Car Insurance for Teenagers - Savings Guide

Statistics for teenage drivers aren’t that good. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, thousands of teenagers aged between 13 and 19 die every year in car crashes. The insurance companies understand the risk posed by teenage drivers and will bill them accordingly. By the time your kids reach 25, they will pay, on average, more than twice the rate a 40 year old male driver is charged. However, there are ways you can lower the bills, and this article will present you with some of them.

Make Sure That Your Son Or Daughter Knows The Rules

A clean driving record is one of the main prerequisites for a lower insurance premium. Make sure your kid knows the laws and follows them religiously. Have everyone in your family involve by setting good examples – if your son or daughter sees that you drive aggressively and frequently break the speed limits, he or she will probably do the same.

Some states enforce some restrictions to teenage drivers. They may not, for instance, drive at night in most states, unless they are on their way to or from school or work. Learn the rules yourself and make sure your kid follows them.

Make Sure Your Kid Gets Good Grades

Most insurance companies offer teenage drivers a discount of around 10% if they are enrolled in an accredited educational facility and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. You may want to figure out how much these savings amount to and give that money to your teen. This will motivate them to keep driving safely (an accident or a bunch of tickets will usually waive the right to this discount) and also keep getting good grades in school.

Ride With Your Kid Every Once In A While

New drivers can learn bad habits easily. If they have just got their license, they may think, for instance, that tailgating is a normal practice. Take a ride every once in a while with your kid and explain him or her about some common mistakes they didn’t hear about in driving school.

Enroll Your Teen In Safe Driving Courses

A defensive driving class will not only teach your kid how to be a better driver, but will also save you some money. Insurance companies offer discounts between 5 and 15% for those who pass such courses.

Traffic school is highly recommended if your kid got a ticket. It may take years for it to be removed from the driving record, and a few days’ driving classes will speed up the process. Keep in mind, however, that not all judges will allow the penalty points to be written off after a safe driving course.

Make The Kid Pay For The Insurance

Paying (part of) the insurance with the kid’s allowance money will motivate him or her to keep the costs down to a minimum value. Alternatively, you can have them pay for the eventual surcharges when they get a ticket.

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