Buying Tips for Teen Auto Insurance Premium
Reader’s Question:
Hi, my son is going to get his license next month here in Nebraska. He will be getting his own auto insurance policy as he is buying a second-hand car, too. What should I know? Are there any tips you can give as I heard several horror stories about teens and their high auto insurance premiums?
Kevin
Omaha, NE
Hello, Kevin. I understand what you’re going through. My son used to be a part of my policy, and it did raise my car insurance premium a bit, and now he’s getting his own auto insurance coverage. They all have to grow up and be independent. The feeling of independence brought about by being behind the wheel of your very own car is, I still remember, really something. Our role, as mature and experienced drivers, is to, at least, guide them in the ways of being a responsible and safe motorist in Nebraska.
Now, teenage drivers will always get higher auto insurance premium rates, that’s a given. Statistics have pegged the teenage years as a magnet for accidents. Teenagers are not expert drivers, they’re rookies. They lack driving experience and because of that, they are considered high-risk drivers. It would take at least three years of driving before they are given regular auto insurance rates. Also, male drivers are quoted higher premium rates than female drivers. So, within their age category, female drivers get lower auto premium rates.
Also, remind your kid that any accident, ticket or traffic infraction he gets will have a bigger effect on his auto insurance premium. Us adults, when we get into similar situations, our auto insurance premium is affected. Imagine being a member of the teenage bracket. Imagine the effect of a traffic violation to the insurance premium.
When it’s time to pick their car, we can, at least, tell them that certain car types fetch higher auto insurance premium. A regular sedan will do the job and the auto insurance premium won’t be so high. A sports vehicle or sports utility vehicle, on the other hand, will further raise the auto insurance premium. A teenage driver behind the wheel of a sports utility vehicle is not a good idea insurance premium-wise.
