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Teen Drivers - By the Numbers | Statistics |
---|---|
Leading Cause of Death | Motor Vehicle Crashes |
Fatalities | 2,433 teens (ages 16–19) in 2016 |
Car Crash Fatality Rate | 6 teens a day |
Highest-Risk Age Group | 16-17 |
Highest-Risk Gender | Male |
Average Car Insurance Rates (17-years-old) | $7,559.03 females $9,027.64 males |
For the teenager, there are few milestones as significant as getting behind the wheel as a licensed driver. Without a doubt, teens spend years looking forward to gaining this new level of independence and savoring this important step toward adulthood.
But it’s the flip side of this scenario that every parent fears. The flashing lights, the damaged bumper, and the shattered glass.
In other words, getting into a serious accident.
Here’s what you need to know — statistics reveal startling trends for young drivers.
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens and half will get into a car crash before graduating from high school
With statistics like these, it’s no wonder parents often experience fear and apprehension when teaching their teens to drive. But by taking a closer look at the common factors behind these crashes, parents can empower and prepare their teens to make smarter decisions on the road.
The good news? Through this complete guide to teen driver safety, parents have a resource. In covering everything from crash statistics, to important risk factors, and to tips, parents will walk away with a greater understanding of how to help new drivers overcome challenges and stress.
This guide will also reveal the best cars for novice drivers, as well as ways for families to reduce auto insurance rates. In fact, you can begin shopping rates for your teen now by entering your zip code into our free car insurance comparison tool.
Bottom line? Your roadmap to a safer and well-informed teenage driver starts now.
Table of Contents
We’ll start with the good news.
A study conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association reveals that teen driver involvement in crashes fell between 2005 and 2014.
The bad news? The risk rate among teens remains high, especially when compared to other age groups. In fact, the association reports that teens are 1.6 times more likely than adults to be involved in a fatal crash.
What amounts for such a high-risk rate among teens? Experts have identified several common risk factors:
While attempting to address each of these factors with your teen may seem intimidating, we’re using expert data and advice to tackle each one.
Before we dive into these risk factors, it’s important parents are aware of the statistics surrounding teen drivers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2016,
Male drivers are particularly susceptible. According to the CDC, the death rate for male drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 was twice that of their female counterparts.
Experts warn the first few months of teens having their license are especially critical. The fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16 and 17-year-olds is nearly twice that of 18 and 19-year-old drivers.
In spite of these figures, parents need to remember this — crashes can be preventable, and proven strategies exist to help keep young drivers safe on the road.
Despite popular belief, risky teen driving isn’t always the result of being cavalier or adventurous. Experts say it really boils down to one word —
Inexperience.
Years of research continues to reinforce the fact that a lack of experience is the top reason why teens end up in crashes. In fact, a Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Research Institute study found that one of the most common errors involved in teen crashes was in young drivers not scanning the roadway.
Here’s the deal — teen drivers are still working to develop their skill in looking for potential road hazards like pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicles. Where older, more experienced drivers know how to scan the road ahead and judge certain situations, many teens just aren’t used to doing that.
Howver, researchers asure parents that as new drivers gain more experience, the crash risk drops dramatically — particularly within the first 12 months.
Without a doubt, this experience must come through the advisement and guidance of parents and other seasoned drivers.
Where most tend to associate distracted driving with electronics and mobile devices, the NHTSA reminds parents there’s more. Here’s how the administration defines distracted driving:
“…any activity that could divert attention from the primary task of driving. Besides using electronic gadgets, distractions can also include adjusting a radio, eating and drinking, reading, grooming, and interacting with passengers.”
The NHTSA goes on to share that in 2017:
It’s pretty simple — using a cellphone while driving increases the risk of crashing.Yet research shows that 42 percent of high school students admit to sending an email or text while driving.
Another study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that teenage girls are twice as likely as teenage boys to use cellphones and other devices while driving.
This becomes even more serious when considering this from the CHOP Research Institute —
Using a cell phone while behind the wheel reduces brain activity tied to driving by 37 percent.
