives at home with her mother and I) has been saving up a little money to get a first car soon. She/we will buy it outright (no lease or financing). Most likely something in the $3-4k used Honda/Toyota range. She will also be getting her driver license soon. I feel she will be a very capable driver and am not overly concerned on that front.
My questions are:
1. Should the car title go in her name or mine/her mother's name? Any advantage/disadvantage to one over the other?
2. Should insurance get tacked on to our existing policy or should she get her own policy separate from us?
In case it has any bearing, we are in Northern California with State Farm and have both auto and homeowner's insurance through them with immaculate records (except for the speeding ticket I got 10 years ago on Highway 50 in the middle of Nevada which I alway assumed was impossible).
Thanks all!
-Bo
Posts: 1,354
Threads: 231
Joined: Mar 2022
Reputation:
0
They are probably both better on yours. That's what my parents tell me anyway, and why my car's title is temporarily not under my name and my car insurance is on theirs.
Car insurance, definitely, as you will get multi-car discounts. Let me know about the titles though, since I'm not entirely sure about that one.
Posts: 20,321
Threads: 766
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
4
Seems like getting the drivers license should be the first thing addressed before even thinking about the rest.
In CA you can title a car a few different ways with multiple names on the title.
Name1 OR Name2 allows either party to sign for ownership changes.
Name1 AND Name2 requires both parties to sign.
If it's paid for with her money, but you want to be able to handle paperwork then you might want to use the "OR" form.
Probably cheaper to have the car on your insurance, check with your agent for Multi-car discounts, and also ask about Good Student discounts if she's in college with a 3.0 or above average.
Posts: 24,926
Threads: 4,391
Joined: Nov 2024
Reputation:
0
Insurance under her own name will be expensive until she's 25, if it works like it used to.
Posts: 15,842
Threads: 95
Joined: May 2025
Valium or the equivalent....
Posts: 4,623
Threads: 28
Joined: Aug 2016
Reputation:
0
She should be on her own.
If anything should happen, (Forbid) a law suit or = could consume all of your assets.
Just something to investigate and think about.
You could financially assist her with the insurance, if necessary.
Posts: 2,348
Threads: 235
Joined: May 2015
If you have any assets worth protecting, she should absolutely be on her own and have the car titled in her own name.
If you don't have any assets, you should get insurance quotes. There may be multi-car discounts available.
When I was 16, my parents put me on my own insurance. It saved them a boatload since I only needed the legal minimum.
Posts: 899
Threads: 206
Joined: May 2016
Reputation:
0
-if it is under you it will be cheaper, but you stand to take the risk of her debts from accidents or lawsuits
-if it is under her it saves you from having to pay for any accident debts she incurs.. since your policy won't be charged all the penalties but it could be more expensive
(if you own the car w/ her you could still be liable i believe)
-if it is under her mother it will be cheaper AND you won't be liable for it all
-does she realize that the car price is just the beginning of the expense of the car?
Posts: 7,028
Threads: 1,027
Joined: Apr 2024
Reputation:
0
I've been recalling my childhood with my wife, comparing that to my kids'.
I had a motorcycle at age 11-ish. And we would ride on roads. Not unlike kids with mopeds/scooters today. Even go as far as leaving the county, from living in the center. Would run errands probably at 14 years old, taking the car into town to buy groceries for us at times. Just small, one or two items.
Everyone I knew had their driver's permit at 15 and some months. Everyone I knew had their driver's license at 16+1month+1day.
First car was a used Olds 442, swivel buckets. Loved the swivel buckets.
I laugh because my kids are nowhere near approaching that.
First thing I noticed when we built our house is how many adult children stay at home 'in the city'. After HS Graduation, I was never at home much at all. Went to school (away), got jobs, married, kids, now.
I wouldn't be having these issues with an adult.
