Reader’s Question:
Before I buy my son car insurance, what do I need to know about car insurance for young drivers?
Richard
Cicero, IL
Having car insurance is one way of protecting your son as he drive around. It is essential that you purchase him a car insurance policy as soon as he is able to legally drive a car. But before that, there are some things that you need to know about car insurance for young drivers to ensure that you both understand the importance of car insurance.
According to recent surveys, about 5,500 teenagers have died in car crashes and their ages are between the age of 14 and 19. It was also documented that almost 63% of deaths from car accidents were teenagers who were passengers in cars driven by a teenage driver. According to this report, 55% of car accidents have occurred during the weekends starting on Friday to Sunday. One reason behind this is that most teenagers go out to have fun during these mentioned days. So it is better to talk about drinking and driving with your son to prevent this from happening. I’m sure you don’t want your son to be part of the 28% of teenage deaths related to alcohol intoxication and driving. And remember to always remind your son to wear a seatbelt because it really does help for it reduces risks of fatality or serious injuries by almost 50%.
Due to the above mentioned statistics, car insurance for young drivers can be very expensive. Since many car accidents have been associated with teenage drivers, most car insurance companies need to raise their car insurance rates to meet the costs of repairs and damages as well as expenses for injured persons. Insurance companies also look into the driver’s driving experience in determining their premiums, so it is more likely that teenagers will have higher rates due to their lack of driving experience.
But don’t worry, you can save some money for your son’s car insurance policy by adding more safety features to his car like airbags, seatbelts and other security devices. You can also enroll your son in a driving school to improve and develop his driving skills. Remember to talk to your son about this matter, guide and educate him about safe driving and most importantly, set a good example for your son.