This video is graphic but demonstrates the danger of teens texting and driving:
Given the dangers associated with teens using their cellphones while driving, a number of states have enacted bans specific to young drivers. You can search for your state int the table below:
State | Hand-Held Ban | Young drivers all cell phone ban | Texting Ban |
---|---|---|---|
AL | no | 16-year-old drivers; 17-year-old drivers who have held an intermediate license for fewer than 6 months | all drivers |
AK | no | no | all drivers |
AZ | all drivers | learner's permit holders and intermediate license holders during the first 6 months after licensing | all drivers |
AR | drivers 18 or older but younger than 21; school and highway work zones | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
CA | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
CO | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
CT | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
DE | all drivers | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
DC | all drivers | learner's permit holders | all drivers |
FL | drivers in school and work zones (effective 10/01/19) | no | all drivers |
GA | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
HI | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
ID | no | no | all drivers |
IL | all drivers | drivers younger than 19 and learner's permit holders younger than 19 | all drivers |
IN | no | drivers younger than 21 | all drivers |
IA | no | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
KS | no | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
KY | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
LA | drivers in signed school zones | all novice drivers, see footnote for detailFootnote5 | all drivers |
ME | all drivers (effective 09/19/19) | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
MD | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
MA | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
MI | no | learner's permit and intermediate license holders (level 1 and 2); integrated voice-operated systems excepted | all drivers |
MN | all drivers | learner's permit holders and provisional license holders during the first 12 months after licensing | all drivers |
MS | no | no | all drivers |
MO | no | no | drivers 21 and younger |
MT | no | no | no |
NE | no | learner's permit and intermediate license holders younger than 18 | all drivers |
NV | all drivers | no | all drivers |
NH | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
NJ | all drivers | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
NM | no | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
NY | all drivers | no | all drivers |
NC | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
ND | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
OH | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
OK | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | no | all drivers |
OR | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
PA | no | no | all drivers |
RI | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
SC | no | no | all drivers |
SD | no | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
TN | all drivers | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
TX | drivers in school crossing zones and on public school property during the time the reduced speed limit applies | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
UT | no | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
VT | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
VA | drivers in highway work zones | drivers younger than 18 | all drivers |
WA | all drivers | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
WV | all drivers | drivers younger than 18 who hold either a learner's permit or an intermediate license | all drivers |
WI | drivers in highway construction areas | learner's permit and intermediate license holders | all drivers |
WY | no | no | all drivers |
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia advises parents to teach teen drivers to complete texts and calls before or after driving. Experts also recommend parents avoid calling teens when they know they’re driving. Finally, parents can opt to monitor their teen’s phone use (and driving behaviors) through cellphone apps and in-car devices.
The presence of other passengers — particularly other teens — can pose a serious distraction to new drivers. That’s because when teenage drivers transport other teens, the risk of crashing increases.
The Insurance Information Institute reports that the risk of 16 and 17-year-old drivers being killed in a crash increases with each additional teenage passenger. It goes up 44 percent with one, doubles with two, and quadruples with three or more.
These statistics are exactly why most states restrict the number of passengers for novice drivers (we discuss this in greater detail in our section about Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws.)
Bottom line? It’s important to give young drivers time to develop their skills before adding other young passengers to the equation.
When it comes to underage drinking, we learn this from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:
Now, combine underage drinking with driving. According to the CDC:
Keep in mind, underage drinking and driving isn’t our only concern. Many states also have laws in place for drug-impaired driving. The Governors Highway Association reports that 16 states have zero-tolerance laws in place for one or more drugs, and 18 have laws in place addressing driving marijuana.
Experts agree — combating alcohol and drug-impaired driving is a community effort. Parents must speak to their teens about their behaviors, and communities must step up with school-based programs and initiatives.
Whether it’s to run errands or to hang out with friends, teenage drivers will undoubtedly be eager to drive at night.
The problem? Statistics are not on their side. According to the CDC:
One-third of all 16 and 17-year-old drivers involved in fatal crashes between 2009-2014 crashed at night, between 9:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. Of those drivers involved in night crashes, more than half crashed before midnight.
The dangers associated with teens driving at night go beyond reduced visibility. Experts caution that the nighttime will bring out more drivers who are drowsy or under the influence.
