Teen Car Insurance: Should You Be Adding Teenage Drivers to Your Auto Policy?

For most states, the legal age driving age for teenage drivers is 16 years of age. There is much preparation in setting up your teen to drive. But have you thought about getting  your teen car insurance?Evaluating the best options when your teen car insurance is costly due to their inexperience. When your teen gets their license, it’s a proud, yet scary, moment for you. There was much preparation for them to get their license such as taking drivers education, getting their permit, practicing driving and passing the driving test. However, there is still preparation after they get their license such as considering what type of car to get and how they will be covered. There is much to think about when determining coverage such as their driving skills, others on the road, and the stability of their car. Your teen is now able to explore the road on their own. Scary thoughts, right? Ease the worries of your new teen driver by making sure they have proper teen car insurance. You may have considered to buy their own plan or put them on your current plan for teen car insurance. There are a few options and loop holes to getting a great deal and finding an ample policy when buying your teen car insurance.

Getting your teen car insurance is necessary for their experience on the road. Putting your teen on your car insurance policy can be costly but it may be beneficial if other routes are more expensive. Selecting the proper plan requires researching into options with your insurance provider. There are various alternatives you can take to cut costs for teen car insurance such as being a low-mileage driver, being a safe driver, taking drivers education and being a good student. Teen car insurance cost also varies according to the type of car used. If a safer car is used, the teen car insurance cost is lower.

The article below from www.dmv.org discusses teen car insurance and some of the options you have when adding a teen driver to your policy.

 

How to Add Teens to Your Auto Insurance Policy

It’s an unfortunate fact: Teen drivers account for a disproportionate amount of car crashes. That’s why your premiums could triple when you add a single teen driver to your auto insurance policy.

So, let’s examine some steps you can take to limit the acceleration of your insurance rates.

Options for Adding a Teen to Your Car Insurance Policy

Many insurers only hike insurance premiums after a teen receives a driver’s license. So, you should list your permit-holding teen on your policy, but in most cases you won’t feel the full insurance effect of having a teen driver until a license has been granted.

Considering this, it can be smart to encourage your teen to retain the driving permit status for as long as possible; you can often renew a driving permit (or get an extension) from your DMV for little cost. However, doing so means your teen must continue to abide by the stricter driving requirements imposed on permit holders.

(And let’s face it: Teens will not be too happy about holding off on upgrading to a full license―even if it does mean saving Mom and Dad some money.)

Before adding your child to your policy, see if might be cheaper to buy a separate policy. You can quickly get a ball-park estimate by obtaining quotes from providers online. This should help you determine if an individual policy could be a viable option for you.

Should you choose to opt for your own policy, see if your carrier will allow you to add your teen as an “occasional” driver. This will diminish the damage to your checkbook.

Also, ask if you can assign your teen to the least expensive car listed on your policy. Again, this can minimize your premium increase. Just be sure, though, that your teen only drives that car, and doesn’t sneak out for a night in your Porsche.

Other Ways to Save Money on Teen Car Insurance

Besides investigating the options listed above, consider the following suggestions. Taking a number of these actions can reduce the expense of adding a teen driver to your policy―possibly by 50% or more.

  • Have your teen drive a car model with an excellent safety record and the latest safety equipment. Bonus points if it’s a little older, a four-door sedan, and not appealing to car thieves. Visit insurance company sites to see what types of cars they prefer insuring.
  • See what discounts your teen may qualify for, such as discounts for being a good student, taking driver education, and being a low-mileage driver.
  • See what discounts you may qualify for, such as discounts for combining coverage, being a safe driver, and taking safety education.
  • Comparison shop among car insurance providers; don’t simply just look towards your current provider.
  • Limit the amount of driving your teen performs.
  • Emphasize to your teen the consequences of risky driving behavior, both from a safety and financial standpoint. If necessary, invest in a global positioning system (GPS) device that alerts you to where, how often, and how fast your teen drives.

While you can’t know where you kids are at all times, you can know that they are protected in the event that something does happen with their teen car insurance. It is common knowledge that accidents caused by teenage drivers is due to their inexperience. If they’re properly prepared for the road, their teen car insurance may actually cost less. Giving your teen car insurance by adding them to your current policy can be less costly if they have been properly educated and taught.

The key to a being a safe driver? Practice! As a parent, you yourself could lower the cost of teen car insurance if you guide them to respect the road.  This means going out with them everyday during the time of their permit. Another tip to training your teen’s driving skills is by practicing at a young age. It’s known that kids pick up driving habits from their parents at a young age. If you condition them by being a good driver yourself, you may end up saving yourself some money. Not to mention if you’re driving safe it will save you money on your car insurance, depending on the policy.

The best thing you can do to ensure safety and a low cost for teen car insurance  is to provide them with a safe vehicle. Providing your teen with a model notorious for excellent safety and the latest safety equipment is praised in insurance. Your teen would not only have a reliable car, but their teen car insurance would cost less. Not to mention if they get in an accident you know they will be safe.

If you’re in the Massachusetts area and have any questions about how to get you teenage driver onto your policy or if you’d like to know more about your policy, please contact the agents at TJ Woods Insurance Agency and we will be happy to help.

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  1. […] While you can’t know where you kids are at all times you can know that they are protected in the event that something does happen. It is common knowledge that the most accidents are caused by teenage drivers due to their inexperience. However, even while this may be the case, you can rest assured that if your son or daughter is involved in a minor accident, your car is covered by insurance. If you’re in the Massachusetts area and have any questions about how to get you teenage driver onto your policy or if you’d like to know more about your policy, please contact the agents at TJ Woods Insurance Agency and we will be happy to help .Source: woodsinsurance.com […]

  2. […] please contact the agents at TJ Woods Insurance Agency and we will be happy to help .Source: woodsinsurance.com Choose State… Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Washington D.C. […]

  3. […] While you can’t know where you kids are at all times you can know that they are protected in the event that something does happen. It is common knowledge that the most accidents are caused by teenage drivers due to their inexperience. However, even while this may be the case, you can rest assured that if your son or daughter is involved in a minor accident, your car is covered by insurance. If you’re in the Massachusetts area and have any questions about how to get you teenage driver onto your policy or if you’d like to know more about your policy, please contact the agents at TJ Woods Insurance Agency and we will be happy to help .Source: woodsinsurance.com […]