Do You Have A Teen That Has Started Driving? Know Why Their Premiums Are Higher
If your teenager just started driving, you may be shocked to see that their insurance premiums are so high. It is something that is unavoidable if you plan to let them behind the wheel of a car at a young age. Here are the reasons why insurance premiums are so high so you understand why you're paying that higher bill for car insurance.
Teen Drivers Have No Experience
The main reason teenagers have high insurance premiums is because they naturally have no previous experience driving a car. Your personal premiums are based on years of safe driving, and no accidents or tickets can help you see savings. However, your teenager has no driving history, which makes them more of a risk behind the wheel.
Your insurance provider may lower their premiums if they participate in a safe driving program that monitors how they drive. It gives feedback on things ranging from how sharp they make their turns to how hard they slam on the brakes. This can help make a small dent in those insurance premiums if they demonstrate safe driving skills.
Teen Drivers Can Be Easily Distracted
Teenagers have a different driving schedule than adults do. They are not doing daily commutes to their job like their parents are, but are driving more often with friends in the car. Having passengers can lead to unintended distractions. In fact, a recent study discovered that 58% of teens involved in driving accidents are distracted leading up to the crash. Between friends in the back seat and cell phones ringing, it is easy to see how teens are more distracted behind the wheel.
Teens Wear Seat Belts Less Often
Teenagers also put themselves at risk when driving by not wearing their seat belt. This can cause a higher risk for an insurance provider, since the teenager is more likely to become injured if involved in a car accident. Even though teenagers make up 7% of drivers on the road, their motor vehicle injuries account for 11% of all drivers.
Teens Receive DUIs
Even though it is illegal for a teenager to be drinking alcohol, they are still responsible for more than their fair share of DUI-related accidents. That makes them a higher risk in the eyes of an insurance provider. If the legal penalties for driving under the influence are not enough to stop this behavior, it is the insurance provider that ends up paying for an accident if it happens.
For more information about adding your teen to your auto insurance coverage, check out sites like http://www.wyattinsuranceca.com/.