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 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.

I have a teenager driver and I am just wondering how I can find out if my teenager has ever received any ticket for any kind for any reason, here in Georgia? We live in West Dougherty, will this affect my insurance rate?

Jane

West Dougherty, GA

There are a few ways in which to obtain a copy of your own MVR or driving history in Georgia. To get your teenage child’s driving record in West Dougherty GA it appears that you will need their authorization. If your teen will permit you to check their record you should be able to see at their driving record online, via mail or in person.

A Georgia Driving History Report (MVR) can be bought in person at any Georgia DDS customer service center location. You will need proper identification and the cost is $5.00 for a three year record and $7.00 for a seven year record.

If your teenager child does not allow you authorization to look at their driving record so you can check if they have any traffic violations or tickets on their Motor Vehicle Record, you may want to verify with the GA DDS to check if there is any way to see the MVR without the child’s consent.