Your Teen Behind the Wheel: What you need to Know about Teen Driving and Auto Insurance

As a parent, the safety of your teenage driver is certainly your biggest concern. However, you may also be quite concerned about the cost of auto insurance for your teen driver.

Although auto insurance rates for teenage drivers will almost always be higher than rates for older individuals, there are things you can do to ensure not your teenage driver’s safety behind the wheel, but also save on their auto insurance policy:

Talk safety before they even get behind the wheel – Safety, of course is the number-one concern of most parents of teenage drivers. With that being said, the safety discussion needs to start before they get their driver’s license and needs to continue on a frequent basis. It’s not enough to tell your teenage driver not to text and drive; it must be reiterated nearly every time they get into the car. Bottom line: teenage drivers have notoriously short attention spans, so remind them frequently about what you expect from them when they are behind the wheel.

Consider an advanced driver course – It is a great idea to have your teenage driver take an advance driver safety course, not only for their safety but also for a decrease in auto insurance premiums. Most auto insurance companies will consider a lower rate if your teen completes an advanced driver program.

Talk to your insurance agent about an appropriate vehicle – Not all vehicles are created equal in terms of safety. Four-door cars, for example, are usually considered safer than two-door vehicles in the eyes of auto insurance companies. SUVs also have a higher accident rate than sedans, and therefore come with higher policy rates for your teenage driver. Keep in mind, also, that newer vehicles with more safety features, such as dual airbags and anti-lock brakes, have lower rates than older vehicles.

Understand the laws and make sure your teenage driver understands them, too - Each state has different laws regarding teenage drivers. Make it a point to understand the laws in your state regarding junior operator’s licenses and the stipulations and laws that come along with them.