Glossary term
Principal operator
Principal operator: The driver an insurer assigns to a vehicle for rating—usually the one who drives it most.
Where this term matters
Guides and entries on this site that use the term.
Guide
Adding a Teen Driver to Your Car Insurance
When you must add a teen, how permits are handled, how insurers assign teens to vehicles, named-driver exclusions, and the questions to ask your insurer.
Guide
How to Compare Car Insurance With a Teen Driver
A comparison method for families adding a teen: fixed coverage, identical inputs, discounts applied consistently, three to five quotes, and the questions that reveal how an insurer treats teens.
Entry
How Insurers Assign a Teen to a Vehicle
The rating methods insurers use to decide which car a teen is priced on, and how to use them to lower the family premium legitimately.