Getting Teen Auto Insurance Painlessly
By: David Schneider, Car Insurance Expert
CheaperCarInsurance.com
When it comes to buying your teen car insurance, there are a few keys to remember. Knowing what you should and should not do can lead you to affordable rates without frustration.
Insurance companies rely heavily on driving records to determine rates. A teenager who has just got her driver’s license won’t have much experience driving and teen auto insurance rates are typically higher than that for an adult. According to RateWatch, you could be spending up to $2,000 a year by putting a teen on your insurance policy. You can minimize the rates by knowing the right choices to make.
Avoid Making These Mistakes with Teen Auto Insurance
These are a few common mistakes that you can avoid to keep your premiums low with teen auto insurance:
- Do not reduce your coverage as a means of saving
- Don’t purchase a new car for your teen driver
- Don’t avoid shopping around for the best price
A common mistake many people make when getting teen auto insurance is raising their deductibles to save money. This may save money for the time being, but remember that you are insuring a teenager. Teens are high-risk drivers and if they should get in a wreck, you will have to pay for the damages.
Do not buy a brand new car for your teen driver. It may sound like a good idea to opt for a new vehicle that has higher safety ratings, but the insurance will cost you more for a new vehicle. Likewise, don’t consider an older, compact vehicle. Cars that are 5 years or older are considered to be unsafe and cause more accidents. Save on your teen auto insurance by letting your child drive your vehicle when you are not using it.
Last, but not least is not comparing quotes. You may be satisfied with your current auto insurance, but consider if it’s affordable with your teen on the policy. You could be saving a great deal by comparing quotes from other companies for teen auto insurance.
Things You Should Do When Getting Your Teen Auto Insurance Here is what you should do to try saving more on your teen auto insurance and avoid your premiums from going up due to an accident.
- Consider an economical car if you choose to purchase a vehicle for your teen driver
- Limit the amount of riders in the car when your teen is driving
- Encourage your kids to make better grades
- Set a curfew
If you do decide to buy a vehicle for your teen to drive, consider the car choice carefully. This can have an impact on your teen auto insurance rates, so opt for a safe, used vehicle. Put it under your name to keep your premiums down.
You should limit the number of friends who can ride when your teen is driving. Teens get in more accidents from being distracted when behind the wheel. We all know how an accident can raise our premiums, so try avoiding it altogether by taking precautions.
Parents always want their kids to do well in school and a teen driver who makes good grades could benefit your wallet. Most insurance companies will offer good student discounts for teen auto insurance.
Set a curfew for how late your teen can drive, even if your town doesn’t have one. Statistics show that more accidents caused by teens occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. As a parent, you probably know that nothing good can come from a teen driving around at these hours.
Posted: March 09, 2010
