Why Finding Cheap Car Insurance for Teens is So Difficult
By: David Schneider, Car Insurance Expert
CheaperCarInsurance.com
It’s unfortunate but true: teenage drivers are the highest to insure. Parents dread the day their child turns 16, because they assume it’s not possible to buy cheap car insurance for their new drivers. It’s difficult, yes, but not impossible. We’ll get to that; first let’s look at why teens are so expensive to insure.
Are Teens Bad Drivers?
Insurance companies look at risk and charge for car insurance policies based on the amount of risk a demographic has of getting into an accident. Teens, as newly minted drivers, have a higher risk of getting into an accident, as do seniors.
This doesn’t mean your teen is automatically a bad driver. It just means that careful research has shown that the 16 to 19 year old demographic has more accidents (up to 4 times more likely than other age groups, in fact) than any other demographic. Naturally, an insurance company is going to pass this risk on in the form of an increased premium rate.
Teens are more likely to get into an accident for many reasons:
- They haven’t been driving long
- They get stressed in difficult driving situations and don’t know how to react
- They are distracted by friends, music and cell phones easily
You can and should teach your teen as much as you can to help her be a safer driver so that she will maintain a healthy driving record. That, in turn, will help her in a few years get a good driver discount on her car insurance policy.
How to Help Your Teen
The road to cheap car insurance is paved with good intentions. Make the most of yours by educating your teen on proper driving techniques:
- Enroll her in a driver’s education program (which can also get a discount on car insurance)
- Exercise proper driving technique when you drive (monkey see, monkey do)
- Do not allow her to text or talk on the phone while driving
- Minimize the number of people she drives with in the car
Following smart techniques like these can instill proper driving skills in your teen and help her be a good driver. Good drivers get better rates on car insurance, so it will pay off in the long run.
How to Find Cheap Car Insurance Today
As we said, it’s difficult (if you don’t know where to look) to find cheap car insurance for your teen, but certainly not impossible. Here are ways you can save right now on your teen’s car insurance policy.
1. Discounts
If your teen is a good student, she may qualify for a Good Student Discount with your insurance company. See what their guidelines are and get a quote based on her discount. Your insurance may also offer discounts for taking driver’s education or for being a member of certain organizations. Check all potential discounts before buying a policy.
2. Add Her to Your Policy
By putting your driver on your policy, you are essentially taking on the risk of your child getting into an accident. Insurance companies appreciate this, and can offer cheap car insurance discounts for all policyholders, teen driver included.
3. Get a Quote
Your existing car insurance company may not have the best deal on cheap car insurance for your teen. On our site, you can get multiple quotes from the top insurers at huge discounts: even for teens. Click “Get a Quote” above to get started and see how much you can save today. You’ll get quotes delivered right to your inbox minutes after you fill out a short form.
Posted: January 12, 2010
