Thursday, June 24, 2010

Can I Add My Teen to My Policy Without Killing My Auto Insurance Quotes?

By Berman

Teenagers cost money. Some teens are able to work and bring some money back in the home. Some work and at least do their parents the service of spending the money earned. Too few of them can manage to go to school and manage to earn enough money to cover the impressively high auto insurance quotes that go along with being a teenage driver.

Necessary truly is the word. Most teenagers don't have the best judgment. They can be overconfident and often don't recognize dangerous situations as well as adults do. It's not their fault; it's part and parcel of the teenage experience!

However, that innocence takes a chilling turn when you realize the leading cause of death for children between the ages of fifteen and twenty is motor vehicle accident. The rates for crashes, bumps, and fender benders vary by state, but, according to the CDC, people aged 15-24 are responsible for about 30% of the costs of motor vehicle accidents and injuries in the U.S. today-and the subsequent hikes in auto insurance quotes that go with them.

The insurance companies understand these facts thoroughly and charge accordingly. This actually does seem fair, but fairness doesn't help the average family pay for these increased costs. Adding a teen driver usually causes premiums to jump at least 50%, if not 90%! That's just to add a fresh-from-driver's ed, model student! If your child does have a ticket or an accident, those premiums can skyrocket and leave parents and young adults alike at a loss for where to turn.

The good news is that there are a few different ways to make sure a teen driver is covered. It's always a good idea to look around for auto insurance quotes online before you sign on the dotted line, just to compare the various companies and rates.

Remember, not all auto insurance quotes are created equal! Insurance agencies have vastly different policies and incentive programs for teen drivers. For example, some companies will not let you assign your child to the specific car you choose. Some companies absolutely will- if you find a great, second-hand car for your child and assign that car to the new driver, the overall premium should be much lower than if that child is assigned as the primary driver of your brand new, red, luxury car.

Some companies also offer discounts for students with good grades, students who've taken driver's ed, and students who keep their driving records clean. Some insurers will allow you to put your child on your own policy, instead of creating a separate policy, which saves a bit of money, especially if you can then assign them as the primary driver of the old, reliable family car.

Some of the statistics about teenage drivers are just plain scary, but there are also a lot of very safe, wonderful teen drivers who do very well on the roads right from the start, and they deserve the reasonable auto insurance quotes to show for it. As a parent, you're probably going to be up late worrying about the safety of your teen driver and your car, no matter what. Do yourself a favor and get the right insurance policy for both so you don't have to stay up wondering how you'll pay for it all as well.

Clifford F. Berman is the CEO of QuoteScout.com. Since its launch in 1996 the company has specialized in helping parents just like you find affordable [http://www.quotescout.com/insurance-articles/car-insurance/Before-You-Go-Shopping-for-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online-306.shtml]auto insurance quotes online. To find out how to save money when you have to put your teen behind the wheel, visit them on the web at [http://www.QuoteScout.com]http://www.QuoteScout.com.

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