My teen is starting to drive and I would like to know if there is any way to keep her car insurance rates low here in Michigan.

Jenny

Detroit MI

Auto insurance can be a major part of each family year’s budget. Decreasing insurance premiums can be one of the best ways for families to improve their budget. Families should focus on factors they have control over in order to decrease auto insurance premiums.

Driving record is the most important factor. A teen driver’s short driving history can affect the affordability of car insurance for teens. If a teen’s driving record has tickets or claims, his auto insurance rates can increase drastically. As such, parents should set example to their children that by doing defensive driving actually saves money. The teens look up to their parents even the way they drive and their habits when driving. As such, this affects how a teen will actually drive come future time.

One great activity the family can participate in that can also earn a discount is to take a safe driving course as a family. Most insurance companies offer discounts to drivers that take an approved safe driving course.

Hi. We just got a new car here in Austin, Texas. My son has been pressuring us to let him drive. But we’re having second thoughts about it because when we asked for a quote from our auto insurance company, the rates were just too high. Would you know how I can save on teen driver insurance in the Austin area?

Rush

Austin, TX

Hi Rush. Sadly, getting a teen driver insurance or adding a teen driver to your policy will cost you more than you would expect. The good news is, there are several ways of bringing this rate down for you. So read on. First of all, the best way to get the best rate is to compare between several automotive insurance providers in Austin. Of course, I wouldn’t want you to waste your time going to different offices or making several phone calls. The easiest way to do this is to go online and look for those nifty new websites that give free car insurance quotes. If you have two or more cars, check which car they list your teenage driver under.

There are some companies that will include your teen driver on the policy for your most expensive car, thus giving you a higher premium than if they listed the teen with the cheaper vehicle. If you do this, make sure you don’t let your teen drive the more expensive one. Another way would be to have your teen take some Driver’s Education classes.

Some companies offer a discount to teens who read up on their offered courses. Another way could be to volunteer to pay for a higher deductible. This would cost you if your child ever does get into an accident but would save you on your premiums.

I live in Evansville, Indiana and my teenage son just got his drivers license. Am I required to inform my insurance carrier that he is already driving?

Ben

Evansville, IN

Yes, most insurance carrier require you to tell them of all licensed household drivers so you have tell your car insurance agent that your son already got his driver’s license. This means that he will have to be listed to your car insurance policy and be rated as a driver in your policy.

Insurance providers rules and guidelines vary but generally insurance providers will require you to add all licensed drivers in your household on your car insurance policy in Evansville, Indiana. Since your son has already obtained his drivers license your car insurance carrier should be informed and they will advise you if you are required to add your son or not, most likely you will have to add him in order for him to have coverage.

An insurance carrier is allowed to consider all resident operators of an insured automobile in rating of a car insurance policy. This includes your teen, even if he has only a learner’s permit.

My auto insurance carrier is insisting that I list my newly licensed daughter as a primary driver on one of the car on our insurance policy. Can they do this? Is this mandatory in Massachusetts? I was under the impression that my daughter just needed to be added on the insurance policy as a driver and could drive any of the cars listed on our insurance policy. We live in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Charles

Lynn, MA

It can differ but many insurance carriers like to list the driver as the primary on the car that he or she drives the most, though they are covered to drive the other household cars also (as long as no exclusions are on the car insurance policy). It appears that your insurance carrier is such a company that requires your daughter to be listed as the primary driver on the vehicle that he primarily drives and that is not unusual.

While this is up to the insurance carrier to decide typically if they match up the different drivers with the different cars that they drive the most, to find out if this is mandatory in Lynn, Massachusetts you can contact the state’s insurance regulatory body. In Massachusetts this is the Division of Insurance and can be contacted by calling their consumer hotline at (617) 521-7794 or you may contact them online

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.

How much will auto insurance go up if a teenager, 17 years old gets an MIP in Michigan?

