How to Save Up When Insuring Your Teen Driver

Teenagers being bad drivers goes more than just stereotype. Here are the facts:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens.
• In 2015, 2,333 teens in the United States ages 16–19 were killed and 221,313 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes in 2014.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

However, statistics often conflict with our desire to be responsible, loving parents. After all, driving is as American as apple pie. We can only delay their driving for so long.

So as parents, the best thing we can do is provide them the right opportunities to become responsible citizens on the road, while also ensuring that any untoward incidents are financially taken care of.

Pro tip!

Never ever forget your teen’s insurance.

This will increase your insurance premium but there are ways to minimize your financial burden when insuring a teen driver.

Help them establish a clean driving record

Enroll your teen to a driving class where a professional can guide them about road safety, etiquette, and safe driving techniques. If this is an option for you or you choose to teach them on your own, see to it that you get all the safety tips fully covered.

Let them take you to a trip and see how they do on their own. Always put emphasis on driving with caution and obeying traffic rules. You may also talk to them about how potential incidents impact your finances as the sentiment factor may convince them to drive with extra care.

Simple rules such as abiding by the speed limit and turning on the appropriate road signals are stepping stones towards developing responsible driving habits.

Increase your deductible

A deductible is the amount of money that you will pay out-of-pocket in the event that you file a claim. This money goes to repairs before your insurance can cover the rest of the necessary payments.

For instance, your teen driver was involved in an accident that cost $2000 in total damages. If your set deductible per your policy is $500, then you will have to pay that amount for repairs first.

Regardless of whether you’re insuring yourself of your teen driver, paying a higher deductible does lower your premium payments.

Safety features count

A vehicle equipped with safety features such as traction and electronic stability controls, telematics, and tire-pressure monitors among many others may cost less to insure. This is because they lessen the probability of damage or accidents happening so there is lesser risk for the insurer.

However, you should also avoid vehicles that fall into the higher hazard category.

Follow licensing restrictions

Different states have different rules on teenage driving.

Some states only allow teens to drive during daylight, or during school hours. Some grant only limited privileges which is only made full upon reaching the legal age of 18.

Find out your state’s licensing rules and laws and make a pact with your teen driver to observe them by the book.

Make them pay

Another way to raise responsible drivers is to have them share the accountability of paying for insurance. Studies have shown the correlation.

If your teen now has a part time job, talk to them about handing over a part of their salary for insurance premium. Not only does this setup teach them about accountability; it also is a good avenue for them to practice proper money management.

Get a Stand-Alone-Policy

Although adding your teen to your policy is the most common choice among parent car owners, for certain situations, it is wiser to get a stand-alone policy that can answer for the need such as when they attend college and move out.

It is not cheaper, but more flexible in the long run.