How to Find the Best Insurance for New Drivers

For many teens, one of the most exciting times in their life comes when they get their driver's license. For parents, however, it may be a different story. Many of the find themselves worried not only about their teen's safety behind the wheel, but the added expense of paying for teen auto insurance. By finding the best insurance for new drivers, parents can enjoy a little extra peace of mind.

Explore Relevant Discounts

Teen drivers just starting off aren't typically eligible for many discounts, but one that lots of auto insurance companies offer is to give parents a break on premiums in the form of a "good student discount." Generally, any teen driver who earns an average of a "B" grade or higher in school is eligible for this money-saving discount. This can save parents a nice chunk of change on their teen's auto insurance payments.

Consider Accident Forgiveness

Another option to consider for auto insurance for a new driver is that of accident forgiveness. After all, teens are statistically at the highest risk of getting into an accident, and many insurance companies will raise premiums significantly after the first accident occurs. With accident forgiveness, you can pay a little extra each month to be forgiven if you or your teen gets into an accident. Essentially, you're paying for the additional peace of mind in knowing your rates are safe.

Choose the Right Coverage

When you add your teen to your existing auto insurance policy, now is also a good time to re-assess your coverage needs. For instance, now that your teen is driving, would it make sense to upgrade from state-minimum coverage to full-coverage insurance, including comprehensive and collision insurance? If your car is older, you might be okay sticking with state-minimum insurance. However, if you have a newer car, then it might be time to increase your coverage.

Look to the Future

Of course, you want to find an auto insurance policy that's going to work for you and your family in the short-term, but if you don't want to be stuck repeating this process down the road, it's a good idea to think ahead as you shop for auto insurance as well.

For example, do you anticipate that your child will be going off to college within the next couple of years? If so, and if he or she will be unable to have a car on campus during Freshman year (as many larger colleges require these days), then you'll want to find an insurance company that will allow you to temporarily suspend your teen's auto coverage during the months where he or she is away at school. Doing so will save you money and make it easy for you to reinstate coverage as needed.

Opt for Roadside Assistance

Your teen is new to driving, so even though he or she probably learned the basics of emergency roadside situations in driving school, there's a big difference between learning something in a classroom setting and using it in a real-world scenario. As such, it may be a good idea to find an auto insurance company that offers reasonably priced roadside assistance. This way, in the event that your teen driver runs out of fuel, gets a flat tire, or breaks down, he or she can receive the necessary help as soon as possible.

Finding the best insurance policy for your new driver is an important part of protecting your teen behind the wheel, even if you can't be there physically. Furthermore, make sure your teen has the best driving instruction to prepare for getting his or her license.