Cheap Car Insurance for Teen Drivers Isn't Just a Fairy Tale

Cheap Car Insurance for Teen Drivers Isn't Just a Fairy Tale

Teens are 10 times more likely to have an accident than their parents.

You did it. You managed to make it sixteen years without giving them back to the gypsies-or selling them to the highest bidder! This is a big day for you-and your teenager. Today's the day they're officially old enough to go from "driven around by Mom and Dad" to "driving around Mom and Dad."

If you're like most parents you've got some mixed feelings about being the parent of a teen driver. Let's face it, teenagers aren't the most responsible people in the world. They don't clean their room. They tend to forget little things like coming home on time, doing their homework and sending out thank you cards for the birthday gifts they were given six months ago. The thought of them with the freedom that goes along with having a driver's license is more than a little bit frightening-as is the thought of what they're about to do to your insurance rates.

There are no two ways around it. Teen drivers are high risk drivers. Sixteen year olds are statistically ten times more likely than the average adult to be involved in an accident,not because they're bad drivers but because they are:

 a) Easily distracted.
 

b) Unused to the rules of the road and therfore more likely to make mistakes.

 c) Less experienced, resulting in lower response times and poor split second decisions.

 d) Thrilled with the idea of driving, making them more likely to be paying attention to the experience of being behind the wheel than with the rules and regulations that go with it.

 e) Blessed with a sense of indestructibility and immortality that makes them  careless behind the wheel.

Your teen driver has both age and experience working against them before they ever get behind the wheel. The good news is, exorbitant insurance rates don't necessarily have to be one of them. An increasing awareness in the value of driver's education programs, the relationship between honors students and increased responsiblity behind the wheel and the competitive pricing practices of the huge number of insurance providers from coast to cost have made finding affordable car insurance for your teen easier than ever. When your teenager is ready to head to the DMV for their driver's test, talk to your insurance provider to find out:

 a) What kind of discounts they offer for students who have completed a certified driver's education program (like the one your teen has no doubt been complaining about for the past year).

 b) What car insurance discounts they'll offer for students who steadily maintain an A/B average (and if that discount applies if you can talk your straight "C" student into getting their act together).

 c) If your state has restrictions on the number of hours your teen is able to drive and, if so, if that will impact your car insurance rates.

 d) How restricting their driving privileges to only one car (preferably a $2,000 Honda rather than your $200,000 Jaguar) will cushion the impact of adding them to your insurance policy.

Letting your teen driver hit the highways is a big step. You're already going to spend enough nights pacing the living room floor like you did when they were a baby waiting for them to come home. You don't need any help from your car insurance provider.

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• Cheap Car Insurance for Teen Drivers Isn't Just a Fairy Tale - Mar 31, 2009 - 3:27:42 PM