Bill

Dearborn, MI

If you are a 17 year old that is cited for being a Minor in Possession (MIP) in Michigan it will likely your increase your car insurance rates. How much the auto insurance rate will go up depends on the factors your insurance provider uses. Auto insurance for drivers under the age of 25 or teenagers are already consider inexperience and therefore a higher risk. With a MIP offense the risk factor is likely to go up.

There is no specific insurance rate increase that can be generalized or stated for all insurance carriers. Each insurance carrier is required to file their car insurance rates and rules with your state regulatory body. So the best way to determine how much your auto insurance rates may rise is to talk to someone at your insurance carrier or contact the insurance regulator of your state to see what rates are filed with them for your insurance provider.

My daughter is so excited about getting her license as she can get behind the wheel of her own car that we will buy for her. I know that the best thing that I can do is to look into the cost of car insurance that covers a teen driver here in Florida. Will I ever get affordable teen auto insurance?  Seems the insurance rates are as much as the car payments each month!

Anne

Miami, FL

There’s no question that teen drivers are known as “high risk drivers” by any insurance company, especially in Florida. Not much to your surprise, that means more money to fork out. Also not to keep your hopes up but, you could still be able to get the cost down of your daughter’s car insurance and even give you some extra freedom.

There are simple ways to help you keep your daughter’s car insurance as low as possible. You can add her to your insurance plan. This may seem strange but when she is signed on your insurance plan, it lowers the cost for her even if you are paying for it. If you live a hundred miles away from your daughter’s school, you can ask her to leave her car at home and also allow your insurance company to know about this. It could also reduce the cost of her policy if you can get her ride with you on occasion to reduce the number of miles she goes.

Make sure also that you daughter has good grades as majority of insurance companies will offer “good grades” discount on teen car insurance. The idea behind this is that good students are also good drivers. Believe it or not, but getting a straight B or better is enough to get good grades discount. So I advise you to encourage your daughter to do well in school as she will benefit from it as well.

I have two teenage daughters that are going to be 16 in a few months. They will be obtaining their license shortly after that. Will they automatically be insured once they get their license on my insurance policy? They will only be driving with an adult. Do I have to add them on my insurance policy? As long as they drive one of my vehicles are they covered?

Howard

Bridgeport, CT

Insurance guidelines and state laws differ so you will need to inform your insurance company’s agent and discuss the licensing of your teenage daughters and when they will need to be added to the policy.

An insurance company is allowed to consider all resident operators of an insured car in rating of an auto insurance policy. This includes your teens, even if he or she has only a learner’s permit.

Some insurance providers will not require children to be added during the permit stage but will once they obtain their junior, provisional or full license. Other insurance companies have internal guidelines that require you to add your teens as soon as they start the licensing process. If you want to know the state laws regarding auto insurance for teens you can contact your state’s insurance regulator.

Why does my son’s car insurance charge more for his sports car than my work car, even though he drives much less than I do each year? We live in Florida.

Miami, Florida (FL)

Florida insurance companies normally dislike teenagers in flashy cars because such cars are so easy to drive recklessly compared to old and heavier cars. This results to a higher insurance rate increase for sports car than the increase for a slower, older, and cheaper model. Also, consumer might consider dropping comprehensive and collision coverage. The value of the car also impinges on the cost of insurance. The more expensive your car, the higher your insurance rate is. You have proven yourself as a better more reliable driver over the years and your rates will be lower because of that…and your work car is probably not in the same risk category as your sons car.  Fast cars and teen boys….means risk!  More risk, higher your rates.  Drive a Honda Civic….and get a daughter.

Can school grades or enrolling in driving school help reduce insurance cost for my son’s car?

Michelle

St. Petersburg, FL

Yes.

Try to look for insurance companies that offer discounts to students who maintain a B average or higher. As much as 25% discount is usually granted for such. Also, substantial discounts are given by most insurance companies to teenagers who graduate from safe driving program or driver’s education class. So you might want to consider enrolling your son in a driving school if he will be a first time driver.