Car Insurance for 17 Year Olds

by Deborah Dera

Your 17 year old child is suddenly ready to drive. Now you have to add him to your insurance policy or find him insurance of his own. The problem? His age. The cost of car insurance for new drivers is astronomical, especially if they’re teen drivers. Statistics are against them when it comes to accidents and moving violations and car insurance companies view them as risks from the very start. So what can you do to minimize the cost of car insurance for your teen?

Understand the Statistics

As a parent you believe your child is perfect, can do no wrong, and will be the most responsible driver on the road. There’s no problem with that mindset but keep the following facts in mind as you look for car insurance:

16 & 17 years old drivers are involved in more motor vehicle crashes than any other age group New drivers are more likely to perish in a serious motor vehicle accident than drivers of any other age group Drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 have caused more than $40 billion dollars worth of auto accidents – including cost of cleanup, insurance payouts, and more In 2006, more than 30% of young teens killed in car accidents had been drinking and were over the legal drinking limit Teen accident rates increase as the number of passengers in the car increases

Pay for Driving School

Think raising a teenager is rough? Wait until you’re ready to teach him how to drive. Your best bet is to send your child to a behind-the-wheel driving school for his initial driving lessons. This is a great idea for a couple of reasons.

First, you won’t have to deal with the stress associated with teaching your child the most important details he needs to learn to prepare for his driving test. You won’t yell at each other while driving (causing a dangerous distraction) and your household will be less tense during the nerve-trying learning process.

The second benefit is that some insurance companies offer discounts to teen drivers who have taken a formal behind-the-wheel driving course. Insurance recognize that a formal driving education means your child is more likely to understand certain laws and driving regulations that the average driver takes for granted and, as such, may forget to “cover” during a home driving course.

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