Cheap Car Insurance for New Drivers

There are several steps that teens must take in order to become a new driver. They have to learn the rules of the road. They have to figure out the controls in a vehicle and how they work. Most importantly, they have to become skilled at not running into things (or people!) while driving a car.

But new drivers also have to obtain car insurance, as required by law. Naturally, these individuals will want to minimize the amount they’ll have to spend on an auto insurance premium; but generally speaking, drivers with less experience cost more to cover than those who have been driving for a long time. Therefore, new drivers might have to work a little harder to find cheap car insurance.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Compare several quotes. Not all auto insurance providers are alike. Each company targets different types of drivers, and some may offer better deals to new drivers than others. So take the time to visit several websites and figure out which car insurance company offers the best price for your policy.

1. Buy only the minimum coverage. Every state has a minimum level of coverage which you are required to purchase in order to be allowed to drive there. But insurance companies offer additional types of policies (like comprehensive coverage or uninsured motorist coverage), above and beyond what the state requires. If you want to save money, don’t purchase any of that additional coverage.

1. Take a driver’s education course. Depending on what state you live in, this may be a requirement for your license anyway. In any case, be sure to tell your potential insurer that you have completed a certified driver’s education course; the fact that you have done so will lower your premium.

1. Piggyback onto another driver in your household. If you have a spouse, parent, or other relative who lives with you and already has auto insurance, look into being added on to his or her policy. In many cases, it’s often cheaper to become a second driver on an existing car insurance policy than to procure auto insurance for yourself.

1. Consider high deductibles. Each auto insurance policy mandates a deductible below which you are responsible for paying on an insurance claim. But if the deductible is higher, the policy premium is usually lower. So if you buy a policy with a $1,000 deductible, you’ll pay less than you would for the same coverage that carries a $250 deductible.

1. Keep a lid on your mileage. The standard rule of thumb is that you’ll pay less for auto insurance if you drive fewer than 7,500 miles per year, which averages out to about 144 miles per week. If you’re just now getting auto insurance, chances are you’ve found alternative means of getting around for some time now. So just keep walking, bicycling, taking public transportation, or carpooling and resist the urge to drive everywhere you need to go.

1. Think about your car. Insurance premiums for different makes and models of vehicles are all over the map, so do some research into which cars or trucks cost less to inure. As a rule, older cars are cheaper to cover than newer ones; so consider opting for a used car instead of a new one.