Teens And Driving
Teenagers and automobiles can often be a dangerous combination. Hormones and inexperience behind the wheel can often have deadly results. This teenage propensity towards accidents is even more reason to make sure your teen driver is insured. The problem? Insurance companies know your teen driver is more likely to be involved in an accident, and they will raise your premiums accordingly. However, taking some time to be a smart consumer can help you obtain significant savings.
Coverage for a young driver can be obtained from any good auto insurance company, your current auto insurer will have the facts you need to shop for this important service. One of the factors that complicates shopping for your teen’s auto insurance is one of cost; the premiums are much higher for young drivers. This is because insurance firms know that the highest risk group is teenagers, resulting in higher claims, therefore lower profits. As a parent, it is up to you to look for methods by which you can keep your premiums as low as possible.
First, shop around for companies that offer the best rates for teen drivers. There are many companies to choose from, however, be sure to choose the one that provides the most comprehensive coverage for the least amount of premium. Request quotes from companies online. There are websites that offer comparative quotes from several insurance companies, side by side to allow you to evaluate your choices properly. Unfortunately, don?t expect any rate reductions until your teen driver reaches the age of 25, then you may be able to obtain that rock bottom rate you desire. If you find that an insurance quote is far lower that their competitors, take a closer look. Unfortunately, these offers are more likely too good to be true. Additionally, be wary of those companies that are just out to get your premium payments, only to prove worthless when there is a claim.
Try to find a company that offers discounts for all drivers, even those who are young. You may find that these companies offer incentives to students who achieve and maintain a certain grade-point average. They’ve found that teens with good grades are responsible in other ways, such as driving. You’ll find that this can be an incentive to your teen to raise his grades in order to save money. At this point the young driver is becoming well versed in the way insurance companies operate and would like to do whatever he can to improve his rates.
Finally, don?t think saving money on premiums start once your teen gets his or her license. There are many things you can do before your teen hits the road to help keep more money in your pocket. Sending your teen to driver?s education courses can result in lower premiums. When purchasing a car for your teen, make sure it is one that would be classified as ?low risk?. While your teen may not enjoy it, insuring a basic 4-door sedan can be significantly cheaper than insurance and SUV, sports car, or luxury vehicle. It?s also a good idea to have your teen pay for his or her own insurance. This is a good opportunity to teach your teen to be more responsible with their vehicle as well as their driving habits. Your teen may be less likely to speed or drive erratically knowing that a ticket or violation will raise their rates, and that the money will come out of their own pocket.
Susan Reynolds is a content coordinator for a leading South African Insurance Provider that specialises in Car Insurance Policies.
