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What does it mean when someone is not rated on a car insurance policy?

My son recently hit a pothole while driving the family car. It caused thousands of dollars of damage. The insurance company said they wouldn't cover him because he's "not rated." He's listed as a driver on the policy. What does this mean?

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Sophie Newman · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“I’m sorry to hear about your car! Finding out an insurance company won’t cover damage or a claim is incredibly upsetting, especially when a driver is on your policy.
In terms of
car insurance
, a person who is not rated will not affect the rates of your premiums. So if you have someone in the house who doesn’t drive your car, their driving and claims records aren’t considered.
Young drivers are often non-rated to avoid the potential increase that comes with listing them.
Rating is different from exclusion and listed. If a driver is excluded from an insurance policy, there is no coverage for any damage they cause. It’s possible that your son was both excluded and not rated.
You can reach out to your car insurance company for more clarification. You can also look at your policy’s terms and conditions. Their definition of a non-rated driver would be there.
If you decide to list your son as a rated driver in the future, consider shopping around. You may be able to find a
more affordable rate
with another company.
For cheap car insurance quotes fast, try the
Jerry
app. Jerry finds the best quotes from up to 50 top insurance providers in seconds. And the best part–Jerry does this for free.”
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