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.
Listed below are a few steps that you can take when trying to find a lower auto insurance rate for your 16 year old driver so that you don’t pay unusually high rates for their insurance.
Don’t let them drive when it is not necessary.
Insurance companies will ask you when you apply for insurance for your 16 year old, how many miles will they be driving weekly. The more time they are expected to be behind the wheel, the higher risk they are considered to be by the insurance company. More driving time means more chance of an accident which means higher premiums.
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.
Your job as the parent is to set an example of good driving habits and to drive the point home to your child by verbally explaining to them the importance of being a safe, courteous driver. Not only will it save you and them money on insurance over the years, it will also keep them safer on the road.
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
A good point to make here is that your current insurance company is not necessarily going to give you the best rate just because you have been with them for 25 years. Insurance companies are very competitive these days and it can pay you well to shop for multiple rate quotes.
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.
Source by Ron Stephens