Most states have laws in place restricting nighttime driving for teens. But parents must also take an active role:
For many, it’s all about the thrill. Taking roads and curves at high speeds, and experimenting with daring maneuvers.
For any driver, speeding and reckless driving pose as serious dangers. The statistics are especially troubling for teens:
It’s important to note that speeding and reckless driving aren’t always intentional acts by teens. In many cases, teens aren’t simply experienced enough to understand that certain circumstances — like higher volumes of traffic or wet roads — may require lower speeds.
The National Safety Council also notes that teens are still learning driving techniques like how to safely passing a vehicle, or how to navigate construction zones or school zones.
The best thing parents can do? Talk teens through real-life scenarios, and emphasize the seriousness of their decisions.
Here’s what you need to know — according to the NHTSA, the majority of teens involved in crashes aren’t wearing their seatbelts.
But the findings don’t stop there. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Research Institute shares this:
Teenagers, whtether they’re passengers or drivers, have the lowest rate of set belt use of any age group.
This is especially troubling in light of the fact that seatbelts save lives — nearly 14,000 in 2015, to be exact. After all,
Experts insist that wearing seatbelts must be part of every driver’s regular routine. If parents aren’t already emphasizing this to their teens, they need to start now.
If you have had your license suspended, there is a good chance that you will be dropped from your current insurance provider and will be unable to obtain car insurance from a different provider.
This is usually because it is against the law to drive while carrying a suspended license. Some insurance providers will be willing and able to make some exceptions, especially if it wasn’t suspended for a very serious reason.
As a teenager, you may need to be able to drive to a job or to school, especially if you are in a situation in which no one can help you out and you are not close to public transportation.
In this case, you may be able to contact your state’s department of transportation or motor vehicle commission and request a hardship license.
A driver’s license for hardship is a restrictive license that lets you drive to and from work and/or school, but nowhere else.
The requirements for receiving a hardship license may vary from state to state. You will have to provide information proving you are employed or a student and that public transportation is not available.
If you are approved for a hardship license, you will need to have written proof from either the department of transportation or the motor vehicle commissions. It may cost extra money to receive this license.
A hardship license will help make it easier to find an insurance provider to insure you. Make sure to contact at least three different auto insurance companies before you choose one.
To help teens progress from the passenger’s seat to the driver’s seat is, without a doubt, one of the most important lessons any adult can teach their child. But for many parents, just the thought of teaching teenagers to drive is enough to evoke anxiety.
Thankfully, parents don’t have to be fearful of the process. Thanks to strong state laws, driver’s education programs, and plenty of expert studies — parents are surrounded by resources.
Rather than allow novice drivers to go from zero to 60 in full privileges, each state has adopted some form of Graduated Driver’s License (GDL) laws for teens.
GDL laws are designed to help teens practice their skills and gain more experience over time. Once they earn a permit, teens begin the driving process with limited privileges. They’ll gradually earn more privileges as they meet certain benchmarks, such as a specific number of supervised driving hours, or passing a driver’s test.
Transportation and insurance experts overwhelmingly agree — as states have enacted GDL laws, the number of fatal teen crashes has decreased.
In fact, the Insurance Information Institute credits a dramatic 68 percent reduction in fatalities of 16-year-old drivers between 1996 and 2010 to the adoption of GDL laws. The institute goes on to say that if “if every state adopted all five of the toughest laws that it had identified, about 500 lives could be saved and 9,500 collisions prevented each year.”
Most GDL programs consist of three stages:
Because GDL laws vary by state, parents and teens will want to make note of some important exceptions:
Every state, except for Vermont, restricts nighttime driving for teenagers during the Stage 2 Intermediate Licensing Phase.
Every state — with the exceptions of Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, South Dakota, and North Dakota — restricts the number of passengers during the intermediate stage.
New Jersey has some of the most restrictive GDL laws in the country. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, New Jersey is the only state where GDL laws apply to all new drivers under 21. Many experts believe the restrictions are making a difference, as the state has seen a reduction in crash rates among 17 and 18-year-old drivers.
