Merrill Burchell, Car Insurance Writer
@merrill_burchell
Car insurance is likely to cost more than $5,500 annually for a new driver who is 17 years old to get a stand-alone policy. On the other hand, auto insurance will cost about $2,750 extra per year when adding a 17-year-old new driver to a parent’s policy. But insurance costs for new drivers vary widely.
Age is a major factor in how much insurance costs for a new driver. Not everyone gets their first license at 16 or 17 years old. A new driver could be 25 or 40 or even 60 years old. Insurance companies set different prices for insuring a newly licensed teenager and someone getting their driver’s license later in life. They also factor in gender, state of residence and coverage amounts. Insuring any new driver, however, is more expensive than covering an experienced driver with good driving and insurance records.
Statistics show that new drivers tend to be high-risk drivers who are more likely to get into accidents and file claims. That’s why insurance companies charge more to insure them. You can’t fight statistics, but sometimes, you can make them work for you in order to get the best possible price. A look at car insurance statistics yields the following findings.
- Adding a teen to a parent’s policy is cheaper. If you are a teen driver living at home or in a dorm, ask your parents to add you to their policy. It will be about half as costly as having your own policy.
- Luxury cars are expensive to repair, and sports cars are likely to be driven too fast. Driving a cheaper, practical car with good safety and anti-theft features will lower your rates.
- Students with good grades are better drivers. Insurance companies give discounts to students with a B average or better.
- Driving courses improve drivers’ skills. Many insurance companies offer discounts for attending driver’s ed or online defensive driving schools.
- Teachers, physicians, police officers, and other well-educated professionals file fewer claims. Some insurance companies offer discounts based on occupation.
If you are a new driver of any age, it’s worthwhile to comparison shop rates and discounts carefully. The cheapest way to do this is by getting free online quotes from multiple auto insurance companies.
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Sydney Garth, Credit Cards Moderator
@sydneygarth
The reason why your car insurance is more expensive if you're not currently covered comes down to multiple factors. If you’re a new driver, you’re going to pay more for car insurance because you have less driving experience. If you’re shopping for insurance because you just bought a car, it’s possible that your car is particularly expensive to insure. Get quotes from multiple insurance companies so you can find the cheapest coverage for your situation.
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