One of the hardest groups to get affordable insurance for is student drivers, particularly teenagers. You can be a student driver at any age but the older you are, the less of a risk you are to insurance companies. So while your premium costs will be high since you are a new driver, they will not be as high as those for new teenage drivers. Lower policy rates for student drivers are achievable if the following conditions are met.
Complete Driver Education Classes
Most insurance companies will not even consider insuring a teenage driver who has not taken and successfully completed an approved driver education class. These classes include instruction on driving laws as well as hands-on driving lessons. There are different levels of driver education. Most students complete the basic level. But insurance companies prefer the advanced level because it includes instruction on defensive driving, bad weather driving, and how to avoid a crash. Insurance companies offer deeper discounts for this advanced instruction with the expectation that teenagers will be better drivers.
Drive a Safe Car
New drivers want the coolest car on the block. But to get a discount on their insurance, they need the safest car available. When calculating rates, insurance companies consider the type of vehicle teenagers will be driving and the cost associated with repairs or replacement if the teenager is involved in an accident. Do not skimp on safety to get a lower rate – teenagers need a safe car more than they need to save a few bucks on their insurance costs.
Achieve Good Grades in School
Just about all insurance providers have “good student” discount programs that allow students to submit their report cards to receive a reduction in premiums. The thought behind this is that if teens can work hard enough to make good grades, they will probably be just as diligent with their driving.
Establish Credit
Teens may be able to get a small department store credit card that their parents co-sign for so they can establish personal credit. Again, auto insurance companies correlate the teen’s ability to manage their credit with their driving ability and will lower rates for those teen’s who establish personal credit.
This article examines ways student drivers, especially teenagers, can get discounts on auto insurance coverage. By meeting certain criteria, student drivers can obtain affordable auto insurance that offers quality coverage in case of an accident.