Question: What does age first licensed mean?
Answer: If a car insurance company asks for your date first licensed or age first licensed, they want to know the day you received your first unrestricted driver’s license. It is not the day that you passed your written test or road test, entered driver training, or got your learner’s permit or probationary license.
While you can legally drive with a learner’s permit, there are restrictions on your driving (like having a family member in the car) because you are still in an official learning period. Additionally, even after you complete your driver education course or pass your knowledge test and driving test, there may be a waiting period before you get your official license from the driver licensing office.
Why does it matte/r when you got your license?
Insurance companies use this information to learn more about your driving experience as a fully licensed driver.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, teen drivers are more likely to get into an accident and will therefore always see higher auto insurance rates than other drivers. This is due in part to a lack of driving experience, which can cause young drivers to make more mistakes on the road.
Learn more: Car insurance for new drivers
How to find your date first licensed
If you still have your original driver’s license, you can check the issue date for your date first licensed.
If you don’t have your old license anymore, however, you can contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They’ll be able to provide you with more information about your driving experience. This can be done over the phone but, in some states, you may be able to go online to access your driving history.
Liz Jenson is an insurance writer who specializes in general automotive and insurance topics. Liz’s mission is to produce informative and useful content to help car owners make smart choices when buying cars and car insurance. Since joining Jerry in 2021, Liz has written nearly 4,000 long- and short-form articles on topics including state-specific insurance recommendations, common car insurance questions, and deep dives into vehicle model details. Before they came to Jerry, Liz was a full-time student at Indiana University, Bloomington working on a double major in English and French.
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
