Not all states are created equal when it comes to the cost of insuring a teenage driver. Due to the increased risk, teenagers are very expensive to insure. According to a report from online auto insurance site insuranceQuotes, U.S. families who add a young driver to their existing auto insurance policy will see an average annual premium increase of 79%.
However, in the state of New Hampshire adding a teen to an auto insurance policy adds an average 125.4% premium increase. That is the highest increase in the nation.
While the premium increase is unavoidable, there are a number of ways you could save on car insurance when you add your teen to your auto policy.
- Good-student discount – As a full time student, your child may qualify for a Good Student Discount if he or she maintains a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Complete a safe-driving course – Many insurance companies offer a discount if your teen completes a safe driving program.
- Choose vehicles with safety in mind – Teens should drive vehicles that reduce their chances of crashing in the first place and then protect them from injury in case of a crash. For example, small cars do not offer the best protection in a collision when compared with larger vehicles. Avoid high-horsepower models that might encourage teens to speed. Look for vehicles that earn good crash test ratings and have the latest safety technology.
- Consider a monitoring device – Several insurers offer in-vehicle electronic devices that allow you to monitor teen driving habits. These systems flag behavior such as speeding, sudden braking, abrupt acceleration and nonuse of seatbelts.
Call your Insurance Center agent at 603.542.2551 to review your savings options. We’ll help you keep your child safe, even when you can’t be there to protect them.