Car Insurance for Teen Drivers

If you are a parent preparing to add your teenager to your insurance, you may be feeling stressed. While you may be under some level of pressure, your teenager is more than likely excited, as driving will be a new experience for them. At Cross Insurance, we can help prepare you for either adding your teen to your existing insurance policy or beginning their own standalone policy. In this article you can find information about adding your teen to your existing policy, cost factors in doing so, and some possible ways to save on car insurance for your teens.

Should I Add My Teenager to My Car Insurance?

If you are wondering if you should add your teenager to your current auto insurance policy or begin a standalone policy for them, there are some factors to consider. First, due to the lack of experience driving that your teen has and the risk of them being involved in an accident, a standalone policy tends to be more expensive. Due to standalone policies typically being more expensive, adding a teen driver to an existing policy is generally the route that many parents choose as it is more affordable. Adding a teen driver to an existing policy also provides an opportunity for savings for both the teen and parents. The following are some other benefits that may come with adding your teen to your existing auto insurance policy.

• Manageable

As the parent overseeing the existing policy, it provides you the opportunity to add, update, and manage coverages for you and your teen driver.

• Flexibility

If your family has multiple vehicles, your teen will be able to operate any vehicle with you knowing they are insured.

• Convenience

Adding your teen driver to your existing policy will allow you to simply manage one policy.

When Will a Teen’s Insurance Rate Drop?

There are no definite answers to when auto insurance rates will drop for your teen driver, but there are some typical ages that rates may drop if tickets and accidents are avoided. For example, as your teen becomes older, typically turning 18 or 19, rates have been known to start decreasing as long as they have been historically a safe driver. Rates also often decrease when drivers turn 25, provided that they have demonstrated themselves to be a responsible driver.

How Much Does It Cost to Add a Teenager to My Insurance?

Just like any auto insurance coverage, the price of insurance for your teen driver can vary depending on a variety of factors. To help prepare you for getting your quote, here are some factors that you will need to discuss with your local Cross Insurance agent.

• The age, gender, and education of the driver is one of the biggest factors when getting auto insurance for a younger driver.
• The make and model of the vehicle to be insured. A newer and more expensive vehicle will typically tend to raise your rates compared to an older vehicle.
• The state that you live in will also affect your quote. With each state having different laws and regulations that drivers must follow, this can alter rates.
• Where and how much will your teen be driving.
• Your child’s personal driving record will also factor into the insurance costs. Having prior tickets, violations or accidents can raise your rates.

Reach out to one of our offices to get a quote today.

How to Save on Car Insurance for Teens

When looking for ways to save on insurance for your teen driver, there are various methods to try and lower your rate. Some of these strategies include the following.

• Good Student Discount

If your teen keeps a good academic standing at their school, they may qualify for a good student discount.

• Multi-Car Discount

If your teen has their own vehicle, you may be able to acquire a multi-car discount for having more than one vehicle on a single policy.

• Teen Driver Discount

Some insurance companies offer a teen driver discount. You may qualify for this discount if your teen is 18 years or younger and has been insured for a certain period of time.

• Driver Training

If your teen driver completes an approved driver education course they may qualify for this discount.

• Away at School Discount

This discount may be beneficial if you have a teen driver who is away at school and only uses the insured vehicle when home for brief periods.

Some other approaches include using an independent insurance agent and taking advantage of multi-policy discounts. These are just a few of the various methods that you can read more about in our other article: How to Save on Car Insurance – Tips for Lowering Your Rate.

Request an Auto Insurance Quote for Your Teen

No matter if you’re looking for a new policy for your teen driver or you are looking to make changes to your existing policy, giving your local agency a call or filling out this form may provide you the assistance you are searching for.

 

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.