Do you need to purchase learner driver insurance? This is a question on the minds of most new drivers and parents of teenagers that are coming of driving age. The short answer is yes, although the devil is in the details.
Learning to drive is a privilege and with it comes responsibility. You need to demonstrate that you are responsible to operate a motor vehicle on the road safely. Since you do not have any track record the only thing an insurance company really has to determine your insurance premium is your age and some other minor factors. As such you can expect to pay a high premium since new drivers are considered to have the highest risk.
If you are learning to drive through a reputable driving school in most cases you will not have to purchase learner driver insurance yourself. The driving school will have insurance to cover any incidents involving their students. The cost of insurance is reflected in the fees that they charge. However, just to be safe you should double check with the school to make sure this is the case.
If you are learning to drive under the guidance of a family member or friend, this is where learner driver insurance plays and important role. As the parent of a new driver you have the ability to add your child to your own insurance policy. In most cases, this will result in savings over a standalone policy. This is especially true if you have an impeccable driving record. It’s still wise to get some additional quotes to confirm that this is truly the case.
Getting insurance on your parent’s policy may not be an option. In this case you’ll have to shop around for a personal young drivers insurance policy. New drivers have to pay the highest premium due to a higher risk and lack of any kind of track record. Having said that, there are some things you can do to reduce the amount of premium you have to pay.
If you are a student and have good grades, generally a B average or higher, you may qualify for a discount. The rationale is that students that maintain good grades are showing responsibility and if they are responsible at school, the likelihood that they will be responsible behind the wheel is greater.
The car you learn to drive in also makes a difference in the amount of premium you pay for learner driver insurance. If you are learning to drive in a manual transmission Porsche 911 Carrera then don’t bother trying to save money on your policy. A better option for the budget conscious is a low profile, automatic transmission sedan, preferably a newer model. A Honda Civic or Ford Focus is an excellent option when it comes to learning to drive and paying less for insurance at the same time. The safety features in newer models will get you bonus points and reduce your premiums further.
Another way to save money is to reduce the amount of coverage that you take. Most states by law require that you have a certain minimum amount of liability insurance. This is the minimum that you need to avoid getting into any trouble with the law. However in practice it’s not a good idea to stick with this level of insurance. The damages from even one accident can far exceed this level of coverage and can result in bankruptcy or severe financial hardship. It’s a good idea to go with full coverage or at least coverage for uninsured motorists.
A better way to save some money is to avoid skimping on coverage and instead increasing your deductible. In most cases any claim you file will increase your premium, so it doesn’t make sense to file a claim unless the amount of money involved is substantial. While this is unfortunate, keeping a higher deductible lets you make the most of this situation.
Lastly your learner driver insurance premium will reduce over time as long as you maintain a clean driving record. This means no speeding tickets, accidents or other moving violations and especially no DWIs. Don’t drink and drive, text or talk on the cellphone while driving and keep the stereo off at least until you have more experience. Enjoy the freedom of being able to go wherever you want without depending on anyone else and treat it with responsibility if you want to keep it.