There are over 20 million teenagers between 15 and 19 years old in the United States, and most of them drive or will soon be driving. If you have a teen driver, you might think cheap auto insurance in Arizona is impossible.
There’s no doubt teen car insurance can be expensive. The fact that young drivers are sometimes more reckless, combined with their inexperience, makes them a risky group to insure. That means higher monthly premiums.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to get cheap auto insurance in Arizona for your teenager. Here are a few tips that you can use today!
Get Safe Driver Training
Most teens will take a driver’s education class to get their license, but there’s no reason to stop there. If you want a significant discount on your car insurance, you can have your teen take a safe driver class.
This training helps drivers of all ages understand some of the common temptations when they’re on the road and how to avoid them. This might include discussions of common personality types, a clear understanding that you don’t save much time by speeding, and tips on how to handle road rage and other everyday occurrences.
Safe driver training isn’t just for cheap auto insurance in Arizona. It’s about keeping your teen safer when they drive and decreasing the chance of a serious accident. It just also happens to lower your car insurance rates.
Add Your Teen to an Existing Auto Policy
It can be tempting to keep your personal rates low by having your teenager get their own insurance policy, and that’s a good idea if they’re out of the house and living on their own. However, if they’re living with you, the total cost will generally be lower if you add them to your policy.
One of the reasons is your teen will get to take advantage of a multi-car discount. Alone they may only have one car, but on your policy, there are multiple. This can lower the premium compared to insuring each one separately.
Also, if you’re a safe driver, the combined risk of you and your teen is better than your teen alone. That means you can get lower rates overall, helping you get cheap Arizona car insurance even with a young driver.
Choose an Older Car For Your Teenager
Young drivers cherish the idea of driving a spiffy new car, but getting them a new or recent-year vehicle is the wrong move if you want to save on your car insurance.
The reason is that having a teen driver affects the cost of every coverage on the car — and newer cars need comprehensive and collision coverage if you use a loan to purchase the vehicle. These two coverages, which are often referred to as “full coverage,” can add a significant amount to your monthly bill.
Instead, choose an older car for your young driver that doesn’t need a loan. You can carry liability-only coverage, which protects others if your teen causes an accident, without having coverage to repair your teen’s vehicle.
What if your teen doesn’t have their own car? If the cars on your policy right now all have comprehensive and collision coverage, you might find that it’s cheaper to buy an older car for your teen than to have them drive your vehicle. Compare prices so you can get the affordable car insurance in Arizona that you need.
Your young driver might be disappointed with an older car in the short term, but in the long run, you’ll save a lot of money on car insurance.
Take Advantage of Good Grades
Hopefully, your teen does well in school already, but this can be an extra incentive if they don’t. In addition, most insurance companies offer a significant discount for good students because responsible behavior in school often translates into responsibility on the road.
Generally, you can get a discount if your student’s grades for the semester or year are a B average or higher.
If your teen is responsible for part of all of their own insurance premiums, the idea of getting cheap auto insurance in Arizona can encourage them to hit the books!
Consider a Driving Tracker For Cheap Auto Insurance in Arizona
Many insurance companies in Arizona are now offering a discount based on your actual driving habits rather than simply your age, gender, and type of car. You would have to plug a device into the car for a specific period, often 30-90 days.
Once the timeframe is over, the insurance company analyzes the data and adjusts your rates accordingly. If you’re a safe driver, you can see a reduction in your insurance premium.
Knowing their driving habits are being tracked can help your teen slow down, take corners less aggressively, and make other wise decisions. A driving tracker can be a win-win for your insurance and your driver’s safety!
Review Your Deductibles
When you have comprehensive and collision coverage on your cars, you also choose deductibles. A deductible is an amount you pay before the insurance coverage kicks in. For instance, if there’s $1500 of damage and a $500 deductible, the insurance company will pay $1000, and you’ll pay the deductible.
The higher your deductible, the more you pay if there’s a claim where you’re at fault. As a result, a higher deductible means a lower monthly premium. When you add a teen to your insurance policy, it may be a good idea to see if you can raise your deductibles to save money.
As you review these coverages, make sure you aren’t putting yourself in financial trouble if there is an at-fault accident. If your deductible is so high you can’t afford it. You’re not doing yourself any favors.
Get Cheap Auto Insurance in Arizona Today!
Teenage drivers have a higher risk of accidents than more experienced drivers, but that doesn’t mean their insurance should be unaffordable. At Oasis Insurance, we believe all drivers with any driving record should be able to get car insurance that makes sense for them.
If you’re ready to get rates from a variety of top insurance companies, so you know you’re getting the best deal, let us help today!