How Can I Get Cheap Car Insurance For My Teen

My teenager was, like most of us, incredibly excited when she recently received her driver's permit. She now regarded herself as an "adult" and the world was at her beckon call, ready to be challenged and taken. Of course, I on the other hand, realized the other dangerous side of things she had yet to experience. Stress and panic flooded me. For one, I was (and still am) worried about her protection and security while driving. I am all too aware of the driving statistics for teens. My second thought was, "How on earth am I going to be able to afford an car insurance plan for her?"

I was very aware that insurance for teenagers would be significantly higher than that of an adult driver. Due to the sad state of our economy, and my budget, I realized I had to do some research to find tips on how to get the lowest cost possible for my teen. I didn't have the heart to tell her that all of her expectations and ambitions of being independent would need to be put on hold until my financial circumstances were better.

The following are some of the techniques I found to decrease my teen's car insurance rate.

Choose the Right Car

Prevalently, insurance companies find economy vehicles and newer vehicles to be the safest. They are not too fond of sports cars, which usually increase habits such as speeding and extreme risk taking. If possible, it is essential that the car your teen is operating has safety measures such as an anti-lock braking system, innovative door locking systems, and an anti-theft system. Be sure your company knows about these functions in your car, because they provide a cheaper price when they have knowledge that the car is less likely to be stolen or vandalized, thereby decreasing the possibilities of a claim being submitted.

Adjust Your Present Plan

It is suggested that you increase your comprehensive and collision deductibles to at least $1000, based on your budget. Also, you should decrease comprehensive and collision protection entirely on old vehicles that are not valued at the deductible. By doing this, your rates can be considerably cheaper. However, given that teen drivers are more likely to be in an accident, you do not want to give up your liability coverage. If you do, you could be in for countless costs if your teen driver hits another car and injures someone.

Shop,Shop,Shop

When people are looking to buy a house, or a car, or anything expensive, most of us don't leap on the first deal we come across. The same should be true when you are looking for auto rates for your teen driver. Some insurance companies provide much better deals than others, so it's essential to evaluate estimates. If you locate a company that provides a cheaper plan for your teen than the present one you are with, but you are cautious about change, you should explain to your current provider what you were offered from the other company. If you have been an excellent client for them, they are more likely to work with you and give you a better premium based on your analysis of other quotes.

Secondary Driver

By including your teen driver on your present car insurance plan, thus making them an additional driver on the account for the family car, the rate is lower. When a teenager is the main owner on a car, the premiums are crazy high. Also, tell your provider as soon as possible if your child goes away to a college that is more than 100 miles away and doesn't take the car. A big break in rates generally comes with this, as they will only be driving the car when home on vacation.

Good Student Discount

Most insurance providers give a cheaper price to students, even those attending college, who maintain grade point average of a B or higher. These teen drivers usually get the best rates available because they are regarded as being more accountable for their actions, and the providers know they are more likely to be responsible individuals when in comparison to their peers in the same age group. You just have to make sure the provider has an updated report card on your teen driver. Another option to consider is to let the plan provider know that your teenager will only being using the car to drive to and from school.

Education

I can't talk enough about the significance on educating your new teen driver. Driving injuries are the most common cause of deaths for 16-23 year olds due to the mistakes and risk taking they make when driving. Insurance companies are, of course, very aware of this fact and it is the reason why it can be so hard to discover cheap rates for teen drivers. One great factor is, though, almost all companies give a cheaper price to teens who have taken an accepted driver training class. Another thing you may want to consider is the installation of a GPS tracking system in your teen's car, that allows you be in charge of how fast your child can drive, where they can go, restrict car stereo volume and emits alerts if the seat belt isn't latched. Of course, you should tell your provider about this, as well.

While all of this may take some time to achieve, I am positive it will be well worth it to your wallets and to your teen driver's sense of freedom and independence.