Making Car Insurance For Teenagers More Affordable
Many parents find that the excitement of their child’s 16th, 17th or 18th birthday celebration is tempered by the realization that the inevitable has finally occurred: they have to buy car insurance for their teenager. While this can be a daunting prospect, you needn’t lock them in their room or hide the car keys. Here is some advice that will help put your teenager behind the wheel.
Driver Education Classes
Most high schools offer these classes as part of the curriculum; if not, enroll your child in a licensed driving school, where they will learn the theoretical and practical aspects of safe driving. Many insurance providers will provide a discount for enrollment in such classes.
Add Your Teenager To Your Existing Policy
A separate teenager-based policy tends to be more expensive; by adding another driver to your own policy you also are able to enjoy any applicable discounts.
Be A Good Role Model
At all times, even when your novice driver isn’t with you, stay within the speed limit, obey traffic regulations, don’t drive recklessly, and be courteous to other drivers and pedestrians.
Be Mindful Of The State Laws For New Drivers
Many states have implemented driving restrictions for teenage and new drivers, including the hours that they are allowed to drive continuously, and no night time driving. If you feel that your state laws are inadequate, you can make your own restrictions, such as no driving with other teenagers in the car, and no mobile phone conversations while driving (which may or may not be against state law, in any event).
Empower Them
Whether by paying for it directly, or through some form of barter system that you and your child have agreed to, they should share the burden of buying gasoline, especially if they use the car for their own personal enjoyment, as opposed to running errands for you.
Provide An Incentive For Good Grades
Some insurance companies offer discounts for a high GPA or straight A’s on a report card. Don’t forget, cash in itself is also a strong motivator, after all gas isn’t cheap anymore.
Parents probably already know that historical data proves that drivers within the 16 to 25 age group, in general, get into significantly more accidents and file more insurance claims than do “mature” drivers, who are older than 25. That’s why car insurance rates for teenagers are higher than every other age group. And it only takes a single claim to skyrocket your current insurance premiums, so instill in your teenager the importance of safe driving, and what to do if they should get into an accident.