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Adding a teen driver

According to a new report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, nearly two-thirds of people injured or killed in a crash involved a teen driver. According to the same report by AAA, in 2013 alone, 371,645 people were injured and 2,927 were killed in an accident involving a teen driver.  If you have added on a teen driver recently, you may have noticed an increase in your car insurance premium. In Minnesota, it is especially expensive to insure a teenaged driver, with teenage males driving premiums a little bit higher than a teenaged female. If you have a teenaged driver, there are ways to mitigate the increase in premium:

  • Make sure they have at least a 'B' average or higher. Good student discounts can range any where from 5-25%. You will need to submit the most recent grades in order to be eligible for this discount.
  • A 16-year-old driver will cost more than a 17 year old, or 18 year old. 
  • A teen driver with any traffic tickets will cost more to insure than a comparable teen driver with a clean record.
  • Find a safe, reliable car for the teen driver. A teen driving a 2015 Mustang will pay more than a teen driving a 2015 Ford Focus.

Insurance companies charge more for teen drivers because they tend to cause more accidents, and also tend to be riskier drivers. A good insurance agent can help inform you of the risks, and help mitigate the premium increase. Give us a call, or visit us online for more info. Stay safe on the roads!