January is Teen Driver Awareness Month – Tips for Insuring Your Teen Driver
Tips to Keep Costs Down
If you’re the parent of a teenager who is getting ready to climb behind the steering wheel, insuring your new driver can be an expensive endeavor. This is because the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. We’ve gathered some helpful tips to help you keep your premiums as low as possible, and keep your teen safe and accident-free.
Add Your Teen to Your Auto Policy
Rather than setting up an independent policy for your teen driver, consider adding him or her as an additional driver on your auto insurance policy. Also, if you have more than one vehicle, keep costs down by designating which vehicle your child will be driving.
Deductible Considerations
Auto deductibles typically range from $250 to $1,000. By upping your deductible and using your insurance for big repairs, you can significantly reduce your premium.
Ask for the Student Discount
If your teenager maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), he or she typically qualifies for a rate discount.
Weigh Your Buying Decision
Wanting to get your teenager a new car to drive with the latest safety equipment is understandable, but you may be better off purchasing a safe, used vehicle in terms of premium prices.
Set Your Expectations for Safety and Minimize Distracted Driving
Teens can get distracted easily. To help reduce potential accidents:
- Restrict your teen’s nighttime driving
- Do not allow them to drive with more than one other person in the car
- Ban cell phone use while driving
- Ride with your son or daughter occasionally to make sure they are keeping up with the safety habits that they learned in driver’s education
