November 3, 2011

Helping Teen Drivers Read An Auto Insurance Quote

Teen drivers want to get out on the road as soon as they can, but before getting behind the wheel, they'll need adequate car insurance coverage to protect them from the costs of accidents, car theft and other dangers. Many teens will look for an auto insurance quote or two on their own, but young drivers often ignore some of the most important aspects of insurance quotes and can end up with substandard policies. Parents can help their kids understand insurance by reading over a few quotes with them, and in the long run, this can be enormously beneficial for a young driver.

There are a few things that parents should keep in mind when teaching young drivers about insurance. One of the most important is how each different type of coverage will pay for a different type of bill. Each type of coverage should be carefully explained. Teens should understand liability coverage, which pays for damages to other drivers' vehicles and victims' hospital bills in an at-fault accident, as well as comprehensive and collision coverage, which pays for damages to the covered vehicle. Parents should help teens read over insurance companies' definitions of various types of coverage and should explain any confusing or potentially misleading terms. Reading through quotes with an insurance glossary can be helpful in explaining different types of coverage.

Deductibles are also important, but they're often ignored by teen drivers, who prefer to focus on monthly premiums and coverage limits. Parents should make it clear to teen drivers that the teens will have to pay for their deductibles if they need to make a claim before auto insurance coverage kicks in. Teens may need some guidance in choosing affordable, reasonable deductibles. A good exercise is to run through the costs of a typical accident with teen drivers and have them decide whether an auto insurance quote would adequately cover those costs. This can be a great way to show teens how deductibles can make a big difference.

Reading through a few auto insurance quotes shouldn't take more than a few minutes, especially if parents help teens find quotes online. The benefits for teen drivers can be enormous, as teens will learn how to keep themselves adequately protected on the road. They'll know who to call if they're involved in an accident, how to set deductibles and how to choose reasonable coverage limits for some of the different types of auto insurance coverage. They'll also pay less for their insurance policies with a bit of knowledge about how their insurance works, so reading through insurance quotes should be something that all parents consider when teens reach driving age.