What You Should Know About Insuring Your Teen Driver

Parents face a mix of emotions at every stage of their child’s development, but none is as powerful as the mixture of fear, pride, excitement and dread they face as their child turns 16. For your child, 16 is an incredible age that allows them to feel the real freedom as they get their license and start driving. For you, 16 is a magical age because you get to watch as your child starts to evolve into an adult and all the hard work you put into raising them creates a smart, well-adjusted and very inexperienced teenage driver. It is at this point that a little bit of the fear and dread start creeping in.

While insuring your inexperienced, new teen driver on your insurance policy is a no-brainer, there are some things you should consider before you do.

All Limits, Coverages and Deductibles are Not Created Equal

When you add your teen driver to your Minneapolis auto insurance policy, do not just default them to the coverage you have for yourself. Consider who will be paying their deductibles, what that person can afford and think about how much their automobile is worth. Most teens start out with a used automobile which may not be worth as much as the car you drive and a lower limit will be appropriate. Additionally, while you might not carry collision coverage on your own vehicle, carrying it on a new teen driver is almost a must-do.

Saving Money on Your Teen Driver

Auto Insurance for teen drivers is expensive but that doesn’t mean you are powerless to reduce the premiums you are charged. Here are a few ways you can drive that premium just a little bit lower:

• Increase the deductibles you choose (make sure you and your teen can still afford them)
• Invest in a defensive driving course for your teen
• Buy a safe used vehicle that is not one of the more expensive to insure

 
Another way to save money (and prevent your teen’s premiums from increasing) is to practice the following tips while you are insured:

• Don’t run every minor fender-bender claim through your insurer. Agree to a cost with the other driver and pay out-of-pocket instead. Make sure there are no injuries and that you are certain of all the damage before you agree because once you come to an agreement you’ll no longer be able to involve insurance if you later find that it was more serious than you initially thought.
• Do not allow a cell phone in the car. The dangers of texting and cell phone use while driving may be difficult to impart on a teenager so consider taking them to the local arcade and having them “drive” a video game while chatting and talking.
• Limit the number of passengers your child is allowed to have. The more passengers there are the more distractions and the higher the likelihood of an accident.