Teenagers and Their Families Need to Consider Auto Insurance Options

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, September 08, 2010 (Press-News.org) Companies that issue auto insurance policies determine their rates by analyzing the amount of risk that is posed by a driver -- the lower the risk, the lower the premium rate. Unfortunately for some motorists, certain unchangeable factors flag them as "high risk" and inhibit their ability to enjoy the lowest premiums offered by an insurance carrier. Many teenagers encounter this harsh reality upon setting out to find a first policy. Young drivers have minimal experience behind the wheel, and it will take some comparison shopping to find an insurer that will take on such a risk for a relatively low premium.

Although new teenage drivers most likely will not be denied coverage by an insurance company outright, the cost of coverage may be significantly greater than that of, say, a middle-aged driver with a decade of driving experience. But some companies actually specialize in providing coverage to high-risk drivers, and cheap auto insurance for teens may be secured through these carriers.

Deciding on whether to go with a specialized insurance carrier brings up an important question for 16- to 19-year-old motorists and their families: Is it better to add a teenager on to the existing family policy or to put him or her on a new, separate policy. Insurance shoppers may want to answer this question by asking the agent who manages the family's existing policy, or they can go online and use a free quote generator to compare two separate sets of premium estimates -- one with the young driver included and the other with him or her excluded -- to determine the best overall option.

Whichever car insurance route is chosen, it's important for drivers with such little experience behind the wheel to be vigilant when it comes to safe-driving practices. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teenagers are at a higher risk of getting into auto accidents due to their inexperience, inclination toward risk-taking behaviors and tendency to drive at night with other teenagers in the vehicle. "On the basis of miles driven, teenagers are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as are all drivers," according to the NHTSA.

Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/newdriver/saveteens/sect1.html

Consumers who want to learn more about factors to consider when securing coverage for young drivers can go to http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/teenagers/ where, through the use of the free online quote generator, shoppers will also be able to see how much it could cost to add a teenage motorist to a new or existing policy.