We’ve compiled a table with an overview of each state’s GDL laws according to the Insurance Information Institute. Keep in mind that some cities have driving restrictions and guidelines that differ from the state level. Therefore, you’ll want to be diligent and research your state’s GDL laws.
State | Learners permit required for a minimum period | Has restrictions on night driving | Has Passenger restrictions |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | 6 months | X | X |
Alaska | 6 months | X | X |
Arizona | 6 months | X | X |
Arkansas | 6 months | X | X |
California | 6 months | X | X |
Colorado | 12 months | X | X |
Connecticut | 6 months | X | X |
Delaware | 6 months | X | X |
D.C. | 6 months | X | X |
Florida | 12 months | X | |
Georgia | 12 months | X | X |
Hawaii | 6 months | X | X |
Idaho | 6 months | X | X |
Illinois | 9 months | X | X |
Indiana | 6 months | X | X |
Iowa | 12 months | X | |
Kansas | 12 months | X | X |
Kentucky | 6 months | X | X |
Louisiana | 6 months | X | X |
Maine | 6 months | X | X |
Maryland | 9 months | X | X |
Massachusetts | 6 months | X | X |
Michigan | 6 months | X | X |
Minnesota | 6 months | X | X |
Mississippi | 12 months | X | |
Missouri | 6 months | X | X |
Montana | 6 months | X | X |
Nebraska | 6 months | X | X |
Nevada | 6 months | X | X |
New Hampshire | none | X | X |
New Jersey | 6 months | X | X |
New Mexico | 6 months | X | X |
New York | 6 months | X | X |
North Carolina | 12 months | X | X |
North Dakota | 6-12 months | X | |
Ohio | 6 months | X | X |
Oklahoma | 6 months | X | X |
Oregon | 6 months | X | X |
Pennsylvania | 6 months | X | X |
Rhode Island | 6 months | X | X |
South Carolina | 6 months | X | X |
South Dakota | 6 months | X | |
Tennessee | 6 months | X | X |
Texas | 6 months | X | X |
Utah | 6 months | X | X |
Vermont | 12 months | X | |
Virginia | 9 months | X | X |
Washington | 6 months | X | X |
West Virginia | 6 months | X | X |
Wisconsin | 6 months | X | X |
Wyoming | 10 days | X | X |
The age at which teens can earn their permit varies from state to state. Where most have a minimum entry age between 15 and 16, a handful of states allow teens to begin driving at younger ages:
A state-by-state breakdown of minimum licensing ages can be found on this IIHS site.
The goals behind driver’s education (or driver’s ed) are simple — teach teens the rules of the road, help them become safe drivers, and prepare them to pass the tests needed for a license. According to the NHTSA, formal driver’s ed programs exist in just about every U.S. jurisdiction and are often a key component of GDL laws.
DriversEd.com shares that some of the benefits to driver’s education include:
While formal driver’s education is not required in every state, each state does have a set of rules and requirements teens must meet before getting their license. Additionally, some states allow students to take driver’s education courses online.
Parents looking to find a driver’s education program for their teens can check in with their local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Be sure to look for courses that have been certified or licensed by the state’s DMV.
Parents can also see whether their teen’s high school offers driver’s education, or look for courses that are part of the AAA Driving School Network.
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The burden of better driving shouldn’t fall solely on driver’s education programs. Parents play a paramount role in ensuring their teens move from novice to know-how. However, the lingering question for many parents is — How do I do that?
Fortunately, this is a question many experts have been working to answer for years, and the resources are plentiful. Whether it’s in establishing a Parent-Teen Driving contract, scheduling practice sessions with your teen, or using online programs — parents have options in how to help their teens become better drivers.
– 10 Tips for Parents Teaching Teens to Drive
Whether parents realize it or not, children are paying close attention to their driving habits. Therefore, when it comes to helping teens become better drivers, experts stress one of the most important things a parent can do is lead by example. After all,
Parents shouldn’t expect teenagers to refrain from texting and driving, speeding, or other risky behind-the-wheel behaviors if that’s what they regularly observe.
Jen Stockburger, who heads the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, reminds parents that the example they set for their children will be the most important one.
