If you have a teenager in the family, you may cringe at the thought of auto insurance. Young drivers face notoriously high auto insurance rates, but there are ways to slash those costs. You can use a number of tricks and tactics to get cheap insurance for young drivers in your family. Insurance companies base the cost of premiums on your auto insurance on the likelihood that you'll place a claim against your insurance policy. Anything you do to lower that likelihood will lower your risk factor, and in turn result in lower insurance premiums. If you need insurance for a person under 25 years old, read on for these tips to get cheap insurance for young drivers.
Take a Defensive Driving Course
Completing a driver's education course will lower your premiums, but a defensive driving course will lower your premiums even further. Research has shown that drivers who complete defensive driving courses are far less likely to be involved in accidents, thus filing fewer claims. Unlike standard drivers' ed courses, defensive driving courses specifically focus on ways to avoid accidents. A typical defensive driving course will cost you $200 to $300, but the savings in your auto insurance will far outweigh the cost of the driving course.
Choose a Car With a High Safety Rating
If you've just got to have that sporty little MG or Mustang, be prepared to pay for it in higher insurance premiums. Drivers who drive safer vehicles pay less in premiums, so you can lower your auto insurance premiums, no matter your age, by choosing a car that rates high in safety. In addition, the more safety features your car has, the lower your premium will be. Look for cars with an anti-lock braking system, airbags, traction control and parking assistance to get the cheapest auto insurance rates.
Add Your Vehicle to an Existing Policy
If you are still living at home, you can save a great deal on your auto insurance by having your parents add you and your vehicle to their auto insurance policy. Most insurance providers have specific requirements for adding drivers and vehicles to an existing policy, but in most cases, the additional charge on your parents' policy will be far less than the cost of a young drivers' auto insurance policy of your own.
Choose a Policy with a Higher Deductible
The deductible is the amount that you agree to pay out of pocket toward repairs before your insurance company picks up the tab. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be. The trick is to strike the right balance between reducing your insurance costs and ensuring that you're not paying so much in deductibles that your policy is useless. Look for an insurance policy that has an overall deductible rather than a per-incident deductible to get the best value. The difference in actual costs could be significant.
Add a Burglar Alarm
If you have theft and fire insurance, a burglar alarm will reduce your insurance costs. Other steps you can take to lower your insurance costs are parking your car in a garage - let the insurance company know, of course - and subscribing to a service such as OnStar, which can help locate your vehicle if it's stolen.
Shop Around for Cheap Insurance for Young Drivers
Whether you're purchasing insurance on your vehicle for the first time or renewing your policy, it pays off to shop around. Many insurance companies offer special deals for new customers that can reduce your auto insurance premiums, while others will offer special retention deals for drivers who are considering cancellation. Always shop for the best insurance prices when it's time to renew your policy. You'll often find that you can get cheap insurance for young drivers from other companies when you search car insurance comparison sites.
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About the Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2011 (Wed May 25 2011) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource internet marketing web site at: http://www.majon.com
