How Much Should You Expect to Pay For Insurance As a New Driver?

I don't usually do this, but I'll go ahead and assume you're a teenager, you just got your license, the car is sitting in front of your house ready to drive, and the only stipulation remaining before your parents will dangle the keys over the palm of your hand is that you acquire at least minimum state requirements for car insurance. You're capable of making the premium payments, you can afford to fill the tank with gas every once in a while, you have some preliminary maintenance skills like filling the washer fluid, checking the oil, inspecting the wear on the treads of your tires, ensuring all the head and tail lights work and so on and so forth, as well as being capable of paying for any of the aforementioned maintenance that will eventually need your immediate attention. If that sounds like you, or you're a parent of a child that this sounds like, and all you need is an insurance policy, get ready for a pinch of reality. Most every insurance company follows each other's suit on this because the statistics on teenagers behind the wheel don't lie. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has all the statistics on teenage driving and they're not too pretty. See the reference link at the bottom of this article if you dare. So as far as the insurance companies are concerned, as a new driver, rip, roaring and ready to go, you're looking at a higher premium than, say... a well-behaved, middle-aged mom; probably to the tune of 150% to 200% higher. Example: When I financed my first car, I got my insurance policy premium at $150 a month. My mom was paying about half that for hers. So just be prepared to get a higher quote. However, there are ways to reduce your premium. The following are four ways:rnDrive safe. Avoid accidents and tickets at all cost. A good way of doing this is to never drive at night after 7 pm. And never drive on the weekends. It may sound extreme, but read the statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.rnQualify for a student driver discount. You can save lots of money each month if you maintain good grades.rnEnroll in extra-curricular driver safety classes. They are likely to be available in your area and they count towards credit to your insurance company upon completion.rnShop really well for insurance. Don't settle for the first quote you receive. Get many quotes and rank the quotes, not just according to premium cost, but according to customer satisfaction rating as well. There are web site available that help you organize your many quotes. Try using their service to help you decide. rnResources: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Teen Drivers Fact Sheet Insurance Reference Resources | Auto Insurance Quotes