What Are Junior Operator Licenses? (And How To Add New Drivers To Your Auto Policy)

If you’ve recently been spending your free time being driven around empty parking lots, then it’s likely your child is practicing to get their driver’s license soon. While undoubtedly an exciting time for any teen, it can leave parents with multiple questions regarding what exactly comes next. 

Berry Insurance understands that getting a driver’s license is an important milestone of any young person’s life - and that many will want to get their own before they turn 18. This makes it crucial to understand the requirements and restrictions of a Junior Operator License (JOL) before your child receives their license. 

In this article we’ll explore what Junior Operator Licenses offer, as well as how to update your insurance policy when you have a new driver in the household. 

What is a Junior Operator License and what are the requirements? 

Licenses for junior operators are drivers licenses issued to young drivers between 16 ½ and 18 years of age. 

To obtain a Junior Operator License, drivers must meet certain requirements in addition to those of a standard driver’s license. These requirements include: 

• Have a valid learner’s permit and maintain a clean driving record for at least 6 consecutive months before taking a road test. (Any suspension will invalidate the permit and the 6 month period will begin again after the suspension has ended.) 
• Successfully complete a driver's education course, including 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of in-car, behind-the-wheel training; and 6 hours of in-car observation of other student drivers. 
• Complete 40 hours of supervised behind-the-wheel driving, certified by a parent or guardian. 
• A parent or guardian must also participate in 2 hours of instruction on the driver’s education course (unless they have completed it within the past 5 years). 
• Pass the final driving exam. 

What are the restrictions of a Junior Operator License? 

Just as young drivers with learner’s permits must adhere to restrictions on when they can drive and who can be in the vehicle with them, junior operators must abide by additional restrictions before they turn 18.

While they can now operate a vehicle unsupervised, junior operators are restricted from: 

• Carrying passengers under the age of 18 (except for their own siblings) during the first six months of obtaining their license. This is meant to reduce the number of distractions an inexperienced driver may face. 
• Similar to permit rules, junior operators are not to drive between 12:30 am and 5:00 am, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. This is due to higher accident rates among teen drivers late at night when they may be drowsy, speed, or take more risks. 

In addition to these restrictions, junior operators face steeper consequences if they are found breaking these or other laws while driving. 

Junior operator laws and safe driver laws impose harsher penalties as a means to reduce teen driver accident and injury rates. Depending on the violation, junior operators may have their license suspended and must pay a reinstatement fee, complete a retraining course, or take a full exam including retakes of the learner's permit exam and road test. 

For additional information, check out the breakdown of the junior operator violations and penalties on Mass.gov. 

How do I add junior operators to my auto insurance policy?

The next bit of business you will need to consider when your teen gets their license, is how they will be insured on the road. As all Massachusetts drivers are required by law to be covered by auto insurance, you will need to add the junior operator to your auto insurance policy. 

While laws may differ in other states, Massachusetts drivers must be 18 years or older to be eligible for their own insurance policy, so adding your child to your own pre-existing policy is the best course of action. 

Once your child gets their Junior Operator license, you typically have 60 days by law to inform your insurance carrier. Fortunately, updating your insurance policy to add a driver can be as easy as contacting your insurance agent or provider about the newly licensed driver you wish to add to our policy. 

Working with your agent or provider, they will collect information regarding the new driver, including their name, date of birth, social security number, as well as their driving history and experience. 

How much does adding a junior operator cost? 

Being a newly licensed driver with minimal experience, you can expect your policy rates to increase when adding a newly licensed junior operator to your policy. However, this increase will not last forever, as your premium will go down as the new driver gains more experience - drivers being considered fully experienced after 6 years. 

To know more about what you can expect for the cost of adding a newly licensed driver, read this article: How Much Does it Cost to Insure a New Driver?

Keeping your junior operator safe on the road

Having your teen get their license can be as exciting as it is stressful for any parent or guardian. While we know you likely have a lot of questions, you now know what to expect from their Junior Operator License and how to go about adding them to your policy. 

If you have additional questions regarding your new driver and auto insurance policy, reach out to your agent or cruise on over to our Learning Center - we have multiple guides for new drivers and updating your policy.

Is your teen not quite licensed yet? If your young driver is still operating with a learner’s permit, you may be curious to know if you’re covered in the event that their practice results in an accident. If so, check out this article: What Happens if My Child Gets in an Accident with Their Permit?