When getting 16 year old car insurance quotes, most parents experience "sticker shock". The increased expense of insuring a teenage driver can seem overwhelming at first. But if you do your homework, you can readily find ways to save money on car insurance for your 16 year old.
The reason for the higher cost of insuring a younger driver is because of the increased risk they present to insurance companies. It's true that some teenage drivers are very responsible, the insurance companies know that on average they present a much higher risk than an experienced driver.
Over time as the teenage driver demonstrates a safe driving record, premiums for their insurance will go down. But initially you can expect to pay quite a bit more than you pay for yourself. There is a way that you can get a better than average rate for your 16 year old however if you are willing to take a few things into consideration.
Here are just a few things that you can do to make sure that you don't pay more than is necessary for teenage car insurance:
Limit your 16 year old's driving time.
One of the questions that an insurance agent will ask when applying for a new policy is, how much will your new driver be driving each year. They use this number to determine how often the car is on the road and therefore how much greater chance is there of them being involved in an accident.
The less time they spend driving, the lower the chance of them being involved in an accident. Drivers who drive less will pay less for insurance.
Avoid Traffic Violations.
It is up to you as the parent to explain to your 16 year old how important it is to avoid getting tickets. Speeding tickets can be especially detrimental to your chances of paying less for car insurance, not to mention the greater risk of being involved in an accident if you are driving too fast.
One of the best ways to teach this is to obey the traffic laws yourself. Tickets and accidents remain on your driving record for years which can mean paying thousands of dollars more for insurance over time.
Get The Grades
Most major insurance companies provide lower rates for students who get good grades. They feel (and their research backs it up) that good, responsible students on average are much safer and responsible when they get behind the wheel of a car.
For the most part, a "B" average on their most recent report card will help them qualify for lower insurance rates. This goes for high school and college age drivers.
Get At Least 3 Or 4 Rate Quotes
Don't assume that your current insurance company will automatically give you the best rate. Insurance companies are very competitive these days and will do whatever they can to earn your business, even when for higher risk 16 year old car insurance rates.
The internet has made it fast and easy to shop for multiple rate quotes from one website and you don't have to make phone calls or drive around to do it.
You fill out a questionnaire online and then submit it for your quote. Do this with 3 or 4 major companies and then compare. You may be surprised to find out how much different each quote can be.
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