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Obtaining the right Teen Auto Insurance
If you are currently searching for cheap teen auto insurance, chances are you've already discovered that teen auto insurance rates are the highest insurance rates in the industry today. Unfortunately teens represent the highest risk group of drivers, so in an effort to protect themselves, insurance companies require that teens pay double, and in some cases triple the amount that other age groups pay.
Statistics show that while male and female teens represent the highest risk, males between the ages of 16 and 17 have accidents at a much higher rate than females. So male teens are typically charged the highest insurance premiums, and that's not likely to change.
Perhaps the most shocking statistic from the National Safety Council is that drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are three times more likely to be killed in a car crash than drivers between the ages of 25 and 64. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are currently the leading cause of death among 15-20 year olds.
Motor Vehicle Accidents, Injuries and fatalities 15-20-year-olds, 2006| Type of Accident | Total |
| Collision | 275,490 |
| Injury | 272,000 |
| Fatal | 3,490 |
Although the statistics may sound dismal, and chances are you probably won't find truly "cheap" teen auto insurance, you can minimize the cost of teen auto insurance in several ways, including:
- Your teen can purchase his or her own personal auto insurance policy, especially if your teen is driving an older vehicle.
- Classify your teen as an "occasional" driver rather than a "primary" driver on the family auto insurance policy.
- Enroll your teen in a defensive driving course -- upon completion he or she may qualify for a reduced premium.
- Purchase a low-performance vehicle (sedan) for your teen rather than a high-performance sports car or SUV.
- Inquire about a student discount for teens with a B average or better.
If you are lucky enough to secure a discount or lower rates on teen auto insurance for any of the reasons listed above, there are many ways to keep your insurance costs low. These include:
- Limiting the number of passengers allowed in the car with your teen
- Assigning an early curfew
- Riding with your teen as often as possible in order to reinforce safe driving behavior and skills
- Limiting the amount of time your teen is allowed to drive the vehicle
