Short of forbidding their teenage child to get their driver’s license, many parents feel there’s little they can do to avoid the high cost of auto insurance for their son or daughter. Granted, an automobile insurance policy that covers a new driver is likely to be expensive, there are things that can be done to help soften the financial blow. Parents need to be aware of what to look for before they start gathering quotes for auto insurance for their teen.
A safe driver is really the most important qualification of getting a great rate. This is why enrolling the child in a driving course is a great idea. Not only does it help lower the teen’s insurance rates but it also provides some peace of mind to the parent. If the child learns how to drive from a professional, they are much more likely to continue obeying the rules of the road which will ultimately result in lower rates.
Even though all kids dream of getting a brand new sports car for their sixteenth birthday, this isn’t going to help in the quest to find affordable auto insurance for the teen. New cars simply cost more to insure. A parent is much better off buying a used car and investing the money so when the child is old enough to qualify for a low auto insurance rate they can buy the car they really want.
Many teenagers have after school jobs and there should be an agreement in place that states that they foot part of the insurance costs. This not only makes it more affordable for the parent but it teaches the child about financial responsibility as well. With this approach the child will be well prepared to pay their own auto insurance costs when they venture out on their own.
By: Deborah Mills
Posts Tagged ‘Teenagers’
Car Insurance Rates For Teenagers
January 12th, 2010
Do you have a teenager that is getting ready to be of legal age to drive? Are you worried about how you are going to pay for the insurance that you will need for your teen driver? There are ways to get discounts for your teen driver and there are things that you should expect when it comes to car insurance rates for teenagers. Here are some tips to help you out.
Sure, it is true that your teen could cause your insurance rates to double, maybe even triple. This all has to do with the fact that there are more than triple the amount of accidents that involve someone under the age of 20 than involve someone that is over 20. This is why our insurance rates go down at 25. We have matured and we are now able to be safer on the roads.
Teenagers are just learning how to drive and too often we make mistakes and learn the hard way. When I was a teenager I was involved in 5 different accidents and two more before I turned 25. Now I have not been in a single one since I turned 25 and I have notices that I drive much safer and I am always watching out for the other guy.
You can get discounts for your teens by sending them to drivers school or drivers education classes. If the pass the classes and get their certificate, this can save you between 10% and 20% each year on your policy.
There is also a discount offered for good students, which are those with a “B” average or better. This is worth another 20% for your teen and your policy.
You can also get even lower rates if your driving record is clean and your teens driving record stays clean. Now you should not panic when they get their first speeding ticket or other infraction because it will probably happen. The first one is a bit of a freebie though because they can use the deferral program and as long as they do not get another ticket for a year it will be wiped off their record.
Car insurance rates for teenagers are very high and you should explain to your teenage driver why that is. By telling them about the dangers that they face you might just be able to put something in the back of their mind that will keep them safer on the roads.
By: Benjamin Robert Ehinger