From here, we’re sharing our10 tips on how parents can effectively teach their teens to drive:
Without a doubt, good driving begins at home. One key to success will involve setting clear boundaries, as well as clear consequences.
This is where Parent-Teen Driving Contracts come in.
An advantage to having a contract is that it is a written document. Some examples of what can be addressed in Parent-Teen Driving Contracts include:
In addition to creating a list of agreements, parents and teens need to come up with a list of consequences. This can include the reduction of, or complete loss of, driving privileges.
Parents looking for guidance on how to craft these contracts can look to these examples:
Parents looking for an added layer of accountability have options, thanks to a number of mobile apps and in-car tracking devices. Where young drivers may see this type of monitoring as invasive, parents may consider it lifesaving.
For parents, the appeal in these apps is two-fold — the ability to monitor a teen’s driving behavior (such as hard braking or speeding), as well as their ability to receive notifications or reports of risky behavior. Many of these apps work in conjunction with GPS and/or Bluetooth.
Keep in mind that more and more automakers are offering parental controls as added features to their vehicles:
It’s an acronym that’s endured the test of time—
S.I.P.D.E.
S.I.P.D.E. stands for “Scan (or Search), Identify, Predict, Decide and Execute,” and it’s been used in driver’s education courses for years. S.I.P.D.E. represents a five-step process designed to help new drivers engage their senses and become more aware of and responsive to their surroundings.
Here’s a breakdown of each step:
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia offers a free “TeenDrivingPlan” (TDP) with elements that are accessible online. The plan consists of four components:
The entire guide — complete with video instruction and logging tools — can be accessed here. Additional information can be accessed through the center’s teendriversource.org site.
The National Safety Council has created a video gallery with a variety of informative clips suitable for both parents and teens.
Through AAA’s Key2Drive Program, parents in every state can access an online guide with tips and rules of the road specific to where they live. To begin, head to https://teendriving.aaa.com and select your state.
The National Safety Council offers 52 free practice lessons for parents and teens, one for each week of the year. The lessons target a variety of everyday scenarios ranging from parallel parking to U-turns. The lessons are available in .pdfs, and are in English and Spanish.
For most, this should come as no surprise — the younger the driver, the higher the rates.
As long as statistics point to teenage drivers experiencing higher rates of collisions and fatal crashes, car insurance companies will anticipate a higher number of claims and therefore, auto insurance costs more for young drivers.
Adding a teenage driver to your policy will undoubtedly result in a rate increase. But here’s what parents and teens need to know —
To answer this question, we begin by examining the average teen auto insurance rates across the U.S. We specifically looked to Quadrant data rates for 17-year-old male and female drivers:
Insurance Provider | 17-year-old female | 17-year-old male |
---|---|---|
Allstate | $9,282.19 | $10,642.53 |
American Family | $5,996.50 | $8,130.50 |
Farmers | $8,521.97 | $9,144.04 |
Geico | $5,653.55 | $6,278.96 |
Liberty Mutual | $11,621.01 | $13,718.69 |
Nationwide | $5,756.37 | $7,175.31 |
Progressive | $8,689.95 | $9,625.49 |
State Farm | $5,953.88 | $7,324.34 |
Travelers | $9,307.32 | $12,850.91 |
USAA | $4,807.54 | $5,385.61 |
Average | $7,559.03 | $9,027.64 |
In terms of which provider is offering the lowest average rates for 17-year-old drivers, the answer is obvious — USAA. Whether the driver is male or female, USAA offers the lowest average annual rates at $5,385.61 and $4,807.54, respectively. Geico and Nationwide offer the next lowest rates for both males and females.
The provider with the highest average rates for 17-year-old drivers is Liberty Mutual, with an average annual rate of $13,718.69 for males and $11,621.01 for females. The next highest rates for males and females can be found with Travelers and Allstate.
What’s also worth mentioning is the dramatic difference in rates for male and female drivers.
With an overall average of $9,027.64 among top 10 national providers, this data reinforces what is commonly known in car insurance — that young men tend to pay more in premiums than young women.
Rates also vary by location. Below is Quadrant data on the top 10 cheapest states for teen drivers.
