Auto Insurance for Young and Teenage Drivers

Rates are typically higher for drivers between the ages of 16 to 25.

The good news is that young drivers, and the parents of teen drivers, do have options. Here are the five ways you can save on auto insurance for young or teen drivers:

• Maintain a high GPA. Students can save up to 10%^‡ on car insurance, and those with a 3.5 or above grade point average have the potential to save even more.
• Find a safe driving course for drivers under 26 years old. Depending on where you live, a young or teen driver can take a safe or defensive driving course to qualify for an additional discount, typically up to 10%^‡. Many of these courses are available online.
• Add your teen to your policy. Having multiple people on one policy allows you to take advantage of savings your teen would not have been eligible for on their own, such as multi-driver and other discounts. Having said that, once your teen is older and no longer in your household, it may make more sense for a young adult to have their own policy, so their driving habits do not impact your insurance history.
• Do not purchase more miles than your young adult or teen will drive. If your teen or young adult doesn’t drive much, think about listing him or her as an occasional driver. An occasional driver is one who only drives 25% of the vehicle’s annual mileage.
• Ask about a student away discount. If your child attends college away from home, you could save for that. To qualify for a student away discount, your kid must attend college 100 or more miles away from where your car is located. It may make more sense to go with this discount, rather than completely remove your college student from your policy. Having continuous coverage is important -- not only will your college student be covered when driving, but he or she will maintain an insurance history, resulting in better rates down the road.

Additional Considerations with Young or Teen Drivers

As a parent with a teen or young adult still living under your roof, it may be a good idea to lay some ground rules before handing over the keys. Here are some to consider:

1. Establish a curfew, ideally to avoid driving during accident-prone times, such as late weekend and holiday nights.
2. Try to limit how many others can accompany your young or teen driver. The fewer the passengers, the lower the risks.
3. Set the expectation that seatbelts must be worn at all times.
4. Similarly, there should be no texting, using electronics, eating, drinking, or any other distractions while driving. No exceptions. If they must use their phone, they can pull over in a safe area.
5. No driving under the influence, no matter what.
6. Consider setting a geographic boundary of where he or she can drive.

USAcarinsurance.com can help young and teen drivers get the discounts and savings you need. Enter your zip code to get a quote now!