Car insurance for new drivers is almost prohibitively expensive. Before you blame the greedy insurance company let’s review some statistics. According to the California DMV the crash rate for 16-year-olds is 3.7 times higher than drivers of all ages and the crash rate for 16 to 19-year-olds is 2.7 times higher than drivers of all ages. Further, the citation rate for 16-year-olds is 1.8 times higher than drivers of all ages and the citation rate for 16 to 19-year-olds is 2.1 times higher than drivers of all ages. From my side of the desk the scariest statistic is the “HBD” had been drinking crash rate for 16-year-old drivers is 1.8 times higher than drivers of all ages and 16 to 19 year olds is 2.1 times higher than the average of all drivers.
When I share these statistics with teen drivers and their parents I see shock and surprise. When I get the parents alone I ask them to remember when they were first given the privilege to drive and a new level of awareness and appreciation sets in. The appreciation is imagining what their parents must have gone through back in the day! The follow up question is almost always the same “How can I lower the cost so we can afford the cost?” Depending on your driver, their habits and the company who carries your insurance there are answers.
The California DMV offers several tips on how to lower teen driver’s insurance rates and sometimes the savings are dramatic. The easiest point of entry is the good student discount offered by most insurance companies. Companies know good grades happen from studying and when you spend time studying you typically follow rules and that includes the rules of the road. Take a defensive driving class offered by your insurance company. Consider an older car and avoid the cost of collision insurance and comprehensive coverage. The best long term solution to have lower insurance rates is to simply obey the rules of the road by not speeding, not drinking anything, not touching your phone and giving your undivided attention to the process of driving. If you need more advise call our office. Every attorney in our office has teenage drivers and we feel your pain.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when they refuse to follow the law. We help with serious issues that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth. We have over 80 years of experience in our plaintiff’s only law firm. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We Can Help!
