Posts Tagged ‘teenage driver’

Smart Ways Protect your Teenage Driver behind the Wheel

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Insuring a teenage driver is often a very expensive prospect, which is why, as parents, we need to do everything we can to ensure not only that our teenagers remain safe behind the wheel, but that they don’t do anything that could result in an increase in their already-high auto insurance rates.

Passing a driver’s test is just the first step in learning how to conduct oneself behind the wheel. It is up to the parents, therefore, to ensure that they enforce a strict set of rules so that their teenage driver, as well as other motorists, remains safe.

The following tips may provide you with the information necessary to talk to your teenage driver about responsible driving habits:

  • Set a curfew - Setting a curfew with your teenage driver will ensure that he or she is not on the roads during the latest (and arguably the most dangerous) part of the night. A reasonable curfew is perhaps one of the best places to start when establishing driving rules.

  • Prohibit your Teenager from Playing Taxi to many Friends - A car full of many friends is sure to cause distractions for your teenage driver, and may increase his or her likelihood of becoming involved in an auto accident. It is therefore in your teenager’s best interest to limit the amount of passengers that he or she can have in the car at any given time.

  • Prohibit your Teenager from Texting/Talking while Driving - Simply put, cell phones can prove deadly for many teenage drivers. It is therefore imperative that you set strict ground rules for texting and talking while driving. A good rule is to require your teenage driver to never talk or text while the car is in drive.

  • Have a Candid Talk about Drinking and Driving - The topic of drinking and driving should not be approached just once. Instead, it should be an ongoing dialogue between teenage drivers and parents. Talk about the consequences, talk about the dangers, and talk about ways to avoid this potentially deadly situation. Your teenager may roll his or her eyes at you, but in the end, ongoing discussions are highly effective at preventing teenagers from drinking and driving.

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The Secrets to Insuring Your Teenage Driver

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

Unfortunately, as drivers under the age of 25 are considered to pose the most likely threat to insurance companies, insuring your new teenage driver can be intimidatingly expensive! Since studies show that drivers under 25 have the highest rate of at-fault accidents on the road, any licensed driver in their late teens and early 20s will commonly pay higher rates than drivers 26 and above. Yet, using secrets of the industry, you can find ways to cut the cost on your teenager’s auto insurance plan-without making serious sacrifices!

Auto Insurance for the Teenage Driver

Adding to Your Plan

While your teenager’s age will certainly play a role in raising their auto insurance rates, you can avoid excess charges by adding them onto your own current insurance policy. As auto insurance rates are also influenced by a driver’s credit score, your credit history will most likely allow your teen to gain a lower monthly rate. Additionally, as some providers offer family discounts, parents who choose to add their son or daughter to their auto insurance policy can typically take advantage of multi-driver savings and promotions.

Opting for Inexpensive Vehicles

In addition to adding your teen to the family’s auto insurance policy, individuals who are hoping to save on a teen’s insurance costs should also look at cheaper vehicles. As a more expensive car or SUV will raise a driver’s insurance rates, opting for a cheaper mode of transportation can help to reduce the teen’s monthly rate. Yet, when choosing the best (and most affordable) option, be sure that the vehicle still has standard safety features. Specifically, features such as collision and airbags can help to further reduce the auto insurance rate.

Money and Monitoring

Lastly, one of the most modern methods for cutting back on insurance costs involves taking advantage of incredibly innovative tools of technology. In order to verify that a teen driver is adhering to safe practices and habits, some insurance companies provide / allow teens to install driving monitoring devices in their vehicles. These devices allow the insurance provider (and parents) to verify the teen’s average speed, his / her tendency to brake too quickly, and so forth. With positive proof of safe driving, an insurance provider may agree to cut back on the teen’s rates!

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