As a parent, what can you do to help your teens be more responsible on the road and with their insurance premium?

Michelle

Seattle WA

Teenagers’ having their own license is the manner of screaming their independence on the road. Along with this, parents become more apprehensive whether their young driver will be responsible enough to take care of their premium. A lot of teenagers don’t know and don’t even think about how much their policy premium cost and the all the factors influencing this.

As parents of young drivers, they tend to be more secure if teenagers understand the relevance of safe driving. In line with this, agents of insurance companies encourage teenagers who will be having their first car insurance to be involved in discussing the cost and complexities of car insurance to their parents. Agents will serve as a lead in educating and giving these new drivers a concrete perceptive of traffic tickets, collisions and will also facilitate in rousing teenagers to be further responsible when driving.

When car insurance agents work with parents in educating their young drivers in addition to all the questions they have in mind, a good relationship will be formed. This rapport will provide a positive outlook for teenagers to be more careful to their first time on the road on its own. Teenagers who follow the regulations of the road and gain knowledge on the value of responsible driving will be more expected to drive defensively as well as maintaining their insurance premiums low.

I am going to get my driver’s license here in Wisconsin very soon. I know I will be added to my dad’s policy since I am a licensed driver now. Is there any way I can soften the blow to the auto insurance premiums he’s going to be paying since I am a teen driver and the rates are much higher?

Harold

Milwaukee, WI

You are right. Your inclusion in your dad’s auto insurance policy will raise his auto insurance premium. When a teenager is added to somebody’s auto insurance policy, and I assume that’s what you are, that somebody’s risk factor is affected negatively. Teenagers are statistically known to be reckless and inexperienced–not a very good combination. Your willingness to minimize the effect of your inclusion to your dad’s auto insurance, however, is commendable and a good sign.

There may be some things a teenager can do to minimize this negative impact on your father’s auto insurance premium rate. Of course, you’ll have to check this with your father’s auto insurance company in Wisconsin. You may enroll in a driving school that is acknowledged by your dad’s auto insurance company. Usually, auto insurance companies extend discounts to those drivers with defensive driving backgrounds. Having good grades at school can also help your dad. I’m not talking about your dad’s peace of mind about your academic performance, but auto insurance recognizes the link between diligent students and good driving habits. They believe that students who do well in school, those maintaining a B average or higher, will be very responsible on the road.
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

Although adding you to your dad’s insurance will raise the auto insurance premium, it is usually cheaper than having your own auto insurance coverage. And you can tell your dad that.