Drive Down the cost of your teen’s car insurance

When your teen gets their driver’s license you can be sure of two things: that your anxiety level will increase and that your auto insurance rates will go up. Going from a driver's permit to a driver's license is something that is very important to teens, giving them a first sense of true independence from their parents. It also can give you increased freedom from having to drive your teen around town to sports games and evenings with friends. But while you and your teen may both be happy with having achieved this important milestone, the knowledge that your teen is going to be a new driver on Tampa’s crowded roads and so more likely than you to be involved in an auto accident and the thought that your auto insurance company is going to raise your rates when you add him to your policy may be causing you more than a few grey hairs.

There's no doubt that teenage driving is dangerous. In fact, car accident crashes are the number one cause of death for teenagers between 15 and 19 years old. Teenagers lack the experience of adult drivers. They aren't as familiar with the need to adjust their usual driving habits in severe weather, for example. In addition, Tampa car accident attorneys can tell you from experience that they are more likely to bend or break the rules of the road. Many teenagers may feel invulnerable to injury and as a result they are less likely to wear their seatbelt or to speed down I-275 or even Dale Mabry Highway. Teenagers are also much more likely to be distracted from the road which is one of the leading causes of Tampa car accidents that lead to serious injury.

There are ways to help make your teen safer behind the wheel and to help lessen the increase to your insurance rates at the same time. For example, when you call your auto insurance agent or go on line to get a quote, be sure to let your car insurance company know if your teen has received good grades in school. Many auto insurance companies offer discounts for teens with a history of making good grades. Auto insurance companies know that students with good grades will tend to be better drivers, following the rules of the road and are less likely to get into a Tampa car accident. You might find it helpful to remind your teen that grades do matter, both in life generally and specifically when hoping to get a reduction in the cost of your auto insurance. It might be helpful to explain to your teen that driving is a privilege. You might even consider making it mandatory that your teen receive a certain level of grades as a prerequisite for the privilege of driving. That might help save you money and save your teen from a car accident in Tampa that causes injuries to themselves and/or others.

In addition to letting your auto insurance company know about your teens good grades, it is very important that your teen take a driving school class. Your teen’s high school should offer such programs as a way to give your teen experience behind the wheel and knowledge about the rules of the road. Often the insurance company will offer significant cost reductions to the parents of teens who complete these driver training classes. If your school does not provide your teens with these driving classes which can lower your auto insurance rates, you might consider visiting www.AAA.com where your teen might benefit from discounts by completing their online programs.

Also, you may find it much more expensive to have your teen purchase their own auto insurance rather than having them added to your existing car insurance policy. This happens because you may be eligible for discounts as an adult driver through your car insurance company that your teen won’t be able to get. These discounts would then be passed through to your teen driver. Of course, there may be other factors to consider. For example, for asset protection purposes, you may feel that it is best to have your teen obtain their own insurance and have the teen hold the title to the vehicle in their name rather than yours. But you should know when making the decision about having your teen own their own vehicle that studies have shown that teens who share their vehicles with other family members are less likely to be involved in Tampa car crashes versus teens that own their own vehicle. This may be because teens sharing vehicles with other family members may take their responsibility more seriously. As a result, they may be more apt to protect the car from damage in a Tampa car accident.

Two other suggestions for driving down the cost of your teens’ auto insurance have more to do with preventing your auto insurance costs from going up any more than they have to rather than providing you a direct directly from your auto insurance rates. The first suggestion is based on something that everyone knows and a Tampa car accident lawyer can share with you from experience. If your teen gets into a car accident that is their fault, your insurance rates will likely go up significantly. Two ways you might try to prevent your teen from getting into a Tampa accident attorneys will tell you is to be a great example behind the wheel for your teen to follow. That means that while your teen is growing up as a passenger in your vehicle is be sure that you obey the rules of the road. Studies show that your teen is less likely to speed if he observes that you don't speed.

Seatbelts are very important for preventing injuries if your teen is involved in a Tampa car accident. The help to prevent brain injuries as well as injuries to the neck and lower back. Again, studies show that teens learn by example. So even at times when you’re running late or otherwise in a rush, it’s important that your teen see you wear your seatbelt so that you can be a helpful role model and make them wear their seatbelt as well. Over the years, this will instill in your teen that wearing a seatbelt is a normal habit and one that should be followed even when they are in a rush and even when you aren’t around to watch them put it on.

Finally, consider how important it is for your teen to remain calm behind the wheel as he is becoming more a more experienced driver. You can imagine how an episode of “road rage” might cause your teen to lose his ability to drive the car safely causing a car accident with injuries. Teens take many cues from you. So when someone cuts you off on the road or suddenly stops short, it’s important that you demonstrate behavior that you would want your teen to follow in similar situations. You might also be inclined to eat and drink in your car while driving. While as an experienced driver you may be able to handle this type of multi-tasking, a less experienced teen driver may not be as capable. Therefore you should explain to your teen that eating and drinking while driving is a significant distraction. Explain that until they have at least 2-3 years of experience behind the wheel you don’t want them engaging in that type of driving behavior. It’s true that your teen may not listen, but it’s worth the effort of at least making your teen aware of the issue. You might also explain that driving in a relaxed calm manner behind the wheel and not eating and drinking and otherwise becoming distracted is all being suggested for the purpose of avoiding a Tampa auto accident with injuries because Tampa personal injury attorneys will tell you that car accidents are no fun for any of the people involved regardless of their age.

You also might consider entering into a written agreement with your teen with regard to their driving a car. By setting down clear rules and expectations with regard to how the teens should drive, you may help to reduce the risk of injuries from car accident Tampa, Clearwater or anywhere else in Tampa Bay. You can download, review and then have both you and your teen sign a parent/ teen driving agreement by going to www.AAA.com. It's worth taking a look at these driving agreements and discussing them with your teen as another way to help to avoid a Tampa auto accident.

Finally, although many teens will find it hokey, you might consider having your teen join the free AAA team membership club which is available through www.AAA.com for any teen who has their learner's permit. As a member, your teen will have access to information that might be useful. The club is devoted to safe and effective driving for teens in order to reduce the number of car accidents and injuries that result from them.

If your teen is involved in a car accident in Tampa or anywhere else in Tampa Bay, please fill free to contact our Tampa injury law firm to discuss your teen’s rights and your potential liability. If you would like more information about the subjects addressed in this article, please feel free to contact one of our Tampa car accident attorneys. At the Law Offices of Dale Appell, we are dedicated to providing you with any information that will be helpful to promote your teens’ safe driving behind the wheel and help to reduce your insurance costs.