Teen Car Insurance Tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville

All drivers need car insurance. For many young drivers, however, the cost of insurance costs more than their car. Parents handle teen drivers differently, depending on their values. Some parents will pay for car insurance for their teens, while some teens must buy their own insurance. Regardless of family arrangements, the following tips from Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville for buying teen car insurance can help.

Explain insurance

Parents should spend time explaining insurance to their teenage drivers. Important information parents should emphasize includes:

• Why car insurance for teens costs so much. More teenagers die in motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. than from any other cause.
• How a ticket costs far more than a fine. Teens must know that a single ticket can cost thousands of dollars in the form of higher insurance premiums.
• Common reasons for accidents involving teen drivers. Speed, distracted driving, and alcohol all contribute to teen auto wrecks.
• Teen driver safety tips. Teens should always use their seatbelts. Also, teens should stay off the roads between midnight and 4 a.m.
• Strict household driving rules. Parents must insist on teen-driver accountability. Teens that repeatedly drive too fast and demonstrate other unsafe driving habits should lose their driving privileges until they complete additional training.

Mandatory insurance

Drivers do not choose whether to buy car insurance—states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance before they can take a car onto the road. Banks and finance companies usually require car buyers to have collision and comprehensive coverage on financed vehicles.

Teen drivers must understand why they need insurance. Insurers insist that insurance policies list all licensed drivers in a household. Parents may choose to add their teen driver to their existing policy if the teen does not buy separate insurance.

Affordable car insurance

The term “affordable” rarely describes a car insurance policy for a teenage driver. However, parents and their teens can work together to get the best rates possible using the following tips.

Shop around. Different insurance companies have different premiums, so spending the time to shop around usually pays off.

Get discounts. Some companies offer discounts for good students. Other companies offer parent-guided safety discounts. When asking for quotes for auto insurance for their teen, parents should ask each company about the teen discounts it offers.

Use tracking devices. Some car insurance companies offer a discount for teens with GPS-enabled tracking. These systems track the location and speed of a car. Sophisticated tracking devices have cameras that activate when the system detects risky driving practices. Parents should speak ask prospective insurers about what tracking products qualify for a discount.

Share policies. Teen insurance often costs more when purchased separately. Parents willing to add their teen to their existing insurance policy can substantially reduce the cost to insure their teen. However, this option may not appeal to parents who expect their teens to pay the extra cost.