States | Average Annual Rates | Cheapest Company for 17-Year-Old Males | Cheapest Company's Average Annual Rates for 17-Year-Old Males | Cheapest Company for 17-Year-Old Females | Cheapest Company's Average Annual Rates for 17-Year-Old Females |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hawaii | $2,696.83 | State Farm | $1,040.28 | State Farm | $1,040.28 |
North Carolina | $5,371.26 | Liberty Mutual | $3,197.53 | Liberty Mutual | $3,197.53 |
Maine | $5,416.09 | USAA | $3,133.89 | Geico | $2,470.79 |
Alaska | $5,553.69 | USAA | $5,168.23 | State Farm | $4,158.62 |
Wyoming | $5,828.93 | Liberty Mutual | $4,046.51 | Liberty Mutual | $3,605.13 |
Massachusetts | $6,016.14 | State Farm | $2,583.99 | State Farm | $2,583.99 |
Montana | $6,092.26 | Liberty Mutual | $2,064.28 | Liberty Mutual | $2,064.28 |
Wisconsin | $6,206.76 | American Family | $3,134.61 | American Family | $2,844.04 |
Iowa | $6,304.29 | USAA | $3,553.41 | USAA | $3,345.84 |
Idaho | $6,306.32 | USAA | $4,046.57 | USAA | $3,611.65 |
Hawaii is the cheapest state for teen drivers. State Farm is incredibly cheap in Hawaii, as it charges teen drivers just over $1,000 for car insurance.
As well, you may have noticed that State Farm, Liberty Mutual, and USAA tend to have the cheapest rates in these states. This isn’t always the case with Liberty Mutual, as it’s average rate is usually over $11,000 for teen drivers.
Surprisingly, Geico only appears once as the provider with the cheapest rate for teen drivers. While Geico generally has lower rates for teen drivers, other insurers were cheaper in the top 10 cheapest states.
Sticker shock aside, parents and teens can be assured that it is possible to save on car insurance for new drivers. Here are our top 10 tips:
Experts advise that one thing parents should be wary of is intentionally excluding their teens from their policies. Many states have laws that require parents to add all licensed children in their homes to their policies. Additionally, excluding your teen could result in them not being covered if they’re involved in an accident while using your car.
Getting teen auto insurance online has never been easier. You can go one by one through each provider for your quotes but we recommend using our free comparison tool to compare multiple quotes all in one spot.
You can compare what your rates are for your teen against the national averages we provided above and make the right choice to protect your family.
Again it’s simple: just enter your zip code below.
When it comes to transportation for the inexperienced driver, not all cars are created equal. In fact, experts caution that the features teens tend to find most appealing — like a car’s size or engine — could end up working against them.
Consumer Reports puts it best when they say that choosing cars with safety in mind will help reinforce the actions of teens who are still developing their experience and judgment.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety lists five major recommendations when picking a car for teens:
The car your teen drives affects their rates. The IIHS has compiled a list of suggested cars — predominantly used — based on make, model, and the institute’s recommended safety ratings. The cars range from $3,700 to just under $20,000, according to Kelly Blue Book. We’ve listed some of IIHS’ top recommendations below, categorized by size:
Midsize Cars
Large Cars
Small SUVs
Midsize SUVs
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) published a recent web article on teenage drivers, focusing on the reasons that they are at such a high risk for potential injuries and even death from motor vehicle accidents on the streets and highways of America.
Teens are much more likely to underestimate or fail to recognize perilous situations than their older counterparts. Teenage drivers are also more likely to speed and tailgate the drivers in front of them. Teenagers, especially males, are also more likely to show off for their peers if there are teenage passengers in the car.
The risk of crashing is especially high during the first year a teenager is on the road. Among teens 15 to 20 who were involved in fatal auto accidents, 37 percent had been speeding while 26 percent had been drinking. Young men are twice as likely to die in an automobile crash as young female drivers are.
Other statistic based factors are: to car crashes.
Most fatal accidents involving teens occur on the weekends between the hours of three in the afternoon and midnight.
Car and Driver Magazine posted this article on assigned risk auto coverage also known as the assigned risk pool.
Teens who have suffered serious accidents or received multiple traffic violations may find their state’s assigned risk pool the only available insurance coverage if they intend to continue driving.
