ISO recommendation for insurance for new teen driver
- Thread starter Limozine
- Start date
- 15,041
It will vary by state, your household composition, insurance score, driving history, etc.
Start with your current agent and also call some other local agents. I recommend you make sure your limits are high and your uninsured motorist coverage has high limits as well. You are liable for your minor, and if it is a bad wreck you could easily be sued if it goes over the limits. By the same token, if someone hits your teen or you and doesn't have enough insurance, the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage steps in as well.
Start with your current agent and also call some other local agents. I recommend you make sure your limits are high and your uninsured motorist coverage has high limits as well. You are liable for your minor, and if it is a bad wreck you could easily be sued if it goes over the limits. By the same token, if someone hits your teen or you and doesn't have enough insurance, the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage steps in as well.
- 2,623
Start with your insurance department's website. Many insurance departments across the country publish rate comparisons of the insurance companies in the state. That helps to find competitive insurance companies.
It's not exactly the be all and end all because the data is often a year or more old so you still have to shop around.
Three ways to shop:
Online
Local direct writers
Independent agents
Having been the parent of a teenage driver here's the advice that I offer.
If you want to keep your costs down from astronomical to only stratospheric don't buy an additional car for him. He is already used to going to school without one. College is another story. You can relent if he has to commute.
Carefully monitor his driving. Several insurance companies will provide you with monitoring devices that you attach to the ODBII port and then you can review his driving online.
Make sure punishment for driving infractions is swift and decisive. First ticket, no car for 6 months. You'll be paying increased rates for that ticket for 3 years so make sure he knows the consequences up front. Never assume that he'll be a good driver voluntarily.
Last, but not least, have him read this. It's from an old Dear Abby column and every teenage driver should read it.
"Please, God, I`m only 17.
The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had taken the bus! But I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out of Mom. ``Special favor,`` I pleaded. ``All the kids drive.`` When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the thought of driving a car and being my own boss. Free!
It doesn`t matter how the accident happened. I was goofing off--going too fast. Taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard a deafening crash and I felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.
Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. Then I saw a doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn`t feel anything.
Hey, don`t pull that sheet over my head! I can`t be dead. I`m only 17. I`ve got a date tonight. I`m supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life. I haven`t lived yet. I can`t be dead.
Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom`s eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man in charge, ``Yes, he is my son.``
The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with the saddest eyes I`ve ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.
Please--somebody--wake me up! Get me out of here! I can`t bear to see my mom and dad so broken up. My grandparents are so racked with grief they can hardly walk. My brother and sisters are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze, everybody! No one can believe this. And I can`t believe it, either. Please don`t bury me! I`m not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don`t put me in the ground. I promise if you give me just one more chance, God, I`ll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance.
Please, God, I`m only 17!"
It's not exactly the be all and end all because the data is often a year or more old so you still have to shop around.
Three ways to shop:
Online
Local direct writers
Independent agents
Having been the parent of a teenage driver here's the advice that I offer.
If you want to keep your costs down from astronomical to only stratospheric don't buy an additional car for him. He is already used to going to school without one. College is another story. You can relent if he has to commute.
Carefully monitor his driving. Several insurance companies will provide you with monitoring devices that you attach to the ODBII port and then you can review his driving online.
Make sure punishment for driving infractions is swift and decisive. First ticket, no car for 6 months. You'll be paying increased rates for that ticket for 3 years so make sure he knows the consequences up front. Never assume that he'll be a good driver voluntarily.
Last, but not least, have him read this. It's from an old Dear Abby column and every teenage driver should read it.
"Please, God, I`m only 17.
The day I died was an ordinary school day. How I wish I had taken the bus! But I was too cool for the bus. I remember how I wheedled the car out of Mom. ``Special favor,`` I pleaded. ``All the kids drive.`` When the 2:50 bell rang, I threw all my books in the locker. I was free until 8:40 tomorrow morning! I ran to the parking lot, excited at the thought of driving a car and being my own boss. Free!
It doesn`t matter how the accident happened. I was goofing off--going too fast. Taking crazy chances. But I was enjoying my freedom and having fun. The last thing I remember was passing an old lady who seemed to be going awfully slow. I heard a deafening crash and I felt a terrible jolt. Glass and steel flew everywhere. My whole body seemed to be turning inside out. I heard myself scream.
Suddenly I awakened; it was very quiet. A police officer was standing over me. Then I saw a doctor. My body was mangled. I was saturated with blood. Pieces of jagged glass were sticking out all over. Strange that I couldn`t feel anything.
Hey, don`t pull that sheet over my head! I can`t be dead. I`m only 17. I`ve got a date tonight. I`m supposed to grow up and have a wonderful life. I haven`t lived yet. I can`t be dead.
Later I was placed in a drawer. My folks had to identify me. Why did they have to see me like this? Why did I have to look at Mom`s eyes when she faced the most terrible ordeal of her life? Dad suddenly looked like an old man. He told the man in charge, ``Yes, he is my son.``
The funeral was a weird experience. I saw all my relatives and friends walk toward the casket. They passed by, one by one, and looked at me with the saddest eyes I`ve ever seen. Some of my buddies were crying. A few of the girls touched my hand and sobbed as they walked away.
Please--somebody--wake me up! Get me out of here! I can`t bear to see my mom and dad so broken up. My grandparents are so racked with grief they can hardly walk. My brother and sisters are like zombies. They move like robots. In a daze, everybody! No one can believe this. And I can`t believe it, either. Please don`t bury me! I`m not dead! I have a lot of living to do! I want to laugh and run again. I want to sing and dance. Please don`t put me in the ground. I promise if you give me just one more chance, God, I`ll be the most careful driver in the whole world. All I want is one more chance.
Please, God, I`m only 17!"
- 2,261
Take your son along for a visit to your agent. Show him the cost of adding him to the policy. Explain how this additional premium is going to be paid.
If you don't already have one, now is the time to get a personal umbrella policy so you have high limits available for the inevitable wreck your youngster is likely to have. You can get price quotes but that won't tell you anything about the adequacy of coverage or the quality and claims practices of the insurer. That's where a good agent can help. All auto policies are not the same. Some shouldn't even be allowed in the marketplace but they're out there.
This used to be a good video, but you can tell how dated it is by the giant video camera and the smoking:
(Part 1 of 3)
This used to be a good video, but you can tell how dated it is by the giant video camera and the smoking:
(Part 1 of 3)
- Thread starter
- #6
PhxSunsFan
Guru
- 594
an umbrella policy 1m coverage. so affordable... 200 yr
- 15,041
I doubt it will be $200 a year with a teen driver, but definitely an excellent idea.
- 4,567
Captives are OK, Captive carriers insure 40-50% of people in many states, so they must do something correct to keep that many clients. Keep in mind, Independents don't always shop all carriers like is commonly advertised. Some do, but many don't in today marketplace. It is not as easy to get rates today with the myriad of discounts & insurance credit scoring models.
So, in reality, some independents place business with the carrier they like the most or have the best commission contract with or put it with a carrier they need to have more premium with. It is not quite as altruistic as the marketing of it claims. I have some great friends that are independents & great agents & great people, but they share this info with me when we talk shop. Too many carriers to keep track of all the underwriting rule changes, product details. So, best to pick a couple to focus on & still advertise that you will shop day & night every year for the best coverage & best price
good luck & stay safe with the Hurricane coming
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