According to the Centers for Disease Control, drivers aged 16-19 are four times as likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident as older motorists. This sobering statistic is part of the reason why car insurance for recently licensed drivers is so expensive. If you’re interested in learning how to get the best car insurance for new drivers, you can receive tips on how to get an affordable policy that is satisfactory below.
Good Student Discounts
Many insurance companies and their agents offer discounts to prospective drivers if they fit within certain categories. For example, if you’re looking for an affordable policy for your teenager, look at insurance companies that offer lower rates for good grades. Many insurance companies offer discounts as high as 25% for new drivers with at least a B average. Getting into a good college isn’t the only reason for teen drivers to study hard. They could also save a bundle on their car insurance.
Driver’s Education and Defensive Driving Courses
If you’re particularly discount hungry, one method for saving money is enrolling your teen in driver’s education and defensive driving courses. Some companies have been known to give a 10% discount for up to three years after a new motorist passes a driver’s education course. When the three years are up, your teen could also be eligible for additional discounts if they’re enrolled in an advanced defensive driving course. Defensive driving courses teach motorists skills such as how to operate their vehicles in inclement weather and how to recognize hazardous driving conditions.
Economy Car Discounts
A few parents may be tempted to indulge their teen and get them the sports car they always wanted. However, doing this could raise your teen’s insurance policy through the roof. Many insurance companies give expensive cars higher rates because they perceive them as more difficult to repair in the event of an accident. Before buying your teen’s car, check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual Top Safety Pick list for the most dependable vehicles on the road. Many insurance companies will give you a discount if the car you’re insuring is on the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick list.
Adding Your Teen to Your Car Insurance Policy
As we all know, car insurance for new drivers can be prohibitively expensive. One way you can absorb the cost of your teen’s coverage is to put him on your policy. This applies if your teen will be driving your car. If you’re buying your teen a car of her own, then you’ll have to get her a separate policy. Even though a separate policy will raise your insurance rates in the early years, it won’t always be this way. Unless your teen cultivates bad driving habits that results in a spotty record, his rates will drop by the age of 25.
There really is no such thing as the best car insurance for new drivers. What constitutes the best car insurance for your teen largely depends on such factors as whether your child owns her own car, receives discounts for good grades and motorist education as well as the type of car she will drive. A lot of research and comparison shopping will determine the car insurance policy that will best meet the needs of your teen driver.