All avenues should be pursued since obtaining insurance through a private company may still be possible and is usually preferable to the risk pool.
If you can’t get insurance through regular channels, your state will provide at least minimal coverage, but you will certainly pay premiums several times those of conventional coverage for the privilege.
Not just teenagers could be caught in the assigned risk pool. Anyone with a poor driving record or whose insurance may have lapsed for a period of years may need pool coverage.
Adults who have not driven in a number of years may also be classified in the assigned risk category.
Residents of high-crime and therefore high insurance risk areas will also be subject to very high insurance rates.
Your state insurance department can provide you with information about assigned risk insurance programs in your area.
Assigned risk pools are created by the voluntary contributions of insurance providers in a particular state.
Some states have created joint underwriting associations to handle the problem of higher risk motorists. In either case, auto insurance is available for any eligible driver, though premium rates will be quite high.
There’s another day you’ve seen coming for quite a while, but it’s one you were looking forward to. A birthday. Your birthday.
The one that would finally cause your insurance rate to drop because your insurance company decided that at that age, you had finally outgrown your reckless driving days.
What they don’t know about that rental car in Vegas won’t hurt them.
But you barely even got to enjoy that brief respite for your budget before your teenager started making noise about driving.
The thing is, you know very well how age affects auto insurance rates, and that a 16-year-old is considered a high risk, especially if that 16-year-old is male. That’s going to be more money out of your pocket than even before YOUR birthday!
There’s nothing you can do about your kid’s age. He’s going to have to wait for that milestone birthday just like you did. But there are some things you need to know about teen driver auto insurance that will take the sting out of adding a young, high-risk driver to your auto policy:
It can be expensive to insure a teen but there are also ways to save as we’ve mentioned above.
It’s possible but you have to be proactive. The overall most important fact a teenager must learn is how to become a responsible driver and they’ll learn their basic lessons while watching their parents’ drive. A responsible, safe teen driver will eventually have the most affordable rates.
Thus, it’s imperative that parents set good examples from which their children can learn.
Following are some valuable lessons to teach teenagers that will help to lower the costs of insurance immensely:
By far, the simplest and most cost-effective way to save is to add teenagers to the parents’ policy.
In most cases, restrictions apply to benefits given by any insurance company so once again, people are advised to obtain all the facts before purchasing any insurance.
When added to parents’ policy, teens then have a couple of years to establish their own driving records and if they do well, they will then be eligible to obtain reasonably priced insurance on their own.
If you are wondering if your child needs auto insurance if they don’t have a car, the answer relates to where you live in the US.
Some state auto insurance laws require that all licensed drivers carry auto insurance while others only require people with registered vehicles to carry auto insurance.
When exactly do minors need car insurance? If they’re going to be driving, you probably want them to be covered!
If you aren’t sure if your state has these requirements you can find out easily by visiting your DMV website or the website for the Department of Insurance.
Most sites these days have a search option so that you can do a quick search for the answers you need rather than having to search through the entire website on your own.
Specifically, you may want to compare rates for non-owner coverage.
So what steps can be taken to prepare for teen auto insurance costs? Here are a few things to consider:
When it’s all said and done, teaching a teen to drive is just as much of an experience for them as it is for the parent. Where teenagers are learning to master the art of driving, parents are learning how to best guide their children into success.
Here’s the thing — neither parent nor teen is alone. From driver’s education courses, to structured state laws, and to parent-teen contracts, parents have a rich trove of resources available to help empower and encourage their teen’s progress.
For the teenager, practice will be one of the most important keys to success. Parents should be prepared to guide them through a variety of scenarios, while taking care to be a good role model behind the wheel.
When it comes to cars and car insurance, parents need to become a student. Shopping around and looking for discounts will be among the most powerful and money-saving tools parents can put into play.
Finally, remember this isn’t a sprint — it’s a journey. Even once your teen transitions from a permit to a license, they will always have new lessons to learn.
And with that, you’ve officially made it to the end of our Complete Teen Driver Safety Guide. You can begin applying our tips now by using our car insurance comparison tool. Enter your ZIP code HERE to begin.
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