I am turning 19 and I want to have my own car insurance. My dad says it won’t come cheap. How can I prove him wrong?

Michael

Houston, TX

Your dad has his reasons why he thinks you won’t be able to get cheap insurance for your vehicle. Most of the top insurance companies charge high premiums on young drivers like you. This is due to the fact that most of the incidents of theft, fire, and road mishaps involve young drivers. Most automobile insurance companies also regard young drivers as careless and irresponsible, so higher charges are in store for young drivers like you.

In order to get cheap young driver insurance, you should prove to the insurance company that you are responsible enough to handle your own car. You should enroll in a defensive driving school so that you can present yourself as a responsible driver. You should pick a driving school that is recognized by most vehicle insurance companies.

Another way to get cheap young driver insurance is to get good grades at school. Most straight A students get cheap rates for car insurance. You should strive to perform well in school.

Lastly, another proven way to avail of cheap young driver insurance is to buy safe vehicles. Forget sports cars since these are more prone to accidents.

I’m getting into college next year, and my parents are finally going to get me a car to mark my achievements! Any tips on how to get cheap car insurance for young drivers?

Millie,

Austin, TX

It’s pretty hard to get cheap car insurance for young drivers, especially if you’re just learning to drive. Your car insurance agent will argue that young, inexperienced drivers are at a higher risk of getting into accidents than older drivers. However, there are ways for you to get cheaper car insurance rates:

• Prove your driving ability
Bring proof to your car insurance agent that you know how to drive safely. Completing advanced driving lessons and taking defensive driving classes are just some ways to earn a few certificates showcasing your capability to drive a car safely and responsibly.

• Get a cheaper car
It’ll definitely cost much less to repair a second-hand beetle than a top-of-the-line Ferrari. The cheaper your car, the less payment in car damage your insurance company will have to cover if you get into an accident. Let them know this, and you can argue for a lower insurance premium.

• Make your car safer
The safer your car is, the less chances you have of getting some major injuries. And if you don’t get any major injuries, you won’t have to pay as much in hospitalization bills. Install a couple of airbags, early warning devices and other safety mechanisms to lower the risk of bodily harm to you or your passengers

What are these car insurance points and how do you acquire them?

Wallace

Columbus, GA

Insurance points are used to evaluate the eligibility for car insurance coverage and to determine insurance rates. These points are assigned by your individual insurance provider and each has their own type of point system. The system will differ but many insurance companies use the system based on the rules and guidelines set up by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

Either using the ISO system or their own created system; insurance carriers assign a value (point) to various vehicle violations, such as an accident, DUI or traffic violation. The point value will increase depending on the seriousness of the violation. As you accumulate more “insurance points” as a motorist the likelihood that your insurance premium rates will increase.

If you would like to know the specifics of your insurance company’s rating system, since all carriers vary in the exact variables they use, you can contact your state’s insurance regulatory body. All insurance providers must file their insurance rates with this entity.

I have a 16 year old teen and she wants to start driving but I can’t afford car insurance so can she drive a car that is under my name and her mother’s name if she gets her license. Does she need to have insurance right when she obtains her license in Wyoming?

Jim

Cheyenne, WY

According to the Wyoming’s mandatory auto liability insurance law, anyone operating a motor vehicle must satisfy the state’s financial responsibility limits of 25/50/20.

In addition to that, under the Wyoming financial responsibility law, liability policy means an owner’s or an operator’s policy of liability insurance, certified as proof of financial responsibility, and issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state, to or for the benefit of the individual named as insured.

Plus, when your teen daughter is getting a license, since she is under 18, you as the parents will need to sign a minor’s release form. Part of this form may include being responsible for the minor while he is operating a vehicle or keeping insurance coverage so find out from the WY DOT exactly what the release form states.

My son received his learner’s permit already but he does not have a drivers license yet. Am I obligated to include him in my insurance policy even though he does not own a car yet?

Jerry

Good Question. Jerry.

A teen must go to the Secretary of State to get their level 1 license. A parent or a guardian must accompany him because they will have to sign in his application at the same time otherwise, he will not be issued of the Level 1 license. This will indicate your approval of the application of the minor.

The parent or the guardian must also contact their insurance company to verify if they cover minors with level 1 license. If for instance your son is about to receive his level 2 license, you may ask your insurance agent if you can add him already to your policy or after if gets his full license. Some insurance companies may allow him to be covered without adding him as a driver yet till he gets his full license, and some insurance companies will allow him to be added with his learners permit.

With a level 1 license, a minor may be able to drive a vehicle if they are accompanied by a parent or a guardian, licensed driver , 21 years of age and above. It is a responsibility of a parent or guardian to complete the supervised driving with a licensed adult driver. A level 1 license is a learners license. It has restrictions for teen drivers during the time that she is still beginning to master driving skills that is necessary to become a responsible driver.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Hi Im 18years old. I just want to know how long should a new driver covered under their parents insurance policy after they get their license?

