Reader’s Question:

I am a parent of a teenage driver. Nance premium. Now I am a bit worried with the young car insurance…its too high. What should I do as a parent to keep it low?

Maggie

Columbia, SC

Parents, if not all, are a bunch of worry-warts. Paranoia increases threefold when their children grow up, and start to drive. They hinder their children in wanting to drive. It is just a natural course of life. This is the phase when they are learning to be independent. Teach and cultivate values that would make them better drivers.

Young car insurance is high. Why? First, they are relatively inexperienced. Inexperienced drivers are accidents waiting to happen, if they are not very careful. Their age is another factor. Drivers below 25 years old are considered high risk. Sorry guys but young male drivers’ rates are higher compared to female counterparts.

It is important for parents to emphasize the values of responsibility. Driving is a responsibility, not an unbounded license. Teach confidence on the road to avoid accidents. A little fear when starting to drive is understandable. Teach them to conquer that fear because an accident or ticket on their driving record at this age increases the already steep auto insurence premium.

In purchasing a auto for your children, parents must have a say. Explain to them why a regular, inexpensive car is a practical choice compared to its flashy counterparts. Make them aware of repair and maintenance costs. Expensive automotives will have a dent on their budget too.

Parents may start sounding like a broken record but it is important to foster into them that a untainted driving record goes a long way. Starting on a wrong foot could give them higher insurance premiums as adults. foster in them the value of road courtesy. Enroll them in a defensive driving course. It is not enough that one knows how to drive. You might be careful, but the other driver isn’t. Defensive driving is different since you get to be alert of your surroundings, how other drivers behave, how to react efficiently. A sense of independence behind the wheel is exciting. Higher car insurence premiums are not.