How to buy the best car insurance for teens
If you're the parent or guardian of a teen driver, you know how important it is to have good car insurance. And we know how stressful and expensive it can be having a teen driver in the household. Fortunately, you can give your teen protection on the road at an affordable price. Find out about Nationwide’s teen insurance policies and start your free quote today.
The best car insurance for young drivers
When shopping for car insurance for teenagers, it’s quite typical to add them to the same policy as their parent or legal guardian. Young drivers usually incur higher costs on their own policies because of their higher risk. While adding them to the household auto insurance policy does increase its rate, that increase may be less than the cost of setting the teen driver up on their own policy. The household policy will typically provide them the same coverage and deductible as you, ensuring they have access to the same protection on the road.
Nationwide offers several coverage options to bring you the best teen car insurance:
- Collision coverage helps pay for damage to your teen’s vehicle if the driver hits (or is hit by) another vehicle or the vehicle rolls over.
- Liability coverage may help cover damages if your teen is found at fault in an accident. Minimum liability coverage is usually required by law to keep teens and other drivers safe. However, the minimum amount may not always be enough to keep your teen fully covered. Purchasing more than the minimum coverage may be wise, depending on your needs.
- Comprehensive coverage can help if your teen is involved in an incident that doesn't involve another vehicle, such as theft, vandalism and certain weather-related damages.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist car insurance pays for covered repairs to your teen’s vehicle if it’s damaged in an accident by an underinsured, uninsured or unidentified driver.
- Rental car reimbursement covers the cost of a rental car or other transportation, such as a bus or subway, if your young driver’s car cannot be driven due to a covered loss.
- SmartRide® allows you to keep track of your teen’s driving habits, helping your teen become a safer driver and potentially earning you insurance discounts if they drive safely.
How to save on car insurance for teens with Nationwide
Nationwide offers several car insurance discounts for you and your young driver. Learn about the following ways to save:
- Our good student discount makes us one of the best teen insurance choices. Studies show that students with higher grade point averages are typically better drivers and more responsible. If your full-time student teen driver earns a B average or better at school, your student may qualify for a discount.
- Accident forgiveness is an optional feature that ensures your teen’s insurance rates will not go up as a result of the first at-fault automobile accident. This can be a significant savings for you.
- Multi-policy discounts can help you save money through bundling coverage. If your teen has their own car, you can bundle its coverage with your own and save.
Car insurance is priced according to risk. Since teens are relatively inexperienced drivers, this usually means they are perceived as carrying higher risks on the road and may be more expensive to insure. You can help reduce this cost by encouraging your teen to drive safely, get good grades in school and take a driver safety course. [1] You can also take advantage of Nationwide’s various auto insurance discounts.
You do not have to add your teen to your car insurance policy; however, doing so may be more affordable than getting them their own policy. Adding them to your policy will increase your rate but may help you qualify for discounts like multi-car. [1]
Your teen’s insurance rate may gradually decline as they get older. Different factors may affect this change, such as driving habits and accident history, so teaching safe driving is key to ensuring the rate drops. [1]
It’s best to plan your teen’s insurance before they actually get their license. Different states have different laws regarding car insurance, and companies’ policies may vary. In some cases, you may be able to add your teen to your policy at no extra cost while they have their learner’s permit. Talk to your insurance provider to learn more.
Now that you know how to get the best car insurance for teens, start your free quote with Nationwide.