Written by As a parent you knew they were going to want a license as soon as possible, then a car as soon as possible – and ultimately to drive that car – you guessed it, as soon as possible, and all the time. What you may not have taken into consideration were the costs of adding a teen to your auto policy. It’s not cheap, no one can tell you it is, but there are ways to lower the overall cost of adding a teenage driver to your insurance policy.
Types of Cars That Are Cheaper to Insure for Teens
The truth is, there really aren’t inexpensive cars to insure for teens as the real liability isn’t the cost of repairing the vehicle but paying for others and property that may be injured, but there is are a few general rules to follow in order to MINIMIZE the hit you’re going to take on the premium.
- Do not buy them a new car. Whether it’s a sports car or a hybrid that gets 50 mpg and costs less than $30,000 doesn’t really matter much. In the eyes of the insurance company you’ve got a relatively inexperienced teen driving a car that may sustain costly damage.
- Added Safety Features. Granted the newer the car the more advanced the safety features are, but the liability of insuring a new vehicle is not worth the added expense. Instead, find a used reliable vehicle with as many safety features as you can afford. Insurance companies love airbags, antilock brakes, and other safety features.
- Theft. This one is difficult, you can buy the safest cheapest vehicle and it still comes down to theft. Honda civics, whether it’s because they are produced in great volume or are just an amazing value doesn’t matter – they are very high on the list of most stolen vehicles in the U.S. You want to avoid vehicles that are on this list if you can.
1. 1991 Honda Accord
2. 1995 Honda Civic
3. 1989 Toyota Camry
4. 1994 Dodge Caravan
5. 1994 Nissan Sentra
6. 1997 Ford F150 Series
7. 1990 Acura Integra
8. 1986 Toyota Pickup
9. 1993 Saturn SL
10. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
Source: http://www.nicb.org
Teen Drivers Education
Even though many teens feel they know everything about driving already (and life for that matter) – drivers education is still one of the best ways to not only minimize the risk of an accident, but lower the teens insurance premium. In fact, plenty of states require high school students to complete a drivers education course before acquiring their drivers license.
It makes sense doesn’t it? Your teen learns how to effectively drive in given scenarios, understand traffic rules, and then ultimately apply these skills in real world driving situations. This knowledge and further use of safe driving practices will make them both a better driver and less of a liability to insure.
Make sure to check for drivers education classes in your area. Contact your local DMV for more information and possibly feedback on driving schools.
Teen Driving Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/teenmvh.htm
http://teendrivingfoundation.org/statistics.php
http://www.nsc.org/issues/teendriving/
