Hello! My dad recently bought me a used Honda Civic. I am still a freshman in college and was wondering how I can reduce the high cost of auto insurance since I’ll be the one paying for it. Are there discounts for cheap car insurance for college students?

Richard

Miami , FL

Cheap car insurance for young drivers is still possible to find these days. The first step is to go to an online car insurance comparison website. Fill up the form with your personal and vehicle information and once you done that, submit it and a list of car insurance company will show you their on going rate. Just take note of the most inexpensive rate because it still doesn’t end there. The insurance quote you got is just an idea on how low your insurance rate can be. You can still lower that quote by doing the following:

• Save money on a savings account so you can increase your deductible. A higher deductible means lower insurance premiums and you’ll be confident in an event of an accident because you know you can cover the high deductible amount that you choose.
• If you learn how to drive from a relative or a friend, learn and get a defensive driving certificate to lower your premiums.
• Cheap car insurance for young drivers means sticking to a low profile car. Don’t think you can have a fast and powerful car and at the same time asking for a cheap car insurance.
• If you still live with your parents, register the vehicle under their name and get a discount for being in their insurance policy.

Cheap car insurance for college students is achievable but you need to allocate your time and you should be ready to work for it.

I’m 18 and I am shopping for car insurance. I am quite frustrated with the high rate quotes that auto insurance companies are quoting for me. Why is this so?

Paul

Los Angeles, CA

You should not be surprised that car insurance for teenagers is more expensive that you have thought. Car insurance is expensive because statistics reveal that young drivers are involved in more cases of car collisions and damages. Car insurance companies base their rates on this statistic, which makes it hard for you to get cheap car insurance.

Likewise, young drivers like you do not have the years of driving to speak of. Because you may have started driving for a maximum of 2 years, your driving history is too short. You are still an unproven driver. Car insurance companies will regard you as a risky driver, thus you will be given expensive car insurance for teenagers.

But fret not. You can still lower your charges. First, you must enroll in a defensive driving course. Take one with a company that is recognized by your insurer. You should also try to do good in school, since students who have high grades in school are considered responsible and thus low risk drivers by car insurance companies.
Ask for discounts, you never know what you might be able to get and how much you can save by asking. Some popular discounts can be given for:

1. Military personnel

2. Good grade students

3. Union membership and bank member affiliations

4. Safe drivers with no claims in last 7 years

5. Defensive driving school attendance

6. Clean credit history – used by many carriers to determine payment risk

I recently got my learner’s permit in Bethlehem Pennsylvania PA but I can never use the car without my father on my wheels! It’s so uncool! How can I shake my father off?

Jeff

Bethlehem PA

Jeff, let me explain where I am coming from: I am also a father. And I can tell you that there are many reasons why your father wants to be beside you when you drive the car. Of course, the very first obvious reason is your safety. Since you have just earned your learner’s permit, it is presumed that you are not yet as experienced on the road as your father and naturally he doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you. Second is that a learner’s permit has some restrictions, one of which is that you should only drive when you have an authorized driver beside you.

The next reason has got something to do with auto insurance. You see, insurance companies in Bethlehem Pennsylvania PA require that you declare any significant changes in your life that may affect your auto insurance policy. One of this will be authorized drivers of the vehicle. If it so happened that you got into an accident while you are driving it on your own with your learner’s permit, not only will your license be revoked, but also, your father will not be able to claim anything from his auto insurance company.

Many insurance companies in Bethlehem Pennsylvania PA require that your father (authorized driver) be with you all the time when you drive the insured car. So you see for now, you have to enjoy your father’s company while you drive the car. I am sure that your father will include you as an authorized driver once you get your proper driver’s license, in which case you can now drive the car on your own. This would entail costs, however and you might want to help your dad hasten the process by getting online quotes from sites like these. You see that little space on this page, Jeff? That’s where you enter your zip code to get free quotes. Just answer the questions and make sure to add yourself as a driver to get relevant quotes. I wish you a wonderful first-time driving experience, Jeff!

We purchased a new vehicle for our seventeen year old daughter and we would like to get a separate car insurance policy for her so we will not be liable if anything happens. But our car insurance company in Paterson, New Jersey said that we will still be held responsible in case of accident, is this correct?

Anna

Paterson, NJ

Generally, yes, it is true that you will still be responsible as parent to a minor. In many states, a minor will require consent from their parents. In most states, a teenager will need to get their parent’s consent form before they can get their drivers license that state that parent’s will be held liable for any negligent acts that will cause damages.

In the state of New Jersey, I not aware of any age restrictions on getting car insurance if you only have provisional license or learners permit. Normally you will need to have your parent’s consent before you can purchase car insurance if you are still a minor since you will need to sign to a legal binding paperwork. So, if you are still seventeen years old and planning to purchase car insurance in New Jersey, then you would need to have your parent or legal guardian to sign the car insurance policy with you.

It is much cheaper to add your child in your car insurance policy in Paterson, New Jersey than having a separate car insurance policy for your daughter. You may consider to get umbrella policy to protect your assets.

How much does your auto insurance rate go up when adding on a new teenage motorist in Chicago ? Can I get a range.

Elizabeth

Chicago, Illinois (IL)

Since teenagers that are newly licensed have such high rates of accidents that is why they cost more to insure than an experienced motorist who is more prone to avoid an accident than cause it.

The costs of adding a teenager in Chicago IL will depend upon your your geographical location, your current car insurance rates and your teen to name a few. For example if you reside in a congested area where your teen is more likely to be involved in an accident compared to a more suburban or rural area the insurance rate to insure your teenager will likely be higher.

Basically if you add a young driver in Chicago IL, it may cost $1200 to even $2500 a year. A 16 year old, on the average, can expect to pay 2.52 times the base rate for their car insurance. So if you as a parent of a teenager now pay $500 for a year of auto insurance, then adding a 16 year old newly licensed teen driver onto your policy could raise your insurance rates to (again on average) $1260 for a year of auto insurance.