Posts Tagged ‘Teen Car Insurance’

Car Insurance For Young Drivers

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

The CDC states that teen drivers are four times more likely to crash than an older driver. Young drivers (age 15-24) represent only 14 percent of the U.S. population, but they account for 30 percent of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries. At last tally (in 2009), 3,000 teens were killed in car accidents and another 350,000 went to the E.R. Fortunately, the dangers associated with teens driving can be drastically reduced.

car insurance

Sixteen is an exciting age. How will you help your child prepare for the responsibility of driving? Don't forget to shop around for better car insurance rates too!

Risk Factors

Be sure your teen is not engaging in the following risky behaviors:

  • Speeding (37% of young males who crash are speeding at the time).
  • Drinking (26% of young males who crash had consumed alcohol).
  • Not Wearing A Seatbelt (10% of teens say they never buckle up as passengers; 3/4 teens killed were not buckled).
  • Evening Driving (half of teen motor vehicle deaths occur between 3 pm and midnight).
  • Weekend Driving (56% of teen deaths from crashes occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday).

Lowering The Risks

The CDC highly recommends Graduated Driver Licensing as a means to lower the risks associated with teen drivers. Research suggests that such programs reduce the risk non-fatal injuries by 38 percent and fatal crashes by 40 percent. Through this program, drivers gain a learner’s permit first, where they can only drive with another licensed driver in the car. Next, they receive a provisional license that temporarily places restrictions on nighttime driving and limits the number of passengers. When the driver reaches maturity and gains more experience, full licensure is granted. Most states now have this type of law in place: see if yours does here!

Car Insurance For New Drivers

Another issue of concern to parents is the cost of car insurance for teens. Due to the increased risks associated with teen drivers, car insurance companies do charge a higher premium. However, this increase can be off-set by the following:

  • A vehicle that is highly rated for safety (with safety features included)
  • A consistently high GPA (the “good student discount”)
  • Completion of defensive driving / driver safety courses
  • Shopping around for multiple car insurance quotes.

Teen driving doesn’t have to be a scary time for your family. Take the appropriate steps and it will be a rite of passage for your maturing child.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Car Insurance Rates, Cheap Car Insurance, Discount Car Insurance, Free Car Insurance Quote, General Car Insurance |

How Can I Get Auto Insurance for a Teen with a Poor Driving Record

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

Buying auto insurance for young drivers is an expensive proposition for any parent or guardian and if a teen already has a poor driving record, it becomes even more pricey. There are options available to try to keep coverage costs down, though.

A parent can shop around and consider changing insurance providers to get a better price, have the teen driver in enroll in an approved drivers education program, or exclude the teen driver from his or her insurance policy. Consider the available options before making a decision about how to arrange coverage for a young person in this situation.

Auto Insurance Rates for Teen Drivers

Auto insurance rates for teens are high because young people who have recently been licensed are more likely to be involved in accidents than drivers who have been licensed for some time. Teens and young adults are also more likely to engage in risky behaviors, which also increases the likelihood of the insurance company having to pay out on claims for damages caused by drivers in this age group.

Change Auto Insurance Providers

One option available to the parent of a teen driver who has already established a poor driving record is to change insurance companies. Since each one sets rates independently, it maybe possible to get a lower rate from a different provider.

The insurance company will ask a number of questions before providing a quote for coverage. Along with gathering basic information about the make and model of the vehicle, how long the primary driver has been licensed, and where he or she lives, the insurer will ask about the driving record of all licensed drivers in the household – including the teen.

It is not a good idea to try to hide this information from the insurance company. It will pull the driving records of all drivers in the household as a matter of course before issuing a policy. If the company discovers that the driver was less than truthful on the application, it may cancel the coverage.

Enroll in a Driver’s Education Program

Some auto insurance providers offer preferred rates to drivers who have completed an approved driver’s education program. Learning from a trained instructor can help the young driver learn how to operate a vehicle safely and correct any habits which have contributed to causing accidents or accumulating moving violations.

Another benefit to taking a driver’s education course is that it may help a teen driver qualify for a better rate on his or her coverage. Some companies offer a discount in this instance, and it’s a good idea to ask whether the ones under consideration will provide this type of price break to policyholders.

Exclude the Teen Driver from Coverage

If the cost of including the teen driver on a parent’s auto insurance policy is too high, the parent can choose to exclude him or her from the policy. In this situation, the teen is not named on the policy as even an occasional driver and has no coverage if he or she operates the vehicle. This may be considered an extreme solution, but one which can be used to keep costs down when a teen has a poor driving record.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in General Car Insurance |

Can I Get Auto Insurance with a Learner’s Permit

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

A number of people wonder whether they can get auto insurance with a learner’s permit. The answer to this question is that it depends on the company involved. In most cases, the new driver with a learner’s permit is a teen or young adult.

Most companies do not require that the learner’s permit holder be be added to an existing policy or charge extra for the new driver in the household until he or she has obtained a full license. Some insurance companies do require that a driver with a learner’s permit the named on an existing policy, however, and this type of change in circumstance needs to be reported to the insurance company in any case.

Auto Insurance for Teen Drivers

The cost of insuring a teen driver is quite high. Parents who want to keep insurance costs down, while still providing the teen with the coverage he or she needs, can add the new driver to an existing policy. This is a much more economical choice than buying coverage with the teen driver as the primary policyholder.

The parent should make a point of getting a quote for adding the teen driver to his or her existing policy. It’s also a good idea to get quotes from other insurance providers and to compare rates.

Pricing for auto insurance coverage can vary significantly depending on the company involved. Each one determines independently how much it will charge for coverage based on how much risk it is prepared to assume on behalf of the policyholder.

Teen Drivers and High Risk Coverage

Teen drivers are considered high risk for auto insurance purposes because of their lack of experience behind the wheel. Young people are also known to take more risks when driving than more mature drivers. Young males can expect to pay more for their auto insurance coverage than young women. The good news for young drivers is that by the time they reach their mid-20s, the cost of their auto insurance coverage should start to come down as long as they are able to maintain a clean driving record.

Discounts on Auto Insurance for Teens

Parents who are looking for affordable auto insurance coverage for teens can take advantage of discounts offered by insurance providers. Some companies offer a price break to students who maintain a “B” average or better. They assume that a student who has the maturity to do well in his or her studies will also behave that way behind the wheel.

College or university students who will be going away to school and will not be driving while attending classes can also get a discount on their coverage costs. The parent should notify the insurance company of the situation and ask if an adjustment in price can be given to reflect the time when the young driver will be away and will not have access to the parent’s car.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in General Car Insurance |

Save on TX Car Insurance for Teens

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Teen drivers pay some of the highest rates for TX car insurance coverage of anyone on the road. Lack of experience behind the wheel puts young people in a high-risk category for car insurance, since this age group is more likely to be involved in accidents than more experienced drivers.

There are some strategies that teens and their parents can use to avoid overpaying for coverage. Rather than buying a separate policy for a new driver, a more economical choice is to add the teen to an existing policy. A parent or grandparent can do have the teen put on the policy as an occasional driver as a money-saving strategy. A change in circumstances, such as having a new driver in the household, is a good time for the policyholder to get quotes for coverage from a number of provider.

Young people can qualify for better rates on their TX car insurance coverage by completing an approved driver’s education program. An insurance company can provide a list of programs that it recognizes, as well as the amount of the discounts that successful graduates can qualify for.

Insurance companies also offer discounts to full-time students who are able to maintain a “B” average or higher at school. A person who demonstrates the discipline required to do well in school is considered a good risk for car insurance purposes and can qualify for lower rates because of it.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Texas, USA |

« Older Entries