6 Tips for Lower Youth Car Insurance Rates

Most families who have been through the process of ordering up new auto insurance for a single student driver or young adult recognize that getting youth car insurance at affordable rates is kind of a tricky proposition. Insurance companies are likely to offer policies that carry high risk premiums to the youngest drivers on their rosters. There's a real lack of trust on the part of insurers who assume that drivers without an extensive driving history are not safe drivers. But there are some ways to get around the steepest quotes for new driver car insurance.

1. Drive a Safe, Low-cost Vehicle - One factor in car insurance policies is the risk rating for a specific year, make and model of vehicle. Outfitting a student or other young driver with a reliable pre-owned sedan that carries relatively low blue book value will help bring insurance rates down. Parents can avoid trying to get student car insurance for new SUVs or flashy sports cars that are sometimes seen in university lots until their young drivers have proven themselves behind the wheel.
2. Garage in a Low-risk Area - Students and other new drivers often don't have a choice in where they want to keep their vehicle. They have to register it and drive it where they live. However, families can sometimes make better choices by evaluating specific ZIP codes and neighborhoods that insurance companies use to generate premium rates.
3. Take a Limited Use Strategy - Over time, as the student or new driver builds a good driving history, his or her insurance rates will come down. If this hasn't happened yet, new drivers and their families can get big reductions on auto rates by claiming a limited use for the vehicle. In other words, explain to the insurance company that the vehicle will only be used occasionally, and attach a low annual mileage to the policy. This will bring rates down quite a bit.
4. Use Deductibles and Smart Coverage - For one of the reliable budget cars mentioned above, drivers can sometimes skip extensive comprehensive and collision coverages according to their appetite for risk. This will bring premium rates down, but the policy holders will be responsible for more payouts in the event of an accident.
5. Find Driver's Ed Programs - New drivers can often take driver's education classes or online traffic school courses that will give the insurer an incentive to drop auto insurance rates lower in an auto policy.
6. Look for Participating University Programs and Other Discounts - Sometimes, the schools that student drivers have chosen will help them find more affordable auto insurance through a cooperation with an auto insurance company. Other driver discounts can also bring rates down. Talk to insurer representatives about what kinds of specific discounts their company offers to stay competitive and help customers pay less to be legally covered behind the wheel.

All of the above will help with the challenging task of finding good, cheap auto insurance for the youngest drivers who face some specific insurance challenges before they even get experience on the road.