Teen Driver With Learners Permit Insurance Rate Quote
Reader question:
My son just turned fifteen and is studying to get his learner permit. Do I have to add him to my policy when he gets it? Isn’t a teen driver insurance rate so much higher?
Gabby
Thanks for asking, Gabby.
Yes, you do have to add him, and yes, a teen driver insurance rate will be higher than the one you currently have. You gotta do what you gotta do, though, and if you do it right, then your teen driver insurance rate does not have to be exorbitant. Here are a few steps to follow when insuring your teen driver.
- Keep it in the family.
A teenager should not have his own car insurance policy, even if they have a job to pay the premium. While adding a teen driver insurance rate to your own policy may seem undesirable, it will come out cheaper than two separate policies. Your teen being on your policy will lower his risk rate, and give him cheaper rates. Not so great for you, but since you’ll probably be helping out with the payments, it’s best to have a lower total than one lower and one very high.
- Keep the grades up.
When your son starts driving, he can get a good teen driver insurance rate if he makes good grades in school. Make an ultimatum. Good grades, you drive; bad grades, you walk. You’re killing two birds with one stone, there.
- Keep looking.
Anytime you’re about to make a major change in your policy, you need to look at what other companies have to offer. Your teen driver insurance rate from one company may be much better than the teen driver insurance rate you have with the company you already own a policy with, because at your current company teens might file more claims.
- Keep it crash worthy.
If you buy the right car, not only can you get a discount on your teen driver insurance rate, but you can also be sure that your teen is more protected while on the road.
- Keep it safe.
Don’t just buy your teen the car and let him loose. Make sure that he understands driving safety, and enroll him in a driving course or two to enforce that understanding. Keep on top of his driving habits and correct him when he is out of line. If he ever wants to get a cheap teen driver insurance rate, then he needs to start his good driving record ASAP.
- Keep it real.
You can’t just tell your son to drive safe, you have to lead by example. Drive well, follow the laws, and try to drive a safe car to show him what should be done. Point out how you drive to him, and use it as a conversation starter on driving safety.
- Keep it innovative.
Many states have adopted a graduated driver’s license program which restricts teen’s driving priveleges while they are younger, and as they get older allows them more freedom, until they reach the age of eighteen. Even if your state does not have this law, you can ensure driver safety by creating a system of your own just for you and your son.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Teen Driver Auto Insurance Rates?
Why do I have a video about Goldilocks on a post for safe cars for a teen driver? Well, Goldilocks in general because I think the theme behind buying a safe car for a teen driver is to buy the car that is, as Goldilocks would say, juuuuust riiiight. This video in particular because I love Roald Dahl, and it takes me back to when I was six years old and reading his revolting rhymes.
I wouldn’t show it to your teen driver, though. They might think you’re crazy.
Your teen driver is more at risk than any other kind of driver for fatal car crashes, or even just a car crash involving an injury. While six thousand teens die every year in car accidents, over three hundred thousand are seriously injured. This is among the main reasons for why teen driver car insurance rates are so high. In order to lower your teen driver car insurance rates, you have to comply with the car insurance company by lowering the risk of your teen driver. And how do you lower the risk? There are a lot of ways, but a good place to start is by buying your teen driver the right car, which is what many parents do before their kid starts driving on their own.
When picking a car for your teen driver, you should…
- Be a parent, not a friend.
Your teen driver wants the convertible or the sports car. Don’t give in, even if you have the money for the higher premium an the car note. It’s been documented that high performance vehicles are more likely to be involved in car accidents, and having a teen driver in a car that goes very fast is a recipe for disaster. You don’t have to buy your teen driver a station wagon, but practice your firm use of the word “NO” before you go with them to the car dealer ship.
- Pick a stable car.
While SUVs are generally larger and seem to be safer, they aren’t a good option for your teen driver, either. Not even the smaller ones that seem like a good compromise. The reason for this is that they have a low center of gravity, which means they are more likely to skid and roll over, even with safety devices that protect against this. The bumpers are usually not made of the strongest material, and crumple quickly while causing significant damage to the other car.
- Look for crash worthiness.
That doesn’t even sound like a word, but it’s one that gets thrown around a lot in the car insurance business. A crash worthy car is one hat has passed crash tests in flying colors.
- Remember that size is important.
You shouldn’t let your teen driver have a large vehicle, because if they drive recklessly then they could cause a lot of damage. Neither should you allow them to drive a smaller car, because those receive a lot of damage. The best way to go is just riight. Get a mid sized car that is crash worthy.
- Not buy ancient.
Older cars are cheap, and most of us drove a piece of junk when we were young, but if you have the option not to, you should avoiding buying a car that is over ten years old for your teen driver. In fact, again you should get the car whose age is juuust riiight. A new car will have higher teen driver car insurance rates, and an older car won’t have the popular safety features. Buy a car that’s a few years old, but not too old, and you’ll have a match.
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