Car Insurance For First Time Driver in Illinois

Reader’s Question:

Ever since my son began driving our family car here in Illinois, my car insurance costs have skyrocketed! Is there any way that I can save money?

Marion

Chicago, IL

I’m sure that many parents out there would agree that having a driving teenager under your car insurance policy would equal years worth of high auto insurance premiums. But who says you have to stick to expensive insurance premiums there in Illinois? Even if you have a teenage driver there are still ways to shave off much needed dollars on your auto policy. Here are a few suggestion on how you can make your auto insurance more affordable:

Learn To Drive More Safely
By far the best way to do this would be to enroll everyone who drives and is insured under your policy on defensive driving lessons, make sure that you contact your provider to see if they can recommend any accredited driving schools in your area. Those who can prove that they have the skills making them safe drivers are rewarded with discounts on their auto insurance.

Secure Your Vehicle
It may be costly initially but having additional safety and security measures added to your vehicle can also qualify you for additional discounts towards your auto insurance, especially benefiting you in the long-run.

Consider An Older Vehicle
If your teenager has any plans of getting a car in the future (most kids would want to) convince your son to drive an older vehicle. Older vehicles costs much less to insure than brand new, top of the line models.

Study Well
Did you know that you can qualify for a good student discount if your son is still in school, and is doing well academically?

I Need Cheap 18 Year Old Teenager Car Insurance

Reader’s Question:

My mother told me that I have to pay for my own car insurance. Ok, Im only 18. So what do I need to do to keep it low?

Rocky

Columbus, GA

You may want to graduate and grow old real soon when you realize that your teenager car insurance rate is soaring high because you are a youngster and you are a student, too. It’s not a crime being you. It’s just that students engage in accidents a lot more than anyone else. Among 1,000 insured drivers, the average number to meet an accident is 89. Student figure is higher by 63, which is at 152 per 1000 drivers. This is because students lack or have little experience and they often times overrate their ability. They also often disregard the restrictions of their driving environment and of their car. Lamentably, car crashes are the primary cause for teenage death in the United States. 16 year olds are three times more likely to die compared to other drivers. For these reasons, teenager drivers are charged with very costly car insurence rates. The rates will be heftier if you are a guy. But you can’t back out now because you really need car insurence. What you can do is seek ways to save. Check this out:

1. Do Your Homework

Aside from making your parents proud, obtaining outstanding grades can cut off your car insurance rate.

2. Do More Homework and More Projects

You are already doing well in school, how about enrolling in non-academic courses? Does advanced driving sound interesting? It should, if you are interested in being a better motorists and in saving additional dollars. Insurers will offer you discounts if you take up defensive and other advanced driving training.

3. Shop Around Just Like Everybody Else

Remember when your parents dug tons of directories just to find the best insurance company? You should do that, too. They might have stopped shopping around now and they might be passing up some great insurance updates. Keep digging. This will ensure you of cheap teenager car insurance.

4. Bring the Whole Football Team

Car insurance companies grant group discounts so make sure the reserves tag along, too.

Cheap Young Driver Car Insurance Rates in Massachusetts

Reader’s Question:

Why does my auto insurance provider here in Massachusetts charge very high for adding my teenager to my car insurance policy?

Vanessa

Cambridge, MA

This is a very good question. Auto insurance (just like any form of insurance) is all about managing risks, in fact their whole industry is based on risks. The higher the likelihood that your car insurance there in Massachusetts would need to shell out huge amounts of money as settlement for damages or liability caused in a car accident, the more they will compensate for this by charging bigger premiums. Teenage Drivers are, unfortunately, shown to be in a bigger risk of causing or getting involved in car accidents. Statistics have shown that teenagers form a significant percentage of car accident deaths and injuries and the numbers seems to be increasing every year.

There are a lot of factors that would be attributed to higher car insurance rates for teenagers. The biggest factor that a car insurance provider would tell you to justify their rates would be the apparent lack of experience in handling a vehicle, next would be lack of familiarity with different kinds of driving conditions (Snowy roads, fog etc.) or it could simply be because of those raging-hormones that teenagers are famous for (we all had our rebellious, don’t-care-about-anything-in-the-world phase).

Fortunately, there are still ways that one can save. Your provider can give good-student discounts if your teenager is getting good grades in school, defensive driving lessons are a must and would also qualify you for additional discounts. You could also consider a higher deductible on your policy to lower regular insurance premiums.

Teenager Auto Insurance in Virginia

Reader’s Question:

I have auto insurance in Virginia, can you give me some very good reason why do I need to include the name of my teenager on my auto insurance. I know it is pretty expensive, is it optional or Am I really obliged?

Sarah

Alexandria, VA

That’s a very good question Sarah. First of all, including your teenager in your auto insurance policy will give you peace of mind knowing that he/she is covered just incase something will happen on the road.

Second, by including their name in your auto insurance they will gain some insurance experience which they will need in the future. Majority of the insurance company in Virginia offers a lesser insurance policy to people who had an insurance experience. With the experience that they had the insurance company can now decide properly especially if your teenager has never been involved on any road accident, the risk level will now lessen.

It is a public knowledge that teenager being a less experience driver and more aggressive compared to older and matured drivers can easily involve to a road accidents. Thus, resulting for a higher premium rates than older individuals.

If you want to get your money’s worth, you can make sure you do some shopping online using the rates comparison form in insurance websites like this one.

Cheap Teen Driver Auto Insurance Quotes

Reader’s Question:

I’m about to get my one and only teenage son his first car. I’m not so familiar when it comes to adding a teenage driver under my auto insurance. What are the factors that will affect my insurance rate in Portland, ME?

Georgina

Portland, ME

Getting a teenage driver under your auto insurance policy would surely affect you rate to go up. Teenage drivers are generally considered high risked drivers. And according to studies, vehicular accident is one of the major causes of death for the age group of 16 to 19. But, there are still several factors that affect auto insurance rates, aside from just having a teenager under your insurance’s name:

1. Your son’s grade in school. Students with an average of B or better, often get discount.
2. You son’s driving experience. If he has taken special driving courses like enrolled in a defensive driving school, usually auto insurance companies offer discount for those who has taken such classes.
3. The model of your son’ car. Although it’s tempting to give your one and only son a fancy sports car, I would not suggest you do that. Expensive cars are more expensive to be insured.
4. Your son’s driving mileage. More driving miles means higher rate. So, make sure you’re son will burn some fats and start walking whenever possible.

One of the basic things I would always tell to parents, who have teenage drivers, is just to set an example on how to be responsible drivers. The first time I’ve added my daughter’s name under my insurance, it sure did increase my premium. But she is responsible enough to maintain clean driving record and over time my premium went down.
Also, always consult websites for available insurance quotes in Portland, ME. That is also one great way to compare quotes and save more on your premiums.