Watching teens drive off on their own brings up all kinds of worries for most parents. Will he remember the rules of the road? Will she keep her phone put away so she isn’t tempted to use it while driving? As if it weren’t nerve-wracking enough to have a teenager getting a driver’s license, there is the issue of insuring that teen driver. Because California car insurance rates depend on how long a licensed driver’s been driving, finding affordable car insurance for a teen can seem like an impossible task. To avoid some of the stress, here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for the right policy.
When to Get Car Insurance for a Teen Driver
In California, teens can get a learner’s permit at age 15½ if they meet certain requirements, but they can’t get a driver’s license until they are at least 16 or have had their permit for 6 months. Most insurance companies will cover a permitted driver under the insurance of the supervising driver, but it’s a good idea to notify the insurance company and make sure the teen is covered.
Once teens gets their driver’s licenses, they are no longer automatically covered under their parents’ insurance. They must be added to a policy or buy an entirely separate one. Because teen accident and violation rates are about three times higher than the overall rate, insuring a teen driver is typically expensive and may significantly increase your rate if you add your teen to your policy.
Cost of Teen Car Insurance
Some parents may choose to have teens get their own insurance policy so that parents’ rates don’t go up, but a stand-alone teen insurance policy may be even more expensive than adding a teen to a parent’s insurance. In fact, there are a few things parents can do to make adding a teen driver more affordable.
• Apply for a Good Student Discount. Some students will qualify for a good student discount, which is a great way to save some money. Typically, a B+ average or higher is required.
• Carry a higher deductible or lower coverage limits. The limits on your existing policy may be higher than they need to be, or you may be able to raise your deductible to offset some of the rate increase. Just be sure you carry adequate insurance for your needs, should an accident occur.
• Switch insurance companies. Rates vary widely among insurance companies, so you may be able to offset the rate increase by switching. AIS Insurance compares the rates of different insurance companies to find you the best possible policy at the right price. Get an auto insurance quote from AIS Insurance to compare rates among many insurance companies and find the right coverage for you or your teen driver.
The information in this article was obtained from various sources. This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements, nor is it intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. The definitions, terms and coverage in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.
