December 23, 2009 – 2:00 pm
Life is tough as it is without having to pay for insurance, but one way or another they give you peace of mind. There’s the fact, however, that there are just some types of insurance required by the law, such as auto insurance. One topic that you might want to be more knowledgeable about in terms of that is how to get low cost teenage car insurance, which might seem extremely difficult to get these days is surely not impossible.
Shop around. Rates vary considerably as with all goods and services. Get quotes from different insurers. You can try to do this online, which will save you on the effort and even save you on money.
Include your teenager on your own insurance policy. Contrary to apparently popular belief, teenagers should not be placed on a separate auto insurance policy. It might be a cause of unease that your teen’s driving mishaps will reflect on your auto insurance record, but it really is always better to have your teenager included in the same policy as yours instead of getting a separate one. The premium rates ideally should have a conjoint history of all drivers covered in the policy when there is no separate coverage. You can save up to 15% on your premium.
Don’t just buy or give your teen any car. Picking the car for your teen itself affects car insurance rates. Of course, a more expensive car will have a higher rate, so consider well the year, make, and model. Even the color has an effect, because some, being harder to spot at night, are more accident-prone. Choose a neutral color such as blue or white.
Ask about discounts. Although your agent is supposed to automatically let you know already, ask your agent what other discounts you are entitled to, especially if you are dealing with one online or by phone. You can be eligible for discounts if you make sure that your teenager’s car is as equipped with safety features as it can be, such as anti-lock brakes, automatic seat belts, and air bags, and if you insure as much of what you have (or a combination of them) as you can—household appliances, recreational vehicles, life insurance. Also, some auto insurance companies ask teenagers to enter into a driving contract with them. Safe and responsible driving is covered therein, and sometimes insurance companies even offer discounts for this. Ask your agent about such a driving contract.
Encourage your teen to get better grades, and to chip in. To obtain low cost teenage car insurance and involve your teen directly, encourage him to get straight As, although to lessen the pressure, at least Bs are good as well. This not only makes him set for life in terms of career, but the displayed responsibility in school also translates to your teenager’s being a safe and responsible driver, which is usually a qualification for being offered insurance rate discounts by insurance companies. Also, if you can encourage your teen to share in the expenses for the car itself and the auto insurance, it will teach him to save on his other expenses and make him feel more responsible for his actions when driving.
Make sure that your teenager is as learned a driver as he can be. Getting out of driving school and getting a permit or a license do not ensure that he is prepared for the realities of being on the road, although sometimes some insurance companies give a discount on insurance rates just for finishing a driver training course. Ensure that your teen knows all about traffic signs, traffic violations, and even their corresponding penalties so that you will have peace of mind if he’s driving alone, and since this is obviously going to impress your insurance company.
Set reasonable boundaries and a good example. It is a good rule to not drive more than you have to, and you can teach that to your teen; if driving can be kept down to less than 6,000 miles a month, e.g. if you’re sharing a shared car, you may get a better rate. But you should balance it as well: prohibiting your teen from driving too much may just lead to him going on a joyride when you finally let him…and that surely isn’t a good thing if you plan on keeping him and the car safe and unscathed. Teach your teen to get rid of distractions, such as texting, making or receiving calls, or tinkering with his iPod, while driving. And do all of that yourself so you can set a good example to be imitated by him.
With some research, a little bit of shopping around, and all the seemingly trivial things you can teach your teen to ensure safe driving practices, you can get low cost teenage car insurance and use the money you’ve saved with it for other matters.
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