Parents who have teenagers frequently find themselves in confrontations with what was once a pleasant, agreeable, happy, child. Things can get heated when a teenager is pushing to be allowed to drive, especially if a parent cannot afford to add that teenager to his or her existing auto insurance policy. Fortunately, there are some things that you can try that may make this situation less painful for your pocketbook.
No matter what you are currently paying for your premiums on your car insurance policy, you probably think that it’s expensive. Adding someone new to that policy can make the cost of your premium go up. This is especially true if the person you are going to add is a brand new driver, and is young. This is one reason why a lot of families are holding back from allowing their teenagers to start driving. The extra expense is more than many families can fit into their budgets.
According to a survey by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, families who do allow their teenagers to drive will end up spending an extra $3,100 a year, on average, as a result. One would think that a lot of teenagers aren’t going to be as concerned about the money involved, because they are much more concerned on attaining the freedom that being able to drive allows a person to have. Parents who are hoping to end what may feel like a constant battle can try a few things that could make adding your teen to your car insurance policy a little bit more affordable.
You could require your teen to help pay for the extra expenses. This could be a good time for your teenager to get his or her first job. You could require your teen to pay for the gas he or she uses, or even to pay for a certain amount of the extra cost of the car insurance premium.
See if your insurance company gives “good student discounts”. If your teenager is getting good grades, the insurance company may consider them to be a responsible student. They may equate the ability to be responsible in the classroom with being responsible on the road. This could, potentially, reduce your insurance premium a bit.
Has your teenager taken a driver’s education class? Some insurance companies will give a discount if you can prove that your teenager has taken a driver’s ed class. This type of education emphasizes the potential risks that can come from driving in a dangerous manner. These courses also give a teenager ample time to practice skills that will enable them to be a safe driver. An insurance company may give a discount to a teenage driver whom they have reason to believe will be a responsible driver.
There is one more thing you can try. Some insurance companies will give you a discount on your car insurance premium if you pay your bills electronically. This saves the insurance company the cost of putting together your bill, printing it out, putting it into an envelope, and mailing it. It also gives them their money faster than if you sent the bill payment through the U.S. Postal Service.
Image by Timothy Takemoto on Flickr