Kids between 16 and 19 are the riskiest drivers, according to the latest statistics. They are inexperienced, tend to drive recklessly and are more likely than motorists of other age groups to use a cell phone while driving. As a consequence, all insurers will bill them a lot more than average for coverage services – the average teen pays around twice the mean rate paid by a middle-aged driver. Nevertheless, the rates can be lowered if you prove yourself to be a responsible motorist and beat the odds. This article will present you with some tips on how to get affordable auto insurance quotes for teenagers.
A single DUI conviction can raise the premium by 50 to 100%, and the attorney fees, fines and other associated costs and penalties can amount to another few thousand dollars. Moreover, a SR-22 requirement will remain on your driving record for at least three years. It pays up to be sober when you get behind the wheel.
But it’s not only the major violations that add up towards your insurance premium. A couple of speeding tickets may raise your yearly costs by as much as 50%. Moreover, if you are found at-fault in an accident, you will not be eligible for the no-claims bonus, which might have saved you another 10 to 25% off the yearly rate.
Expensive and/or sports cars cost a lot more to insure than grandma’s Oldsmobile. It’s highly recommended that you drive a Sedan or a cheap car by the time you turn 25. New models equipped with multiple airbags and motorized seatbelts may cost 50% less to insure – according to Consumer Reports, some of the cheapest cars to cover are the Honda Civic and a range of Volvo cars.
Insurers will award you with “brownie points” if you are enrolled full-time in an accredited educational facility (college, university or high school) and maintain a GPA of above a certain mark (usually a 3.0).
You can also earn discounts if you complete safe driving courses with a state-certified institution. Those classes will teach you how to be a better driver and also ease the strains on your budget.
Be your kid’s role model. If your teenager sees you driving aggressively, often pushing the speed limits or tailgating, he or she will do the same. Set a good example when behind the wheel and your kid will be a better driver.
Paying a part of the insurance policy with the kid’s allowance money should motivate him or her to keep the coverage costs down to a bearable level. When they see that a lower insurance puts more cash in their pocket, they will strive to keep lowering the rates.
Driving school teaches you the basics of how to operate a vehicle on public roads, but your son or daughter may soon pick up bad habits. Ride with your kid every once in a while and correct his or her eventual mistakes.