There is a reason why teenagers cost so much more to insure. They are the most dangerous drivers on the road and account for accidents at rates several times the experienced driver.
Brad Parker says, “In addition to liability insurance for your teen driver, I highly recommend getting Personal Injury Protection (PIP), as well as uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. By doing this, you are covering all of your bases in the event that your teen is involved in a car accident.”
When it comes to insuring your teenage driver, there are some things you and your child can do to keep rates lower.
Pick the Right Car
If you are in a household that has multiple cars, it may help to assign your teen driver to the car that’s the cheapest to insure. The make and model of the car you get for your teen does make a difference. Vehicles with bigger, faster engines cost more money to insure and are more expensive to repair. Four-door sedans and crossover vehicles are among the choices with lower insurance rates.
Pay Attention to Car Insurance Discounts
Many auto insurance companies, such as State Farm, offer good-student discounts to teens who can maintain at least a B average. Nationwide has a discount that can reach up to 25 percent for good grades. Some insurance companies will give a discount if your teen completes an in-person driver’s education course as opposed to the online course. Another way to take advantage of car insurance discounts is to bundle multiple insurance policies such as auto, homeowners and life insurance. Oh…and a clean driving record doesn’t hurt.
Utilize Technology
Insurance companies will often reward parents who utilize monitoring devices that keep an eye on their teen’s driving behavior. Depending on the particular system, things such as speed, seat belt usage and hard braking can all be monitored. Liberty Mutual offers discounts of up to 15 percent if parents use the Teensurance program offered by Safeco, which they own. Car companies are jumping on board, which could lower auto insurance rates in the future. For instance, Ford has introduced a vehicle that can be programmed to limit a vehicle’s top speed or the volume of the radio.
One factor that a parent can’t control is the sex of their child. Statistically speaking, boys are at a higher risk for being in an accident, which makes them more expensive to insure. Studies have shown that males don’t wear seat belts as often as women, are more likely to get a DUI and engage in reckless driving.
Brad says, “In the cases I’ve seen involving male teen drivers causing accidents, it’s usually a case where they were driving too fast or they were trying to be macho and show off.”
Safest Cars for Teens
When your teen is thinking about what they want their first car to be, they focus on a car’s design, body style, color and cool tech features. Parents are less concerned about those qualities and more curious about crash test scores, active safety tech and reliability.
The 2019 U.S. News Best Cars for Teens list includes the following:
- Hyundai Accent
- Volkswagen Jetta
- Honda HR-V
- Kia Forte
- Kia Soul
- Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Santa Fe
- Toyota RAV4
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Buick LaCrosse
I hope these tips have been helpful for you and prepare you for insuring your teen drivers when they are ready to hit the road.
Have You Been Injured In A Texas Area Car Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Bedford, Texas office directly at 817.440.3888 to schedule your free consultation. We help car accident victims throughout Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington as well as all areas of Texas.
At Parker Law Firm, our experienced personal injury lawyers believe people matter. We are committed to our clients, not case numbers, and we believe in the power of the civil justice system. With years spent both representing accident victims and participating in the state legislative process, our founder, Brad Parker, has developed a deep understanding of the law and gained unique experience that helps him get results for his clients.
