Why is Car Insurance So High for Teenagers
From LoveToKnow Insurance
Why is car insurance so high for teenagers? Even if your teen is usually a very safe driver, insurance companies simply cannot ignore the alarming statistics that point to an increased chance of automobile collisions among teenagers.
Risk
Insurance companies assess the risk involved with insuring drivers based on several factors, including:
- The driving history, or lack of driving history, of the customer
- The geographic location of the driver's home, school and/or place of wor
- The type of car driven by the customer
- The credit history, or lack of credit history, of the driver
- The likelihood of future claims, based on reliable statistical data
It is the statistical data that makes car insurance expensive for teenagers. While teenagers already have a few strikes against them when it comes to getting insured to drive, such as a lack of driving history, car insurance companies cannot disregard the statistics regarding teen drivers and the higher likelihood of collisions.
These statistics usually originate from reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC.
CDC Statistics
What does the CDC say about teen drivers?
- Risk of Collisions: Teenagers who fall into the 16 to 19 age group have the highest instances of auto collisions among any other age group. While some people attribute this trend to lack of driving experience, others point to the common trait of impulsivity among some teen drivers that may lead to higher risk taking while behind the wheel.
- Risk of Death: Of all the possible causes, a fatal automobile collision is the highest cause of death among teenagers in the United States. This cause outnumbers any other cause of death for this age group including drowning, diseases or suicide.
CDC statistics point to teenagers' willingness to take risks while driving as well as a lower compliance rate of seatbelt use overall as some of the reasons why teens are more likely to not only be involved in auto collisions, but also to be more likely to sustain major injuries as a result.
Why is Car Insurance So High for Teenagers Overall?
Your teen may be an excellent driver, may always wear a seat belt and may never take unreasonable risks while driving. Regardless of this, however, insurance companies must base policy premiums not only on the individual teen but also on the historical statistical data presented by reliable sources.
Like any other insurance policy, there are certain steps you can take to get discounted costs for a teen's car insurance policy.
Pay Less for Insurance
Take these steps to get a discount on your teen's car insurance policy:
- Shop around. Some insurance companies may offer lower premiums than others. You should start your search with your own insurance company because you may be able to get multiple discounts based on your status as an existing customer.
- Enroll your teen in a safety driving course. Not only will a driving safety course help your teen be a better driver, but it may also lower the monthly car insurance premium.
- Have your teen hit the books. A good student discount can substantially lower the cost of monthly car insurance premiums for teens.
- Give your teen access to a safe vehicle. If your teen drives a vehicle with ample safety features, and which does not fall into the category of a sports car, the monthly car insurance premium may be lower.
There are other steps you can take to decrease the cost of car insurance for your teen, but think carefully before raising your deductible or decreasing the coverage. In the event of a collision, you may wish that you had purchased more ample coverage at a lower deductible.
Time Is On Your Side
It may seem unfair that your teen has to pay for the driving mistakes of all the teens who came before him or her, but rest assured that as your teen gets older and maintains a good driving record, the cost of insurance premiums will steadily decrease - and you will no long have to ask "Why is car insurance so high for teenagers?"
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This page has been accessed 230 times. This page was last modified 16:18, 6 August 2009.
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