Car Insurance for Teenagers Washington WA

 

Reader’s Question:

I’m thinking of buying my teenage son a car here in Washington, but I’m worried about the high premiums of car insurance for teenagers. Why is that? And how can I save some money on his insurance policy?

Harrison

Tacoma, WA

Most parents in the U.S. worry about their children starting to be independent, like driving on their own. But sadly, as testosterone levels go up, responsibility and carefulness plummet down. And because of this fact, you as parents have the responsibility of looking out for your kids and one way of doing that is by making sure that they are secured and protected through a car insurance policy.

You can add your teenage son to your own car insurance policy or you can get him his own car insurance, but one thing is for sure, car insurance for teenagers is almost always more expensive. One clear reason behind this fact is the lack of driving experience of your son. Some companies in Washington require drivers to have at least three or four years of driving experience to be offered lower car insurance quotes.

There are companies who will consider your son’s age as a factor in assessing his car insurance rates. Higher premium rates are often offered to young drivers who are below the age of twenty-five. This is due to the high-risk rating of males in this age group, as well as the high number of car accidents involving teens ranging from sixteen to twenty-four.

If you really want to save up on your son’s car insurance policy, talk to him about safety and carefulness when driving on his own. Teach him to be focused and responsible to avoid any car accident that may result in injury or damage to property. Help your son understand that a single speeding ticket or traffic violation can make your car insurance premium rates to go way up. Remember that having a clean driving history means lower premium rates.

Accompany your son in buying his first car to make sure that he gets the safest car possible. Try to persuade him not to choose the faster and cooler sports car, but instead explain to him the benefits of driving a simpler car with a lot of safety features in it. Don’t trade airbags and seat belts for speed and style. A sports car may be hipper, but accidents involving these type of cars are also higher, which translates to very expensive car insurance rates for you. However, a simple sedan with side airbags and an anti-theft alarm does not only mean safety and security, it can also mean lower premiums for your pocket!

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