7 Tips for Parents Adding a New Teen Driver to their Auto Insurance

Your teen probably just reached a milestone and became eligible to drive. So I guess it’s time to celebrate! But wait, before everything else, there are a few things you should consider that will impact your car insurance financially. Remember, what your young driver does while driving your car can impact what you pay for your insurance.

You have to take into consideration that your teen driver doesn’t have a long driving record yet for your insurance company to consider when it comes to giving you a quote to insure them – which makes them automatically a risk. One important thing you need to do is make sure that you work with your teen driver to prevent filing claims and avoid traffic violations. It is essential that you set driving boundaries and discuss guidelines to your teen so they can be a safe driver.

Before you hand over your car keys to your young driver, here are 7 tips you should consider for shopping the best car insurance coverage for you and your teen driver.

1. Understand the laws.

Following traffic laws is essential if you want pay a lower premium for your car insurance. It is important that your teen driver knows and understands. It is also a good idea to set some rules beforehand and be fully aware whenever your teen driver is driving and who’s going to be with them when they’re driving.

2. Enroll your teen in driver’s education.

Although most parents prefer teaching their own child how to drive, it is still best to enroll them to take a driver education class. There are many driving schools out there that offer low-cost classes. You can visit your local DMV office to learn more about your options. Most insurance carriers offer discounts on a policy when a driver has taken driver education classes.

Safeco offers teens a fast, easy, and convenient way to take state-approved driver’s ed courses from their phone, tablet, and web. You can avail of the Aceable teen driver’s ed courses at a 30% discount in just a few clicks. Click on the widget on the right sidebar to learn more and get started.

3. Good students get insurance discounts.

Most insurance carriers offer student driver discounts to good students: high-school and college-age drivers who have maintained a good grade point average (GPA). This is also a great way to encourage your child to do good in school so that they will be able to save money on their car insurance.

4. Remind your teen to avoid distracted driving.

Teens are prone to distraction, you must remind them to avoid being distracted and focus on the road. There are thousands of accidents being recorded every year due to drivers being distracted. Using a mobile phone, changing the radio, eating, applying makeup, or even talking to your passengers are all dangerous distractions. It is very important that you talk to your child about this and take steps to avoid distractions. One way to make sure you’re paying the optimal amount for your auto insurance is to avoid having any claims. No claims can mean your young driver will be safer when driving. At the same time, your auto insurance premiums will be lower as well.

5. Add your teen as a driver to your policy.

A common mistake for most parents is when they assume that their child will be covered when they are driving the family car without making proper adjustments to their policy. You should contact your insurance agent before allowing your child to drive in your car or best if you contact before your child even gets their driver’s license as in some cases, this may impact your premium. A great way to get started is by contacting an independent insurance agency like DOK Insurance Agency for options and to make sure you are getting the optimal coverage for your family.

6. Advice your carrier if your teen driver will be away for school.

If your teen driver is going to be away for school, at least 50 miles away, you must notify your insurance carrier. Most insurance carriers offer discounted rates to additional drivers on your policy if they will be away and won’t be driving your car often. Feel free to reach out to us at if you need more information about this.

7. Do a comparison shop for your insurance once a year. 

If it has been a year or more and you’ve maintained your record to be accident-free, ticket-free, and claim-free, you might qualify to pay less on your auto insurance. It is best if you’re aware when your policy is up for renewal so you can obtain an annual quote from different carriers to make sure you are paying the optimal amount for your auto insurance. Independent local insurance agencies, such as DOK Insurance Agency, can help make comparison shopping for insurance a whole lot quicker and easier.

If you need help or have any questions about adding your teen driver to your auto insurance, feel free to reach out to us. As always, our team at DOK Insurance Agency is here to help where we can. Please feel free to email info@dokagency.com, chat with us live, or give us a call at (425) 242-5252.