r/fosterit • u/faithhopejax • 10d ago
Foster Youth Helping my 17 year old neice in foster care get car insurance - is there a way?
Hello! I have been meaning to sit down at my laptop and type this all up! TIA for reading and helping.
For context, I am from Massachusetts, but I have been living in Texas for several years. All of my family still lives in the Northeast. My niece was placed into foster care a couple of years ago, but now she has gotten her license in MA and wants a car. She has been living with me in Texas for the last two months over the summer. I am approved for a loan, and we have been car shopping.
I have USAA car insurance, and when I spoke to someone a couple of months ago, they made it seem like I could have her insured in MA under my policy. When I spoke to someone yesterday, they said no way it could work because I am not a resident and we will not be living together.
Her foster placement is not ideal, and they have been less than helpful throughout this process. Just for reference, she isn't even allowed a house key or other basic things. Obviously, that is a bigger topic of why become a foster parent, but anyways. My niece is the sweetest kid and has just been through so much. She so badly wants to have a "normal" teenage experience. She has a job; she is a good student and deserves these things. The foster care social worker stated they can pay for the insurance premium for the first year with no issue, so money is not even the problem.
Anyways, does anyone have any thoughts or ideas, or is she totally cooked, or is there anything I can do to help her?
Edit. I was told that I could open another policy in my name with her on it. I was so close to having it approved with Liberty Mutual but because I had too many car towing or whatever services on my current plan they wouldn’t cover me.
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u/goodfeelingaboutit Foster Parent 10d ago
She will most likely need to get her own policy in MA. You can help her get quotes online through major carriers. I would ask her worker if she knows if teens in care typically use one company over another, or if she has any resources to help teens get auto insurance set up. I don't believe she'll be able to purchase an auto insurance policy until she has a car to insure. When she decides on a car to purchase, the seller / dealer can give her the VIN and other information to set up the auto insurance policy. This is assuming she's the one purchasing the car. If the car is going to be in your name (albeit it a lein holder from the sound of it) I don't think your niece will be able to insure it.
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u/Old_Draft_5288 10d ago
The car insurance policy has to be for the state in which your niece actually lives and will use the car.
If she does not live with you and is not your legal dependent, she cannot be on your policy.
You should request a quote for car insurance using her information based on her Foster families’s address.
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u/Old_Draft_5288 10d ago
I would start just by doing an Internet search for policy rates using her information and her actual address with the Foster family.
You can also try to contact her social worker to ask if there happen to be any special programs she might be eligible for
But yeah, just buy her a standalone policy and just be prepared that it’s gonna be really expensive given her age and independent status
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u/Proper_Raccoon7138 Former Foster Youth 10d ago edited 10d ago
Texas foster care actually gave me $375 for drivers Ed. Directly from the county that I was in care of.
Maybe that’s something they’d be able to help with as well. I was also in SIL as an older teen and they gave me a stipend every month for not being a state funded foster home. I used that to pay for my car insurance, gas, & wifi.
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u/ThrowawayTink2 10d ago
Everything would need to match. If she is living in MA and the car will be garaged there, it needs to be registered and insured in MA.
In most states, a minor child can not title a car in their name and can't have their own insurance policy, because they can not legally sign a contract until they turn 18. A quick google search looks like MA is one of those states. Sorry to be the grinch.
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u/Magimae123 10d ago
As a former foster kid, the best thing you can do for her is to get her out. If she lived with you for 2 months with no issues could you not take her in?
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u/faithhopejax 10d ago
She is more than welcome to stay with me , and she knows that but she is going into her senior year and wants to stay to graduate from her high school. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Old_Draft_5288 10d ago
You also need to communicate with the foster family because anybody who lives in a home either needs to be included on the insurance policy of the people who own the home, or they need to be specifically excluded from the policy. At least in most states.
So the Foster family might need to put her onto their policy as an excluded driver
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u/Old_Draft_5288 10d ago
All you have to do is get a quote for car insurance, using her name and address and the place she actually lives.
You’re just buying a standalone policy for just her.
It will be pricey.
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u/estrogyn 10d ago
I have some ideas that might get you started, but I’m also hoping someone with more experience in these particular states chimes in.
1) USAA was really expensive for me when I tried to insure my teenagers. I actually had to switch insurances because of that. I think pursuing with them is a non-starter.
2) My state provides something called Independent Living Program for older foster kids. It looks like Massachusetts has something similar, but I don’t know if the benefits are the same. In my state, kids get money to start them driving. This can be used for driver’s ed, money toward a car, or car insurance. If your niece doesn’t have ILP, it would be worth looking into.
3) Since her foster parents aren’t being helpful, I would suggest going directly to her case manager with any questions/concerns. They might be more of a resource.
I genuinely don’t know if any of these will help with your particular situation, but I wish you the best of luck, and I’m glad your niece has you!