Young drivers are among the most expensive to insure because of their lack of driving experience and because the accident rate among teenage drivers is much higher than in any other age group. Teenage drivers must be insured as soon as they start learning to drive. Every state requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of insurance, and brand new drivers are no exception.

Adding a new driver to your insurance policy will increase your insurance premiums significantly (up to 100%), but there are some things you can do to minimize that cost and help your teen become a more responsible driver from the beginning.

Even if you chose the most affordable option for your own auto coverage, you may find that the company offering your existing policy is not the best insurer for young drivers. It is a good idea to check for better insurance rates anytime you make a change to your coverage, whether that means adding additional types of coverage, an additional driver, or an additional vehicle. Each company has its own proprietary formulas for assessing your risk category, so you will find that the rate increase after adding a young driver is not the same with every company. Some companies specialize in high risk driver insurance, and these companies may be able to offer you more competitive rates.

Add Your Young Driver to an Existing Policy

Even if your teen driver will have his/her own car from the beginning, it will save you a lot on insurance premiums if you add the new driver to your policy than if you purchase a separate policy. If you buy a car for your teen driver, you can still name yourself as the primary driver.

Who Can Drive My Teen’s Car?

Keep in mind that auto insurance only covers drivers named in the policy, so your teen cannot let friends drive his/her car under any circumstances. You have the option of purchasing coverage for a vehicle that will cover any and all drivers, but this type of coverage is fairly expensive. Some liability insurance policies will follow the driver instead of the car, meaning if you are covered, you can drive any car with permission and maintain your coverage. However, vehicle-specific coverage like collision coverage does not follow the driver to other vehicles. Make sure you understand the exclusions on your policy, that is, what drivers and circumstances are not covered by your insurance. If there are other drivers in your household who are not named in your policy, you may not let them drive your vehicle. Many insurance companies will want you to include all drivers in your household, so in order to exclude a driver from your policy, you’ll have to sign a specific exclusion. If you exclude a driver from your coverage, he/she will not be covered by your insurance when driving your car, even if you gave your permission.

How to Get Online Auto Insurance Quotes When Adding a Young Driver

Leadinginsurancequotes.com has a free auto insurance quote service that allows you to search the rates of hundreds of reputable companies at once. The companies included in this search are too numerous to list and vary by state, but we include all the major national companies (like Traveler’s and Safeco), as well as the highest rated local companies in each state.

The Information Required for Quotes

• Vital Statistics (age, gender, address, etc.)
• Vehicles
• Drivers
• Incidents (accidents and moving violations; non-moving violations like parking tickets do not count)
• Coverage (types of policies you want and in what amounts)

Once you’ve provided this information, we’ll provide you with up to 4 of the best options we can find for your type and amount of coverage. Be sure to provide as accurate information as you can, as this will increase the accuracy of your instant quotes.

Prevent Accidents and Tickets and Enjoy Rate Decreases over the Years

Young drivers who build a safe driving record from the beginning quickly lose their “high risk” classification. After only the first year, if your teen has avoided accidents and tickets, you may qualify for a rate reduction. To help assure that your teen forms healthy driving habits from day one, talk to your teen about the seriousness of driving. Teens should be aware of the high rate of deaths in the 16-20 age group from traffic accidents. Simple steps like wearing seatbelts, turning off cell phones, and refraining from driving while intoxicated will drastically decrease the chances of a serious accident. Drunk driving is such a major issue with teens that you may even want to make an agreement that you will pick up your teen at any time of day or night to prevent him/her from driving drunk. Don’t let your teen’s fear of punishment encourage irresponsible driving behavior.

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