One of the most nerve-wracking times to be a parent or guardian has to be the year your little one starts driving. To the teen, it’s an awesome declaration of independence and freedom as they get closer to adulthood. For parents, it means lots of anxiety about accidents and a huge increase in their monthly expenses. Finding cheap auto insurance for young drivers is very difficult. Auto insurance cost is a very important part of many families monthly budget. Auto insurance in Dallas is expensive enough as is without having young drivers on your auto insurance policy.
Teen drivers are among the most expensive to insure because they have limited driving experience and that leads to more accidents and claims. In fact, it’s an extra cost that carries over into young adulthood because their rates aren’t much better. For most insurance companies the break in cost comes somewhere between 25 and 30 years old.
Here are a few tips to help you get the cheapest auto insurance rates for young drivers in Dallas, Texas:
#1. If your high school or college student has good grades, check out insurance policies that include a good student discount. If your driver has a B or better average they could get a reduction in premiums. Responsible students are statistically better drivers.
#2. Buy an older car and install safety and anti-theft devices to get additional discounts. Brand new cars are expensive to insure and compound the high rates teen drivers face. You might also be about to get a discount for taking a defensive driving course or other driving lessons.
#3. Once your teen has been driving for a while you can apply for a safe driving discount. Make sure your teen knows that an accident could raise their rates as much as 30% and maybe talk to them about how that would impact your family and your ability to pay for their insurance.
#4. Pick the best policy for your teen. If they drive a dirty cheap car that’s more expensive then you can consider getting liability only. In Dallas, you have to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance for each driver. This makes sure you can pay claims for the other party if you cause an accident. If you want your own damages covered you need collision insurance or full coverage, which is optional. The deciding factors for which policy you need will be different for each family.
#5. Talk to your teen about safe driving practices. Teen drivers are more easily distracted by their cell phones, loud music, and by having their friends in the car. Set family rules and expectations that will lead to safer driving. Have your teen sign a safe driving contract with you that includes no texting or other phone use while driving. Cell phones are one of the top causes of distracted driving accidents among teens and adults.
Obtaining auto insurance in Dallas for a young driver doesn’t have to be as expensive as you fear, try some of these tips to lower your premium cost and save money on your family insurance policies. Your auto insurance broker can help you compare auto insurance quotes and policies to help you find the best deal.