The expense of insuring a teenage driver is no joke; it really can break your bank if you are not careful. Young drivers obviously lack experience in driving and insurance providers are not lenient on the price of giving them coverage. They know these kids can often be persuaded into careless driving by their passenger peers by turning the radio loud, engaging in noisy conversations, talking (or heaven forbid, texting) on the cell phone and thinking these things are innocent fun. But more experienced drivers know that any kind of careless driving leads to accidents, which is why the insurance companies charge higher rates for teens.
Get Cheap Rates
Just like for experienced drivers, the cost to insure a young driver depends heavily upon certain factors. The gender of the driver is huge when it comes to premiums; young male drivers pay more than young female drivers do. This is not due to any prejudice, it’s simply because statistics prove that young male drivers have always been involved in more traffic incidents than young female drivers. The location of the vehicle the teen is driving also plays a role in determining the premium. While sometimes this factor can be changed, most often it cannot. If the car dwells in an area marked with high crime activity, you’ll be paying more for insurance.
While there’s not much a policyholder can do about having a young male driver and the town they live in, there are some things both the
What the Young Driver Can Do
First and foremost, the teen needs to listen to you and your rules, but you also need to listen to your kid’s concerns as well. There will be some rules that can be compromised by both parent and teen, but don’t be afraid to set definite rules about driving because “driving is a privilege, not a right.” Following the laws of the land and the rules of your home will help your young driver grasp a better understanding of the importance of driving safely.
Keep your driving record clean by not getting into accidents or receiving tickets. Knowing the laws and following your parent’s rules may help you avoid these nasty situations that will make your insurance price skyrocket. Remember that it takes time for these flaws to be erased from your record, so your cost of insurance will be high for as long as they stay there. It’s best to not get any negative marks or points on your record in the first place.
Get good grades. You might not see a link between your grades and your ability to drive, but your insurance company does. They believe students who perform well in a high stress situation, such as taking an exam or writing essays, will also perform well in other high stress situations, such as on the road driving the freeways. Students who can show their report card having a “B” average or better will see the privilege of cheaper insurance rates. Some insurers will require that student already have 3 years of driving experience first, while others don’t have this requirement.
Pay for all or some of your insurance. By offering to help pay to be insured, you will gain responsibility and help your parents save their own money. This may also help you drive safer since you’d be the one to pay for any hikes in the premium cost due to any accidents or tickets you receive.
What the Parent/Policyholder Can Do
Be involved in your teen’s life so your expectations are known. No parent can expect their child to read their mind and know the expectations, so it is important for the parent to discuss what is required of him often. This leaves little room for misunderstandings and excuses. Rules about curfews, the number of passengers in the car, what the car is used for, when it can be used, and how many miles the car can be driven per week/month are some basic rules that can be set.
Choose coverage that pertains to the young driver. For instance, if he is driving a car that does not have a high cash value, it might be wise to drop any Comprehensive and Collision coverage. Also, before purchasing a vehicle for the teen, talk to your insurance agent to see what type of car would be cheaper to insure. Some providers offer discounts for hybrid cars, while others will tell you to get an inexpensive car to lower your cost. The type of car greatly affects your rates.
Pay a higher deductible. On any policy, having a higher deductible will lower your rates because it means the insurance company will be paying less for your claim. If having a higher deductible is too expensive for you, require your young driver to help pay it if they are the reason a claim is filed. Deductibles can range from $250 to $1,000. Go over these numbers with your young driver so they have a better understanding of all that goes into paying for an accident. These figures may help them drive safely and less frequently when they know how expensive the consequences of driving recklessly are.
Cheap auto insurance for young drivers isn’t going to jump out of the computer screen and fall into your lap. You’ll need to search for it, and the fastest way to look is by comparing what local auto insurance companies are willing to quote you. We can help you get these quotes when you enter your zip code in the appropriate box and continue answering the short list of questions. Combine our quotes with the above mentioned steps and you could be paying the cheapest possible rates for your young driver.
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