Gene

Thank you for asking Gene.

A new driver actually may not be automatically covered under their parent’s policy once they get their license.

A new driver may first have to be listed on their parents policy declaration’s page. Your parent need to contact their insurance agency first and you will have to be added or endorsed to their policy. Once you have obtained your driver’s license you should be added to the policy although some policies cover those driver’s with restricted license.

If you are listed on your parent’s or guardian’s policy, you should be covered on that policy until you are removed from the policy. I would suggest that you contact your parent’s insurance company to verify if you are include in their policy and what procedures you need to do to remove yourself from the policy. It is likely that you should stay on the policy if you live in the household.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

What are some of the lowest car insurance rates for a 17 year old boy?

Nathan

Good question Nathan.

Insurance rates for teenagers are usually high especially for young boys since statistically speaking they likely get into accidents. This means that this is considered as high risk drivers and would cost higher premiums.

Insurance companies rate cars differently. To be able to get a lower insurance premium rate, you might want to purchase a medium sized car, 4 cylinder sedan, 4 doors with safety features. The cheapest car is usually the cheapest to insure.

Some insurance companies give discount on cars with safety features. Some of the safety features that that these insurance companies want to see are air bags, anti lock brakes and electronic stability control.

There are some few cars that are said to be the safest for teens. Theses cars are Hyundai Elantra, Honda Accord coupe or Toyota Corolla. You should avoid cars that are very small for teens and does not have safety features. It is said that teens may tend to overact and might roll the vehicle. You should have safety features in your car if you are a young driver because you might get discounts on your insurance premiums.You may contact your insurance company or agent to know what cars can give you lower insurance rate.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Will my 17-year old boy be covered in case of accident if I have a full policy coverage on my car insurance?

Yolanda

Thank you for asking.

If you have the liability and physical damage liability, you son may be covered. I would suggest that you speak with your insurance company and make sure you review the terms and exclusions on your policy as well as the details about having a teenager included in the coverage.

If a seventeen year old boy is included in the household for instance, it is your responsibility to inform your insurance company that the teenager is licensed and must be added to the policy as a driver so that proper coverage will be on that person.

If on the other hand the teen is not a member of the household, you will need to speak to your insurance agent to make sure that he will be covered. You may also read through the terms on your policy because some policies may have exclusions for drivers under certain age . Other exclusions also limits the coverage on those that borrows your vehicle.

If you found out that your son is not covered and will be needing to get car insurance, you may speak with your current insurance agent to find out how you can extend the policy to your son.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Im a teen driver and I got a ticket for speeding, what will happen next? I live in Ohio.

Athena

Thank you for asking Athena.

A ticket for exceeding the speed limit by more than 5 mph, when the limit is 55mph will typically result in receiving two points on Your Ohio driver’s record. If you received a written warning with no fines, this might be placed on your driving record.

A fine or court appearance for a written warning are not required in some states. It just sometimes serves as a warning. While other states placed this on your record and file this as a warning. You may verify this information with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles to find out what Ohio state does with written warnings.

A a probationary driver license holder under the age of 17 years, convicted with traffic violations during the first six months of having driver’s license, he must be accompanied by a licensed adult or a guardian whenever operating a vehicle during the six month period commencing on the date on which the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the violation until that person attains the age of 17.

Your insurance company will see the violation if the speeding offense was recorded by the state patrol, when they next check your MVR, which is usually done if you make any changes on your policy.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Can you give me a range on how much will my car insurance go if I add a new teenager driver?

Rachel

Good Question Rachel.

Adding a teen driver on the policy will definitely cost you more since they have a high rates of accidents since they are newly licensed compared to experiences drivers who is more prone to avoid accidents than cause it.

It will actually depends on what your insurance rates already if you want to know the cost of adding a teenager on your policy. Other factor that may also affect your ate is the geographical location. For instance, it will cost you more on your premiums if you live in the congested area that your teen is more likely to get involved in an accident than in a rural area.

If a teenager has taken a formal driving lessons or a driver’s education, he may be able to get discount, If you also have a teen that maintains a higher GPA, this may cut the cost for auto insurance.

Generally, adding a teenager may cost $1200 up to $2500 a year. a minor may expect to pay 2.5 times the base rate of their insurance. Depending on the state where you reside, studies show that if you add a teenager on your insurance policy, your rates may go up 50-200%.

You may speak with your insurance agent about what your new premiums would be if you add a teenager in your policy. You may shop around to check which insurance company can give you a lower rate if you add a teenager.

Goodluck!

MariCAR